Staff report
The brackets for the NCHSAA state play0ffs are scheduled to be released on Monday.
The playoffs are set to start Tuesday.
Six South Piedmont Conference teams will be in the 5A playoffs, as Robinson (45th) and Concord (48th) made it into the top 48 in the 5A West RPI rankings.
Northwest Cabarrus is 33rd in the statewide RPI rankings, while Carson is 30th.
The 48 teams in the 5A playoffs will be split into 24 West teams and 24 East teams by geography, so Carson has a good chance to be in the top 16 in the 5A West bracket. That would mean a first-round home game for the Cougars.
Seeds 1-8 in the bracket will get first-round byes and will be at home for Round 2. Seeds 9 through 16 will play at home in Round 1, with seeds 17 through 24 on the road.
SPC tournament champ West Rowan and SPC regular-season champ East Rowan are certain to get first-round byes.
West is fifth in the statewide RPI rankings and is likely to be the 4 seed in the 5A West bracket. Hunt looks to be the top dog in 5A East, but most of the strong 5A teams are located in the West.
East Rowan is seventh in the statewide RPI rankings for 5A and is likely to be the 5 seed in the 5A West bracket.
There could be an East Rowan vs. West Rowan meeting early in the playoffs if they do indeed get the 4 and 5 seeds. If that meeting does occur, the Falcons will have the home field.
North Lincoln will be the No. 1 seed in 5A West.
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South Rowan is eighth in the 4A RPI rankings statewide. South looks to be headed to the 5 or 6 seed in 4A West. The Raiders are assured of a first-round bye.
West Stanly is the No. 1 team in the 4A statewide rankings.
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North Rowan only won three games but will be a participant in the 2A state playoffs. The Cavaliers are 47th in the 2A statewide RPI rankings. They will be the 23 or 24 seed in the 2A West bracket.
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A.L. Brown is 23rd in the 7A statewide RPI rankings and is in good shape to get a first-round home game by being in the top 16 in the 7A West bracket.
