Vosburg Scores 22 as Orange Cruises Past Carrboro 87-46
Anyone watching Orange and Carrboro’s pregame warm-ups knew the Jaguars were in for an uphill battle.
Orange starting guards, both freshmen, appeared to be nearly as tall as Carrboro’s starting center Neel Mahadevan. From the moment Orange center Logan Vosburg tossed in a 3-pointer just :36 into the game, the result was all but determined.
Vosburg scored 22 points, even without playing the fourth quarter, as Orange climbed back to .500 with an 87-46 victory over the Jaguars. Connor Crabtree, who also sat out the fourth quarter, finished with 16. Freshman Joey McMillin added 13 while Mitch Portman scored 12.
Orange surged out to a 33-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and was never challenged. Coach Greg Motley used most of the game to let four football players, all of whom joined the team last week after Orange’s playoff lost to Havelock, continue to gain basketbal conditioning. Morgan Paschall, Devondrez Moore, Ryan Sellers and Kendall Whitted received the most minutes they’ve played this season.
Sellers came out strongest with seven points in the fourth quarter, which was played with a running clock after the deficit exceeded 40 points.
The Panthers travel to Cedar Ridge on Saturday for its Big 8 Conference opener at 3:30.
ORANGE-Marquis Phelps 3, Mitch Portman 12, Connor Crabtree 16, Logan Vosburg 22, Joel McMillin 13, Eli Haithcock 5, Kendall Whitted 2, Morgan Paschall 5, Ryan Sellers 8, Treshon Richardson 2.
CARRBORO-Jake Melville 3, That Htoo 6, Cole Phillips 16, Zach Anderson 5, Neel Mahadevan 6, Shamel Partridge 5, Jared Porter 2, Caleb Jones 3,
Campbell Scores 25 as Orange Girls Top Carrboro 49-36
In a cold gym on a brisk night in Carrboro, Kaylen Campbell burned up the nets for Orange’s first 4-0 start under head coach B.J. Condron.
Campbell scored a career-high 25 points as the Panthers pulled away from the short-handed Jaguars 49-36 at Jaguars Gymnasium. Campbell scored 17 of Orange’s 25 points in the first half.
“She’s a leader for us,” said Condron. “We look to her for offense, but she came through tonight on defense for us, too.”
Sophomore Lauren Cates also registered a career-high with eleven points, including a trio of 3-pointers. She had nine points in the third quarter when Orange extended its advantage to 44-31.
“That was big for her,” said Condron. “She’s been struggling a little bit. She came in early to practice on Wednesday and took about 300 shots. And it showed today.”
Orange had to play most of the first half without Center Bethany Early, who was saddled with two early fouls and missed the second quarter. She finished scoreless with six rebounds.
“She’s a presence in the paint,” said Condron. “She rebounds, she scores some for us. I feel like we’re deep in the post. Some other players got some opportunities, but I feel like we need to have Beth in the game. She’s our tallest player, our longest player, and one of our best athletes.”
Carrboro, playing without starting point guard Deja Tucker and backup center Cameron Farrar, received 20 points from Grace Nanney. The Jaguars suited up only nine players, but still crept their way back late in the game by holding Orange scoreless for the first 5:16 of the fourth quarter.
Enyah Holt scored a field goal with 2;45 remaining that ended the Jaguars run and essentially ended the game. Holt finished with six rebounds.
The Orange girls have opened the season with wins over East Chapel Hill, Northern Durham and Southern Alamance. They travel to Cedar Ridge Saturday afternoon at 2PM for its Big 8 opener.
ORANGE–Grace Dively 2, Kaylen Campbell 25, Mia Davidson 4, Nashyra Wilkins 2, Icez Barnett 3, Lauren Coats 11, Enyah Holt 2.
CARRBORO–Gabrielle Adams 2, Brooke Fields 5, Grace Nanney 20, Myasia Jarerett 9.
Panthers Score Nine Pins, Turn Back Red Wolves 75-6
With its sights set on a 14th consecutive conference championship, the Orange wrestling team made quick work of Cedar Ridge.
The Panthers, coming off its second consecutive team championship at the Jim King Invitational Tournament last Saturday, defeated the Red Wolves 75-6 at Cedar Ridge High on Thursday night.
At 126, Orange’s Mitchell Lopeman scored the first of nine Panther pins, defeating Cedar Ridge’s Alexander Morones in 1:00. Lopeman improved to 5-2 with his third pin of the season.
In the next match, Panthers junior Bailey Hawkins improved to 9-1 on the season by pinning Cedar Ridge’s Brody Young in 1:21. It was Hawkins’ eighth pin of the season.
Orange’s Charlie Fitzpatrick pinned Cedar Ridge’s Andrew Chrisco in 1:51. Fitzpatrick, coming off a 3rd place finish at the JKO, is now 10-1. He started the season with six straight victories by pinfall.
At 170, Josiah Ramirez maintained his undefeated record with his eleventh straight win of the season, pinning Seth McKee in 2:55. Ramirez now has eight pins this season.
Braden Homsey (182), Avery Jenkins (145), Jamar Davis (195), Daylan Alston (285) and Noah Davis (106) also notched pins for Orange, who improved to 8-0, 1-0 in the Big 8.
Payton Wilson, coming off his 220 pound championship at the JKO, earned a forfeit victory. At 113, Mitchell Askew earned a 6-4 decision over Darius McLeod.
On the positive side for Cedar Ridge, Colin Davis pinned Orange’s Zavi Hall in 3:57. Davis finished 3rd at 160 at the JKO on Saturday. He went 3-1 in the tournament, losing only to eventual champion, Middle Creek’s Skyler Hendricks.
On Saturday, Orange travels to Southern Guilford for the Southern Guilford Round Robin starting at 9AM. They face Northwood in a critical Big 8 conference match on Wednedsay at Orange.
Cedar Ridge travels to the Kernersville on Saturday for the Nick Sgroi Memorial Invitational, hosted by Bishop McGuiness High School. The meet starts at 9:30
Orange’s Jordan Lloyd Signs with Brevard
Jordan Lloyd’s volleyball career started as a child in the White Cross Recreation Center, where her father Joel coached her. At the same time, Joel also played recreation basketball on the same 65-foot floor in the holds occasionally barred White Cross Rec League, where you had to present X-rays to get a free throw.
Now, Jordan’s success leading the Orange Panthers to a runner-up finish in the Big 8 Conference has led to a college scholarship. On Thursday, she officially signed with the Brevard Tornadoes.
Brevard is in the midst of a transition to a Division III college. They have been a Division II school in the South Atlantic Conference since 2008, but announced plans to move to D3 in 2015. When Jordan joins the Tornados next fall, Brevard will be in the USA South Athletic Conference, joining such schools as Greensboro College, Methodist University, William Peace University (in Raleigh), and North Carolina Wesleyan (Rocky Mount). Pfefiffer University will also join this fall.
Brevard, located in Transylvania County, has approximately 700 students.
Last week, Lloyd was named All-Big 8 Conference after leading Orange with 146 kills and 302 digs. Orange finished 11-10, second behind only Chapel Hill in the Big 8. Chapel Hill captured the 3A Eastern Regional championship.
No Title
Lloyd made her commitment official on Thursday afternoon inside Jim King Gymnasium.
Orange Relay Team of Walker, Montague, Jimison and Scott Set 2 School Records
The Orange Boys and Girls Swimming suffered its first losses of the season on Tuesday, dropping their respective matches to Jordan at the Triangle SportsPlex in Hillsborough.
The Falcons captured the boys meet 166-120. Jordan won the girls meet 182-103.
The losses were a blip on the screen to what’s been a hot start for both squads. Both the boys and girl started 3-0 with wins over Eastern Guilford, Northern Durham and Eastern Alamance.
On Tuesday, four Orange swimmers set new school records. It was a strong day for Gabe Walker, who set the new Orange record in the 200-meter freestyle at 1:58.72.
The Orange relay team of Walker, Collin Montague, Noah Jimison and Ben Scott set school records in two relay events: the 200 and 400 freestyle.
In the 200 freestyle, Jimison set a new school record with a mark of 5:11.48. Last week against Northern Durham, Jimison swam the same event with a time of 5:19.60. Kyle Woodrum, Ethan George and Rohan Kasthuri also established personal bests in the 500 free.
Montague was set his own school record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.44.
In the girls event, Orange’s Carson Mclenddon established a personal best in the 200 intermediate at 2:51.14. Lauren Behringer had the top time in the 200 freestyle at 2:18.99.
In the 50-meter freestyle, Stephanie Nolte had the top time among Orange competitors at 26.94. She had a personal best in the 100 fly at 1:12.52, while Emmy Shopmyer had her best time to date at 1:24.16.
In the 100 freestyle, Riley Shopmyer set a new personal best with 1:08.82. Taylor Montague finished at 1:12.59.
On December 1st, Orange swept Eastern Alamance. The boys defeated the Eagles 251-77, while the girls prevailed 229-170. On November 29th, the Panthers took both meets from Northern Durham. The boys triumphed 164-105, while the girls won 167-110.
In the season opener, the Panthers won over Eastern Guilford.
Orange will gear up to face Cedar Ridge, Northwood and Eastern Alamance on Thursday at the Triangle Sportsplex in the final meet before holiday break. Action is set to begin at 4:30.
Cedar Ridge Basketball Starts Busy Week with 74-63 win over Graham
Continuing a span of four games in eight days, the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves didn’t look any worse for wear in winning its second straight.
Freshman Mekai Collins scored a career-high 19 points while Khalil Barnett added eleven as the Red Wolves defeated Graham 74-63 on Monday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium.
Barnett continued a strong start to the season after putting up 22 in a 65-36 victory over Carrboro on Friday night on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers.
Against Graham, Barnett shot 5-of-11. He’s scored in double figures in three of the first four games.
Collins, part of coach Clay Jones’ three guard offense, shot 6-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 fromthe foul line. The Red Wolves shot 47% from the field.
Cedar Ridge (2-2) claimed its second straight win. They stormed out to a 22-12 lead behind center Colby Cashaw, who had 14 points, four rebounds and a block.
The Red Wolves host Southern Alamance on Wednesday night, then open Big 8 Conference play against crosstown rival Orange on Saturday afternoon. The game, at Cedar Ridge, will start with the JV boys game at 12:30, with the varsity girls game slated for 2 and the varsity boys game scheduled for 3:30.
The Cedar Ridge girls also won its second straight, defeating Graham 47-30. The Red Wolves are 2-2 with a home game set for Wednesday against Southern Alamance in Hillsborough on Wednesday night.
CEDAR RIDGE: 74, GRAHAM 63
CEDAR RIDGE: Dmonte Kinney 8, Khalil Barnett 11, Terrence Crawford 8, Tahjai Hill-Wells 5, Mekai Collins 19, Isaiah Brown 6, Colby Cashaw 14, B.J. Freeman 3.
GRAHAM: Denzel Parker 19, Tae Ross 5, Cameron Thompson 3, Dexter Moore 3, Chandler Fuller 8, Tyler Rainey 2, T.J. Nesmith 10, Collin Torain 12, Michael Kelly 1.
Wilson, Ramirez Earn Titles as Orange Wins JKO Invitational
For the seventh time, the Orange Panthers have captured the team championship in the Jim King/Orange Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
Behind championship in their respective weight classes from Payton Wilson and Josiah Ramirez, the Panthers finished with 232 points in the 36th annual tournament held at Jim King Gymnasium in Hillsborough.
Middle Creek, making its tournament debut, finished with 211 points behind two champions and a runner-up finish. Cary, which has won the event a record 20 times, finished third with 202.5 points.
Of the 33 times Cary has competed in the JKO, they’ve finished in the top 3 31 times.
When the state football playoffs were extened an extra week by the NCHSAA because of Hurricane Matthew, Orange Coach Bobby Shriner was concerned he wouldn’t have his full array of grapplers available for the JKO. If there was a benefit to Orange’s loss against Havelock in the 2nd round of the 3-A state playoffs, it was Peyton Wilson and Daylan Alston would be available to report back to Shriner’s wrestling practices immediately.
Wilson defeated Corinth Holders’ Larry Williams 1-0 in the championship match at 220 pounds. It came on the same week that Wilson was named Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year and received football scholarship offers from Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.
Too bad Wilson wasn’t in peak wrestling condition. Or even semi-peak condition. After all of four practices, Wilson wrestled Person’s Marcus Vincent in Friday’s opening round, pinning him in :21.
Wilson, currently #1 in the state at 220, also pinned Cedar Ridge’s Izaac Rivera in :42 Saturday morning to reach the final.
“It felt weird,” said Wilson. “In wrestling, there’s no substitute for being on the mat. Football can’t prepare you for that.”
Wilson finished 3rd in last year’s JKO at 220.
Rivera rebounded to finish 3rd for Cedar Ridge. he pinned Davin Van in 2:06 in the consolation final.
Jiminez scored three pins on his path to the 170-pound championship. In Saturday’s championship, he scored a 17-6 decision over Leesville Road’s Cade Collins. It was the only time he went the distance in the tournament.
Jiminez pinned Bartlett-Yancey’s Justin Guy in 1:27 on Friday afternoon. Less than two hours later, he disposed of Northern Durham’s Robbie Rich in 2:30.
In Saturday’s semifinals, Jiminez pinned Jason Chopp of Middle Creek in :32.
Orange had four runner-ups. At 106 pounds, Mitchell Askew lost to Cary freshman Kobe Early in 2:39. Askew earned three victories in the tournament. He pinned Corinth Holders’ Austin Carroll in :25 on Friday, then notched a major decision over Leesvile Road’s Max Buico. In Saturday’s semifinals, he pinned Chatham Central’s Cade Fields at 4:29.
At 120, Southern Alamance’s McKray Mundy edged Orange’s Gavin Wiggins 1-0. Wiggins pinned Clayton’s Logan Jones in :44 and Person’s Landon Moser on Friday, then scored a 17-5 major decision over Riverside’s Jalen Adams.
At 132, Leesville Road’s Dan Mills defeated Orange’s Bailey Hawkins 11-4 in the championship match. Hawkins earned two wins on Friday, pinning Taylor Graves of Bartlett Yancy in 1:05, then edging Milbrook’s Isaiah Willett 5-4 to advance to Saturday’s semifinals. Hawkins advanced to the final with a victory over Middle Creek’s Dylan Majette.
At 195, Jamar Davis finished second after dropping a 6-2 decision to Middle Creek’s Gabriel Puckett. Davis pinned Northern Durham’s Gabriel Puckett in the semifinals in 3:16 after edging Cardinal Gibbons’ Joey Petrucelli 3-2 on Friday.
At 285, Daylen Alston finished third after pinning Leesville Road’s Brandon Govan in 2:25.
Cedar Ridge’s Colin Davis finished 3rd at 160, edging Riverside’s Chris Whitaker 7-6 on Saturday. It was Davis’ 2nd win over Whitaker in as many days. On Friday, he defeated Whitaker 4-2.
Orange’s Charlie Fitzpatrick captured 3rd place at 152.
Chatham Central’s Nick Daggett was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler after winning his 2nd consecutive JKO championship at 113.
Hawkins, Askew, Wilson, Alston Among 9 Orange Grapplers Up for Titles After Day 1 of JKO
For the second straight year, the Orange Panthers have the inside track of winning the Jim King Orange Invitational Tournament.
Following Day 1 of the tournament, 9 Orange grapplers are alive to win their respective weight division championships. That includes Bailey Hawkins at 132 pounds. On Friday, Hawkins clinched his spot in the semifinals with a 5-4 victory over Millbrook’s Isaiah Willett.
At 106 pounds, Mitchell Askew reached the semis with a 12-0 major decision against Leesville Road’s Maximus Buico. On Saturday morning, Askew faces Cade Fields of Chatham Central.
At 120, sophomore Gaving Wiggins, who finished 2nd last year at his first JKO, als o moved on to the semifinals, where he faces Jalen Adams of Riverside.
In the 152 division, Charles Fitzpatrick of Orange scored a pin over Millbrook’s Dreysan Johnson at 1:01.
Interestingly, two wrestlers fresh off the gridiron advanced to Saturday morning’s semifinals, despite having less than a week to train for the tournament.
At 220 pounds, Payton Wilson, the Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year, moved on to the semifinals. At heavyweight, Daylen Alston also has a chance at an individual championship.
In the team totals, Orange stands a strong chance to repeat as champions of its own event. The Panthers sit atop the 21 team event with 112 points. Cary is 2nd with 99.5. Middle Creek has 87. Leesville Road registered 69 on Friday. Riverside is 5th with 65.5.
For Saturday, the consolation quarterfinals begin at 10AM. The championship semifinals are at 11:30. Third place consolation rounds begin at noon. The championship rounds are set to start at 4.