The 2022 State Tournaments will begin today with the NCHSAA and NCISAA classifications.  While the one and done system is one of the most antiquated tournament styles in the country, with most states surrounding North Carolina having implemented much better tournament process, that have produced a ton of interest and gate fees for the prevailing association, the talent in NC will produce a fantastic finish to the season.

Below Matt Payne and Brandon Hall take a look at each bracket and work to predict what could happen, in tournament setups that very rarely play to form.

 

2022 State Tournament Brackets

NCHSAA 1A
NCHSAA 2A
NCHSAA 3A
NCHSAA 4A

NCISAA 1A
NCISAA 2A
NCISAA 3A
NCISAA 4A

 

PBR Scouting Directors

Matt Payne - North Carolina Director of Scouting
High School - Alexander Central HS (2004)
College - North Carolina State (2004-2008)
Professional - Pittsburgh Pirates (2008-2009)
College Coaching - Wilkes CC (2011), Catawba Valley CC (2012), Appalachain St (2012-2016)

North Carolina State Playoff Memory:
Made it to the quarterfinals in my senior year, playing Independence.  Obviously my last game of my high school career but also the game stands out because it had a great playoff atmosphere.  The stands were full and two good teams played well through the final out.

 

Brandon Hall - Mid-Atlantic Scouting Director
High School - Millbrook HS (1995 Grad)
College - UNC Wilmington (1995 - 1998)
College Coaching - UNC Wilmington (1998-2001) / Charlotte (2001-2017)

North Carolina State Playoff Memory:
My sophomore year the Wildcats of Millbrook HS made a run to the state semi-finals.  The game was against New Hanover, ranked No. 1 in the country, and was moved to NC State to hold what many thought would be a huge crowd.  As a club we panicked a little in the 1st inning, making a couple of unusual mistakes to fall behind.  From that point, we played with New Hanover over the next 6 innings.  The memory stuck as I moved forward, playing at UNCW and then coaching... how do we prepare as a team, and as individuals for big moments.  That one game, and how we played early in the game vs. how we played late in the game, shaped a lot of my preparation with future teams, over the next 22 years on the field.

 

 

Picking the 2022 State Tournament

NCHSAA 1A

Payne's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 23 Eastern Randolph over No. 10Murphy
Final 4 - Draughn, Mt. Airy, Perquimans, Bear Grass Charter
State Championship Matchup - Perquimans vs. Draughn
State Champion - Perquimans

Hall's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 20 South Stanly over No. 13 Hayesville
Final 4 - Perquimans, North Duplin, Draughn, South Stokes
State Championship Matchup - Draughn vs. Perquimans
State Champion - Perquimans HS

 

NCHSAA 2A

Payne's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 20 Walkertown over No. 13 RS-Central
Final 4 -  Lincoln Charter, Randleman, Whiteville, Greene Central
State Championship Matchup - Randleman vs. Whiteville
State Champion - Randleman

Hall's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 23 Pasquotank Cty over No. 10 Franklin Acad.
Final 4 - Randleman, Lincoln Charter, Whiteville, Camden County
State Championship Matchup - Randleman vs. Whiteville
State Champion - Randleman

 

NCHSAA 3A

Payne's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 24 Union Pines over No. 9 Terry Sanford
Final 4 - Kings Mountain, East Rowan, JH Rose, South Brunswick
State Championship Matchup - East Rowan vs. JH Rose
State Champion - JH Rose

Hall's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 26 Hickory over No. 7 Parkwood
Final 4 - Scotland, South Brunswick, East Rowan, East Lincoln
State Championship Matchup - South Brunswick vs. East Rowan
State Champion - South Brunswick

 

NCHSAA 4A

Payne's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 26 Cary over No. 7 Jordan
Final 4 - Providence, Hough, Middle Creek, Wake Forest
State Championship Matchup - Middle Creek vs. Providence
State Champion - Middle Creek

Hall's Picks
Biggest Upset in Rd 1 - No. 30 Cuthbertson vs. No. 3 Hough
Final 4 - Middle Creek, Hoggard, East Forsyth, Asheville
State Championship Matchup - Middle Creek vs. East Forsyth
State Champion - East Forsyth

 

NCISAA 1A

Payne's Picks
Final 4 - Kerr-Vance Academy, Lawrence Academy, Grace Christian, Cape Fear Christian
State Championship Matchup - Grace Christian vs. Cape Fear Christian
State Champion - Grace Christian

Hall's Picks
Final 4 - Lawrence Acad, Kerr-Vance Academy, Halifax Acad, Grace Christian
State Championship Matchup - Kerr-Vance vs. Grace Christian
State Champion - Grace Christian

 

NCISAA 2A

Payne's Picks
Final 4 - The Burlington School, Gaston Day, Westchester Country Day, Thales Academy
State Championship Matchup - The Burlington School vs. Westchester Country Day
State Champion - The Burlington School

Hall's Picks
Final 4 - The Burlington School, Westchester Country Day, Wayne Country Day, Rocky Mt. Acad.
State Championship Matchup - The Burlington School vs. Wayne Country Day
State Champion - Wayne Country Day

 

NCISAA 3A

Payne's Picks
Final 4 - Asheville, SouthLake Chrsitian, High Point Christian, Hickory Grove Christian
State Championship Matchup - SouthLake Christian vs. Hickory Grove Christian
State Champion - SouthLake Christian

Hall's Picks
Final 4 - SouthLake Christian, Arendell Parrott, High Point Christian, Hickory Grove Christian
State Championship Matchup - SouthLake Christian vs. High Point Christian
State Champion - High Point Christian Academy

 

NCISAA 4A

Payne's Picks
Final 4 - Charlotte Christian, Carmel Christian, Wesleyan Academy, Durham Academy
State Championship Matchup - Charlotte Christian vs. Wesleyan Academy
State Champion - Charlotte Christian

Hall's Picks
Final 4 - Charlotte Christian, Carmel Christian, Durham Academy, Metrolina Christian Academy
State Championship Matchup - Charlotte Chrisitian vs. Durham Academy
State Champion - Charlotte Christian