Mecklenburg County rivals Independence and Butler rank 1-2 in the Associated Press N.C. 4A poll, as voted by a statewide panel of media members. Mallard Creek, which lost to Independence by one point, is No.8. Among the 16 media members, Independence got nine first-place votes and Butler six. Nationally, Independence is No.23 in the National Prep Poll and No.40 in ESPN's poll. ESPN ranks Butler No.48. In this week's Sweet 16, Butler is No. 1 and Independence No.2. Langston Wertz Jr. This week's polls: 4A 1. Independence (5-0) 2. Butler (4-0) 3. Fayetteville Britt (5-0) 4. Jamestown Ragsdale (5-0) 5. Richmond Senior (4-1) 6. West Forsyth (5-0) 7. Wake Forest-Rolesville (5-0) 8. Mallard Creek (3-1) 9. Greensboro Dudley (4-1) 10. Winston-Salem Reynolds (5-0) Others receiving votes: SE Raleigh, E. Wake, Lake Norman, Raleigh Leesville Road, E. Mecklenburg, Asheville Reynolds, Alexander Central, Southern Pines Pinecrest. 3A 1. West Rowan (5-0) 2. Eastern Alamance (4-0) 3. Boiling Springs Crest (3-0) 4. Lenoir Hibriten (4-0) 5. Hertford County (5-0) 6. Belmont South Point (4-1) 7. Asheville (2-0-1) 8. Havelock (3-1) 9. Waynesville Tuscola (2-1-1) 10. Rocky Mount (2-2) Others receiving votes: Marvin Ridge, S. Nash, R-S Central, Pikeville Aycock, NE Guilford, N. Guilford, Kan. Brown, Fay. Byrd, W. Carteret, W. Craven, Franklin, Anson Co. 2A 1. Reidsville (5-0) 2. Newton-Conover (4-0) 3. Tarboro (5-0) 4. SouthWest Edgecombe (5-0) 5. Kinston (5-0) 6. East Duplin (4-0) 7. Pittsboro Northwood (5-0) 8. Shelby (3-1) 9. Canton Pisgah (3-1) 10. East Bladen (4-0) Others receiving votes: Burnsville Mountain Heritage, Louisburg, E. Davidson, E. Lincoln, Catawba Bandys, E. Burke, Wilson Beddingfield, Black Mountain Owen, S. Granville. 1A 1. Mount Airy (4-0) 2. Albemarle (4-0) 3. Elkin (4-0) 4. Southwest Onslow (5-0) 5. Hendersonville (4-0) 6. East Surry (4-0) 7. Monroe (5-0) 8. Manteo (4-0) 9. Williamston (3-0) 10. Kernersville McGuinness (4-0) Others receiving votes: Warsaw Kenan, Bessemer City, Cherokee, Robbinsville, Pender County, Murphy, Dunn Midway, Wallace-Rose Hill, Salemburg Lakewood.
