The Orange Panthers will go into Christmas break with its best start in 14 years.
Not to mention another blowout victory against the defending 3A Eastern Regional Champions.
In its final home game of the decade, senior Machai Holt scored 22 points and grabbed eleven rebounds as the Panthers sprinted past Walter Williams 74-56 on Wednesday night at Panther Gymnasium.
With Orange leading 35-33, Holt triggered a 16-2 run to start the second half. He grabbed two offensive rebounds on the opening possession to set up a Jerec Thompson 3-pointer. After J.J. Thompson hit Jerec for a backdoor lay-in, Holt stole the ball from Williams’ Kenan King and went behind the back for a lay-in to force a Williams time-out.
“Machai can get to the basket with ease,” said Orange Coach Derryl Britt. “I told him to keep doing that. I told him ‘Be that beast. Make them stop you. Take the ball to the rack and take your time and finish.'”
The last time Orange started 7-1, it was the 2005-06 season, when they played in the Mid State Conference and Williams was a conference rival.
Orange never trailed, but Williams tied the game late in the first half at 33 after two free throws from Jamauree Haith, who led the Bulldogs (4-3) with 21 points.
“We needed to tighten up our midcourt defense, which is our mainstay.” Britt said. “They scored six or seven baskets from the paint in the first half, and that can’t happen, especially against a team that’s smaller than us. We properly adjusted to that (in the second half).”
Joey McMullin finished with 15 points, while junior point guard J.J. Thompson had a career-high 12.
After Orange came out firing 3-pointers to open the game, they only hit one from downtown in the second quarter. Even though Orange is best when it’s outside shots are falling, the Panthers aren’t a one-dimensional team for a varsity of reasons.
First, they’re experienced. Second, there’s familiarity. Holt, J.J. Thompson, McMullin, Jerec Thompson and Jason Franklin all attended Pathways Elementary School together.
“Good teams find different ways to win games,” Britt said. “Some nights our goal is to make 15 3-pointers, but some nights that’s not going to happen. Can we still score and get close to our average without getting those three pointers?”
That’s where Orange’s win over Carrboro last Thursday proved beneficial. The Panthers only had six 3-pointers, but rode out a 75-70 win. They came into Wednesday night averaging 79 points per game.
J.J. Thompson, in his first year at the varsity level, isn’t known for his scoring, but Britt feels the junior is the right point guard for his system.
“J.J. and I talk a lot off the court,” Britt said. “J.J. has a clear understanding of what I want offensively and defensively. There were a few times tonight where he didn’t wait for me to make the offensive call. He surveyed the defense, look at the adjustments they made and then he would go to another set. That’s exactly what I want. My nickname for him is ‘Right Play J.J.'”
Orange will start play in the South Granville Holiday Tournament next Thursday. The Panthers will play in the Navy Bracket and face Sanderson in the opening round on Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The winner will face either Middle Creek or Franklinton in the semifinals. Northwood Temple, Granville Central, Green Hope and Wakefield complete the eight-team field.