It was a special Senior Night for the Orange women’s basketball team. The Lady Panthers never trailed and defeated Eastern Alamance 44-39 in front of a large crowd at Panther Gymnasium. The Eagles had defeated the Lady Panthers six consecutive times, including twice in the state playoffs in 2019 and 2020. In her final game inside a gym she knows all too well, Orange center Erin Jordan-Cornell scored 14 points to lead the Lady Panthers. Orange seniors Jada Reed and Nikayla Whitted each scored in the opening three minutes as the Lady Panthers roared out to an 8-0 lead. Reed had six points in her final game at Orange High. Whitted scored four. Forward Katelyn Van Mater, another senior, also scored four points. Van Mater is a three-sport athlete who, earlier this year, helped the Orange tennis team win its first-ever conference championship in school history. Van Mater’s tennis coach, Justin Webb, was in attendance on Friday night. It was a special way for the Orange seniors to play its final game on their home floor. Orange will prepare for another matchup against Eastern Alamance. This time, it will be in the opening round of the Central Carolina Conference Tournament. It will be contested in Mebane on Monday night at 6PM. The winner will travel to Northwood for the semifinals on Wednesday.
OHS’ Jada Reed, Katelyn Van Mater, Erin Jordan-Cornell & Nikayla Whitted talk win on Senior Night
It was a special Senior Night for the Orange women’s basketball team. The Lady Panthers never trailed and defeated Eastern Alamance 44-39 in front of a large crowd at Panther Gymnasium. The Eagles had defeated the Lady Panthers six consecutive times, including twice in the state playoffs in 2019 and 2020.