Jeff Hamlin

With Chapel Hill having clinched the Big 8 Boys Soccer Championship, the race is on for the 2nd place, which is more alluring that it sounds.

A potential first-round state playoff home match could be laying in wait for the squad that finishes behind CHHS, and now it’s a three horse race on the final week of the regular season between Cedar Ridge, Southern Durham and Northwood.

After playing to a 1-1 tie against J.F. Webb last week, Cedar Ridge fell to Northwood 5-3 in Hillsborough on Monday night. Tatha Hso scored a hat trick for the Red Wolves, pushing his total to twelve goals on the season. Hso has 27 points, 2nd only to Trent Gill’s 36, who had two assists on Monday. Seth Maile also had an assist for CRHS.

Tied at the half 2-2, the Chargers scored three times in the final 40 minutes. J.R. Godwin notched his own hat trick for Northwood, while Thomas Russell scored two goals.

On Wednesday night, Cedar Ridge ends the regular season with a home match against Webb with plenty on the line. Currently, Southern Durham is in 2nd place in the Big 8 at 6-3-1. They travel to Chapel Hill next week and host Orange. The Red Wolves are 6-3-2. Northwood is 5-3-2 with a home match against Orange on Wednesday and another home game against Northern Vance next week.

The Red Wolves could finish as high as 2nd in a best case scenario. In a worst case, they’ll miss the playoffs.

Gear up for tonight’s Orange-Cedar Ridge football game with the latest edition of Prep Sports Tonight, presented by Occoneechee Golf Course. This week, we’re joined by Orange defensive lineman Stone Edwards and running back Marvante Beasley. Plus, Cedar Ridge running backs Shemar Miles and London Saunders. Also, an update on the Big 8 Girls Tennis championships, which we held on Wednesday at Orange High. Congratulations to Big 8 singles champion Faith Peoples of Northwood High School and the doubles champions Seenera Sauers and Kate Milner.

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It was an unlikely gift that Orange volleyball received last week. A stunning upset by crosstown rival Cedar Ridge over Chapel Hill gave the Panthers a chance to tie for the Big 8 Conference Championship if Orange could pull off a victory of its own at CHHS.

It wasn’t to be.

The Tigers defeated the Panthers 3-0 on Tuesday night on scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-11. With the win, Chapel Hill wins the Big 8 Championship. Bailey Lucas had five kills, eleven assists and five digs for the Panthers. Emma Clements had eight digs, five kills and an ace. Senior Macy Hughes also finished with five kills.

Orange is now 10-8, 7-3 in the Big 8. They are assured a spot in the 3A state playoffs and are tied with J.F. Webb for 2nd place in the conference.

Chapel Hill received 14 kills from Kaya Merkler. Kyra Crider finished with ten aces. Senior Shea Golden ended up with 13 digs and seven kills. Katie Huge had 25 assists.

The Tigers also swept Orange in Hillsborough on September 15th. Under first-year head coach Lee Fields, the Tigers are now 17-4.

Orange travels to Northwood on Thursday. They host Webb for senior night next Tuesday.

Here’s what is clear about the Cedar Ridge volleyball team right now: the regular season is over and no one is sure if they’ll make the playoffs right now. Trying to get a read on the team’s playoff future is as unpredictable as the team itself.

The Red Wolves dropped its regular season finale to Northwood on Tuesday night 3-1 on scores of 26-24, 25-27, 25-18 and 25-23. Meg Anderson had 13 kills to push her season total to 131. Senior Kayla Robinette had ten kills, extending her team lead to 144. Lily Henry registered eleven kills, three aces and 13 digs. Alexa Pagnanelli had six aces and 14 digs. Lindsay Thompson finished with 15 digs.

Cedar Ridge finishes the regular season 8-12, 5-5 in the Big 8 Conference. After winning the conference championship last season, the Red Wolves are now hoping to earn a wildcard spot for the 3A state tournament.

The loss on Tuesday followed a wild week where Cedar Ridge stunned conference leader Chapel Hill 3-0 in Hillsborough last Thursday, the first Big 8 loss this season for the Tigers. The stunning sweep gave the Red Wolves playoff hope. Alexis Dumain had nine kills and 12 digs. Anderson finished with nine digs and 11 digs. Robinette ended up with seven kills. Pagnanelli registered 18 digs and one ace, while Thompson had 18 digs. Henry, a senior, piled up five kills, 19 assists, nine digs and three aces.

Two days earlier, Cedar Ridge defeated Southern Durham 3-0. The following day, undefeated Carrboro swept the Red Wolves 3-0 at Jaguars Gymnasium.

Anyone who saw Orange’s stunning 49-7 victory over Southern Durham shouldn’t be surprised that Marvante Beasley is the Orange Panther of the Week. Beasley had a career-high 196 rushing yards on ten carries, scoring two touchdowns. Beasley also plays linebacker for an Orange defense that has given up just two touchdowns this season. (Western Guilford and Northern Durham). Marvante has plenty of goals ahead as Orange prepares for the postseason. For now, Orange is getting ready for crosstown rival Cedar Ridge this Friday.

Orange Panther of the Week: Marvante Beasley

Uploaded by Hillsborough Sports on 2016-10-12.

Last week, the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves girls tennis’ team finished the most successful season in team history. They won three matches over three days, beating Orange, Northwood and Webb to finish 18-1. Cedar Ridge captured the Big 8 Championship, the first such title in the program’s history, and won 17 consecutive dual matches. Senior co-captain Leah Thompson was a big reason why. She went 13-1 in singles play this season, 9-1 in doubles play with partner Alana Lutz.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week # 2: Leah Thompson

Uploaded by Hillsborough Sports on 2016-10-12.

Since we missed a week last week, we have two Cedar Ridge Red Wolves of the Week to make up for lost time. Our first is Cedar Ridge senior striker/placekicker Trent Gill, who leads the Red Wolves boys soccer team in scoring with 13 goals. He also leads the team in scoring with 32 points. On top of that, Gill is the kicker for the football team, where he has kicked 28 of 29 extra points this season. He also has made seven of nine field goals, with his longest being 42 yards. When it isn’t game day, Trent frequently has to attend both soccer and football practices. He’s also being recruited in football and soccer by Duke, N.C. State and Wofford.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week #1: Trent Gill

Uploaded by Hillsborough Sports on 2016-10-10.

On our second edition of the Hillsboroughsports.com podcast, Prep Sports Tonight, we’re joined by Marvante Beasley, Kendall Whitted, Ryan Sellers, Devondrez Moore and Noah Robinson. Also, members of the Big 8 Conference Champion Cedar Ridge girls tennis team, seniors Tess Johnson, Leah Thompson and freshman Olivia Ward.

HILLSBOROUGH SPORTS #2 PODCAST by hamlin37

On this edition of Prep Sports Tonight, the official podcast of Hillsborough Sports.com, we speak with Tess Johnson, Leah Thompson and Olivia Ward of the Big 8 Champion Cedar Ridge girls tennis team. Plus, we’re joined by Marvante Beasley, Kendall Whitted, and Noah Robinson of the Orange football team.