12 months later, Eastern Guilford caught up with Orange.
After losing to the Panthers in the 2016 Eastern Guilford Christmas Holiday Tournament Championship game, the Wildcats led wire-to-wire to defeat the Panthers 69-50 to win the 2017 championship on Saturday night in Gibsonville. Jaylen Alston was named tournament MVP for the Wildcats (14-1).
Though Orange never led in the game, the Panthers (scored more points against the Wildcats than any other team in the tournament. Eastern Guilford blew out Graham 72-38 in the semifinals and romped past Western Guilford 77-29 on Thursday.
Orange was led by Mekai Holt with 18 points, while Mitch Portman finished with ten. Joey McMullin came away with five points.
Pascal, Portman and McMullin were named to the All-Tournament team.
In 2016, Orange (7-5) defeated the Wildcats 74-60 after trailing 17-2 to open the game, but this year there was no Connnor Crabtree or Logan Vosburg to carry the offensive load for the Panthers. Crabtree scored 27 in last year’s championship game, while Vosburg added 24 to hand Eastern Guilford one of its four losses for the entire season.
Meanwhile in Mebane, the Orange Women’s Basketball Team wrapped up third place in the Eastern Alamance Holiday Hoops Invitational, beating Big 8 Conference rival Northern Durham 48-44 on Saturday afternoon. Lauren Cates found her shooting touch to torch the Knights for 27 points, including five 3-pointers.
Northern (2-9), who suited up seven players, was led by sophomore Breanna Jenkins’ 19 points. Freshman Jakayla Carr added ten.
As the game grew tighther in the fourth quarter, sophomore Grace Andrews hit three key field goals for the Lady Panthers (5-7). Orange played without Icez Barnett, who returned to action on Thursday against Burlington Williams after missing four games with a right foot injury. Barnett rested to prepare for Friday’s return to Big 8 Conference action against Northwood in Hillsborough.
Cates was named to the All-Tournament team. Leesville Road defeated Eastern Alamance for the tournament championship 67-47.
The Orange Men’s team returns to action on Tuesday to face Pinecrest at 7:30 in Hillsborough. The Orange Women return to action on Friday with a home game against Northwood in Hillsborough at 5:30, followed by the men’s game at 7.
EASTERN GUILFORD 69, ORANGE 50:
ORANGE: Portman 10, Paschal 4, Joey McMullin 5, Holt 18, Eli Haithcock 9, Jason Franklin 3, Nigel Slanker 1.
EASTERN GUILFORD: Jaylen Alston 29, Montez Venable 14, Dominque Graves 10, Nic Cheeley 7, Nick McMullen 7, Nathan White 2.
ORANGE (GIRLS) 48, NORTHERN DURHAM 44.
NORTHERN DURHAM: Breanna Jenkins 21, Asia Rahman 5, Amanda Holland 6, Jakala Carr 10, Nia Bonney 2.
ORANGE: Grave Dively 2, Kate Burgess 4, Janea Myers 4, Lauren Cates 23, Grace Andrews 6, Jala Rainey 2, Xandria Moore 3.