Brand Name Win: Ellis’ 3-pointer with :13 left lifts Orange over Mt. Zion Christian Academy 60-56
Photo by Jacques Morin
When a team plays well enough in a big game, they may pull off a victory over an opponent that has a large enough stature to become a brand name in its given sport.
In September, Northern Illinois football beat Notre Dame.
Last month, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees.
On Friday night, Orange basketball beat Mt. Zion Christian Academy.
Junior Ethan Ellis, in only his second varsity game, canned a 3-pointer from a pass from Xandrell Pennix with :13 remaining to lift the Panthers over the Warriors 60-56 in a fever-pitched environment at Panther Gymnasium in Hillsborough.
Orange point guard Kai Wade fought off cramping problems in the final minute to lead the Panthers with 18 points. Senior Michael Clark sank a free-throw with :06 left, putting the game out of reach as Orange improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.
Mt. Zion’s Chris Walker tied the game with :31.4 remaining after scoring on a lay-in while being fouled by Jamari McDaniel. The subsequent free throw evened the contest at 57-57.
Following a timeout, Pennix dribbled along the baseline and wrapped a skip pass around to Ellis, who was in the game after senior Freddy Sneed fouled out. Ellis, alone on the wing, wasn’t bothered by the onrushing Walker as his 20-footer swished through the net, leading to an eruption from the O-Game student section.
Mt. Zion’s Rodney Farrington, who didn’t score all night rushed down the foul and sidestepped Ellis at the basket, but his lay-in was short. Clark grabbed the rebound and set off a celebration for Orange’s biggest non-conference win since upsetting Hillside in last year’s lid lifter in Hillsborough.
“I knew it would take grit to win this game,” said Orange coach Derryl Britt. “Freddie (Sneed), Xandrell, Jamari (McDaniel) are the leaders of that mentality.”
The gamesmanship started early in the week with players trading taunts via memes and videos on Instagram and TikToc. Orange had six days between games while Mt. Zion had trampled Oak Ridge Military Academy by 24 points, followed by a 42-point rout of Greater Vision Academy on November 15.
Warriors guard Ian Bush averaged 24 points and shot 80% from the field in the opening two wins. On Friday night, a combination of Sneed and Wade held him to seven points.
Orange led 47-40 after a jumper by Wade bounced around the rim and fell in with :42 remaining in the third quarter. With time running out in the frame, Wade missed a three-pointer. Mt. Zion’s Jayden Adams raced down the floor and scored on a lay-in to beat the quarter buzzer.
That triggered an 11-0 Warriors run that put them ahead 51-47. Adams, who spent virtually the entire game in foul trouble, started the fourth quarter with a lay-in. Walker followed an Orange miss with a dunk that sparked the sizeable Mt. Zion contingent visiting from Hillsborough. Adams drilled a three-pointer to gave the Warriors the advantage at 49-47, it’s first lead since the final minute of the first half. Moments later, Adams was called for his fifth foul.
Bush scored his only field goal of the fourth quarter off a goaltending call on Orange center Jalen Crayton. On a lengthy possession, Orange ended a drought of over four minutes without a point when Pennix slashed into the paint and scored on a lay-in. Orlando Karem’s lay-in attempt rattled out, and Wade batted the loose ball down the floor to Sneed, who slammed it home to tie the game at 51-51.
Orange faced several obstacles in the final minutes. Wade pulled up with a cramp in his right knee, forcing the Panthers to use its last timeout with 2:48 remaining.
Clark put Orange ahead with a 3-pointer with 2:36 remaining to put Orange ahead 54-51.
After Walked scored on a dunk, Sneed and the Warriors’ Rodney Farrington were each tagged with a technical foul for talking to each other. It was Sneed’s fifth foul, depriving the Panthers of its top defensive player. Farrington, a backup guard, picked up his first foul.
Wade was tripped going into the lane by Bryce Long, which was his fifth foul. Pennix scored two free throws with :39.7 remaining to give Orange a 57-54 lead.
The Warriors charged out to an 11-4 lead, but Warriors head coach Marvin Reed threw all standard in-game coaching mindset out the window when he left Adams in the game despite picking up three fouls in the opening quarter. Orange got 3-pointers from Pennix and Clark to cut its deficit down to one point late in the first quarter.
The Panthers led 27-26 at the half thanks to a late lay-in by Wade.
Orange will host Southern Lee on Monday night in Hillsborough, its final game before Thanksgiving.
Orange Athletics wins Wells Fargo Conference Cup for 2nd straight year
The 2023-2024 academic year was a time of transition for the Orange athletic department.
It also brought success across fall, winter and spring sports that led to the Panthers being honored with the Wells Fargo Conference Cup for the second straight season for being the top athletic program in the Central Conference.
The cup was presented to Orange Athletic Director Jason Knapp last month.
“It’s a testament to all the coaches we have working here day in and day out,” Knapp said. “The students have worked hard across the board. You’ve got to deserve to be successful and these students deserve success because they’ve worked for it.”
Orange had nine Central Conference champions last season. Their greatest success came in the fall sports season. The volleyball team, in its first season under head coach Hope Heverly, won its first regional championship since 2004 when they defeated cross-county rival Carrboro in five sets at Panthers Gymnasium. In the state championship match, Orange led Kings Mountain 2-sets-to-1 before the Mountaineers came back to win in five sets at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Led by seniors Ella Wimsatt and Sadye Porter, the volleyball team won its first conference title since 2005.
The Orange men’s cross country team claimed the Mideast Regional championship in addition to the conference crown under head coach Brian Schneidewind. In the 3A State Championships, only Croatan finished ahead of the Panthers at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. Gabriel Schmid of the Panthers won hit second consecutive 3A individual state championship. Schmid signed to run at N.C. State last year and is currently on a Mormon mission.
The winter sports season was just as successful with an unforgettable farewell season from Katie Belle Sikes, who is now swimming at the University of Georgia. Sikes led Orange to a runner-up finish in the 3A State Championships. For the first time ever, the Orange women’s swimming team won a conference championship at the Orange County Sportsplex. Sikes won two individual state championships. In addition, Sikes, Riley White, Zoe Jones and Piper White won the 200 yard medley relay state championship. White, Sikes, White and Ainsley Rasinske won the 200 yard freestyle relay state championship.
The Orange men’s swimming team also claimed the conference title and finished 2nd in the Mideast Regional championships. Junior Luke Roman won the 500 yard freestyle state championship. It was Orange’s 3rd consecutive men’s swimming conference title under head coach Ron Geib.
The Orange men’s basketball team claimed its first conference tournament championship since 2016 when they defeated Eastern Alamance at Person High School. Under the direction of head coach Derryl Britt, the Panthers also won the Central Conference regular season championship for the first time since 2017. Coleman Cloer was named the conference player of the year before he transferred to Caldwell Academy over the summer. Xandrell Pennix, Freddy Sneed and Kai Wade are back for this year’s Orange team.
The men’s lacrosse team, led by head coach Chandler Zirkle, claimed its fourth consecutive conference championship and won its first 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional championship. Led by Connor Kruse, the all-time leading scorer in team history, the Panthers faced off against Lake Norman Charter at Durham County Stadium for the state championship.
The Orange baseball team tied with Southern Alamance for the regular season championship, but the Panthers advanced further in the 3A State Tournament than any other conference team. It was the fourth straight conference title for the Panthers, who defeated Cedar Ridge and Eastern Alamance in the state playoffs. Senior Cross Clayton was honored as Central Conference Pitcher of the Year after becoming the first Panther to win 20 games in a career since Bryse Wilson, who just finished his seventh Major League Baseball season.
The Orange men’s and women’s track and field team also won conference titles at Eastern Alamance High School. Myles Jermyn won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter championships. Riley Potter claimed the conference title in the 300 meter hurdles.
In women’s track and field, Adelyn Alvis took the 400 meter dash and the long jump. Bree Harris took the 100 and 300 meter hurdles. Grace Pell won the high jump.
Orange’s softball team reached the third round of the state playoffs. The football, men’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s basketball and women’s soccer team all reached the state playoffs.
It was Knapp’s first season as athletic director, but he never forgot he predecessor, Mike McCauley, who passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year, just before he was set to retire.
“We remember Mike every day,” Knapp said. “He’s as much a part of these championships as anyone.”
Orange’s Evelyn George and Maura McMurtry discuss winning season-opener
It was a special season-opening win for the Orange women’s basketball team on Monday night. The Lady Panthers defeated Garner 53-31 at Panther Gymasnium in Hillsborough. It was the first win for new Orange women’s basketball coach Joshua Underwood, a former assistant at Eastern Alamance. Forward Evelyn George started her senior year with a double-double, leading Orange with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Last season, George recorded four double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 23 of Orange’s 26 games. Junior point guard Maura McMurtry added 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. Orange never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 10-1 lead and building a lead as high as 26 points. The Lady Panthers were without two starters as Addi Atkins and Shannon Murphy didn’t play. After losing just one senior from the 2023-2024 team, Orange returns all five starters, as well as key reserve players like Natalie Roberson, Rhiley Crabtree, Alexis Stephens and Bryce Jones. Orange was the only team in the Central Conference to defeat Western Alamance last year. The Lady Panthers will have a golden opportunity to improve on its 13-13 record from a year ago. Orange will return to action against Southern Lee in Hillsborough on Monday night. The Lady Panthers will then travel to Northwood next Tuesday in its final game before Thanksgiving.
Orange women’s basketball’s Evelyn George & Maura McMurtry discuss season-opening win vs. Garner
It was a special season-opening win for the Orange women’s basketball team on Monday night. The Lady Panthers defeated Garner 53-31 at Panther Gymasnium in Hillsborough. It was the first win for new Orange women’s basketball coach Joshua Underwood, a former assistant at Eastern Alamance.
Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Laci Sykes
This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior golfer Laci Sykes. While Sykes’ top sport is softball, this summer she decided to pick up golf clubs and try her luck out at the links. Under the instruction of head coach Chris Casey, Sykes reached the 3A Central Regionals. She became the first Cedar Ridge golfer to reach the Central Regionals since Olivia Aitkin in 2022. Even though she had just taken up the sport, Sykes had the top scoring average on the team this season. She shot a 55 on the front nine at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough. Sykes top sport is softball, where she has played varsity each of the past two seasons. Last year, Sykes started 20 games and hit .290 with 18 hits, six doubles and eight RBIs. She helped the Red Wolves reach the state playoffs. Sykes also started every game in her freshman season in 2023. Across 20 games, she hit .239, scoring 16 runs and lacing eleven hits under head coach Allen Byrd. The women’s golf regionals were held at The Valley Golf Course in Burlington. Now that golf season has ended, Sykes will prepare for the start of softball season in February. The Red Wolves will open the season against Wakefield in Hillsborough.
Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Laci Sykes
This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior golfer Laci Sykes. While Sykes’ top sport is softball, this summer she decided to pick up golf clubs and try her luck out at the links. Under the instruction of head coach Chris Casey, Sykes reached the 3A Central Regionals.