The Orange Panthers boys basketball team had its season opener 11 days after football season ended, and the heavy legs were apparent.
East Chapel Hill defeated the Panthers 47-35 on Tuesday night at Wildcats Gymnasium. Wildcats point guard Carter Collins paced the Wildcats with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Junior Jonathan Runyambo, a native of Nigera who is playing his first season of basketball at East, had a career-high 11 points.
The Panthers were held to 4 points in the third quarter. Coach Greg Motley figured to have returning senior point guard Eryk Brandon-Dean back from last year’s team that came one win away from winning the Big 8 regular season championship. But Dean suffered a torn ACL playing football against Southern Durham in September. He isn’t expected to play this season.
Logan Vosburg led the Panthers with 10 points, the only Orange player in double figures. Conner Crabtree added nine.
Orange will travel to Raleigh to face Sanderson on Thursday. You can hear that broadcast here on HillsboroughSports.com.