Jeff Hamlin

Orange, CRHS Boys Soccer Ends in 1-1 Deadlock

The story of the Big 8 Conference opener between Orange and Cedar Ridge wasn’t that it ended in a 1-1 draw. It was how easily it could have ended differently.

In the 2nd overtime, Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Justin Callemyn was caught in the crosshairs of a breakaway against Orange’s R.J. Pherribo, who was one good strike away from giving Orange the lead. But Callemyn made a sprawling kick save, the last denial on a night full of them.

As it was, the Panthers and the Red Wolves ended in a 1-1 draw at Cedar Ridge Stadium. After a lifeless first half which saw only two shots fired between the two teams, Orange’s Jamar Davis ended the drought after receiving a cross from Alfredo Rodriguez in the 48th minute. It was Davis’ tenth goal of the season.

Cedar Rdge got the equalizer in the 56th minute off a corner quick. Trent Gill grounded a shot into the Orange net off a low entry by Rene Castellanos.

Cedar Ridge outshot the Panthers 12-7. Callemyn made four saves.

As the game ventured into two 10-minute overtime sessions, but teams had opportunities to take the lead. Rodriguez had a fine strike on a free kick which hit the football crossbar over Callemyn’s head. Cedar Ridge’s Seth Maile left a free kick into the arms of the Panther goalkeeper.

Orange right center back Jesus Chavez made numerous clearances to keep the game level.

Orange is now 4-1-1, 0-0-1 in conference play. Before venturing back into Big 8 play next Wednesday, they face two huge nonconference games. On Friday, they travel to Riverside looking to avenge it’s only loss of the season. The Pirates defeated Orange 1-0 last week in Hillsborough. On Monday, Orange travels to Carrboro. The Jaguars are 4-2-4 and a contender to win the 2A state championship. The Panthers host Northern Vance next Wednesday.

Cedar Ridge is 2-1-3 and travels to Northern Vance on Monday night.

 

Cedar Ridge Tennis Shocks Chapel Hill 6-3, Lead Big 8

Before the team’s first match against Eastern Alamance, Cedar Ridge girls tennis coach Lennie Corbett said he expected big things from his team. He wasn’t kidding.

On Tuesday, the Red Wolves laid down notice to the rest of the Big 8 Conference that they’re the team to beat this season, shocking perennial power Chapel Hill 6-3 at Tiger Tennis Courts.

Junior Kate Milner clinched the victory with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over Rachel Thomas in #6 singles. Mitner improved to 8-0 on the season. She’s one of three undefeated singles stars for the Red Wolves.

Freshman Senera Sauers is now 8-0 after defeating Sarah Combs 6-2, 6-4 at #3 singles. Senior Hanna Spear grinded out a 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 victory over Megan Wu to maintain an undefeated record at 6-0.

Freshman Olivia Ward clinched CRHS 1st win by beating Haile Polsky in another three-set affair, 6-4, 2-6, 11-9.

Leah Thompson captured her match at #3 singles over Lauren Bolzan 6-4, 6-4.

By winning five of six singles matches, the Red Wolves captured the dual match before doubles play even started. Nonetheless, the doubles team of Thompson and Alana Lutz defeated Polsky and Wu 7-7 (7-5)

Cedar Ridge has now won six dual matches in a row. After opening the season with a victory over Eastern Alamance, they lost to Durham School of the Arts. They responded with victories over Orange, Person, Northern Vance, Eastern Alamance and Tuesday’s milestone victory at Chapel Hill, possibly the first time in team history the Red Wolves defeated the Tigers.

Cedar Ridge travels to Northwood on Thursday.

 

Orange Panther of the Week: Ryan Sellers

HillsboroughSports.com’s 2nd Orange Panther of the Week for 2016 is Ryan Sellers. A defensive lineman for Orange, Sellers had five sacks as Orange defeated Northern Durham 21-13 on August 26th.

The Panthers’ defense has carried the team thus far in 2016. They allowed -28 rushing yards against Northern and -20 rushing yards in the season opener against Person.

Sellers has football and basketball on his mind as his ventures into his junior year.

Orange Panther of the Week: Ryan Sellers

Sellers had 5 sacks as Orange football defeated Northern Durham 21-13.

Saunders Scores 4 Touchdowns as Cedar Ridge Stomps ECH

Not even the 2010 Cedar Ridge football team, which was one win away from playing in the 2-AA State Championship, started 3-0.

But the 2016 Red Wolves have. And they’ve done it by a combined score of 162-12.

In a special Labor Day game, the Red Wolves smashed East Chapel Hlll 47-6 at Red Wolves Stadium for the first 3-0 start in school history. London Saunders rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns. It was his first career 100-yard rushing game.

Senior Seth Baldwin added 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Shemar Miles, HillsboroughSports.com’s 1st Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week, added 80 yards rushing.

Cedar Ridge only punted once in the victory. Senior kicker Trenton Gill added a 39-yard field goal. Seven of his eight kickoff wound up going for touch backs.

Cedar Ridge rushed for 356 yards.

The Red Wolves have already defeated Jordan-Matthews 55-6 after opening the season with a 60-0 victory over Carrboro.

On Friday, Cedar Ridge hosts Riverside at 7:00 looking for its first-ever 4-0 start.

Lovingood, Shriner with 5 Aces as Orange VB Sweeps Graham

Julia Lovingood and Mileah Shriner each had five aces as the Orange Panthers defeated Graham 3-0 for its second win of the season on Tuesday. The Panthers won on scores of 25-7, 25-10 and 25-22.

Julia Fish finished with eight kills and four blocks. Lovingood added 13 assists, 3 kills and 2 blocks. Shriner registered four kills.

Orange is now 2-5, 0-1 in the Big 8. They host Northern Vance on Thursday night at 6:30 searching for its first conference win.

The Week Ahead: Week 4

With Monday night football out of the way, there’s a full slate ahead for Cedar Ridge and Orange. Both Orange and Cedar Ridge football teams are 3-0, but will have to play two games in the span of five days. After Cedar Ridge’s dominant 47-6 victory over East Chapel Hill on Monday night, the Red Wolves host Riverside on Friday. Meanwhile, 3-0 Orange travels to Burlington Cummings, which is not only 0-3, but has failed to score this year.

This week also marks the first boys soccer game at Orange and Cedar Ridge. It takes place on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium.

The Cedar Ridge girls tennis team, off to a 5-1 start, faces its steepest test of the season against Chapel Hill today. The Cedar Ridge volleyball team, following its first Big 8 Conference victory over Orange last Thursday, faces Northern Vance and Southern Durham in conference matches this week.

Here’s the full slate:

Tuesday:

Volleyball: Cedar Ridge at Northern Vance 6:30 (V), 5:00 (JV); Graham vs. Orange 6:30 (V); 5:00 (JV)

Girls Tennis: Cedar Ridge at Chapel Hill (4:30); Orange at Southern Durham 4:30

Wednesday:

Boys Soccer: Orange at Cedar Ridge 6:45 (V) 5:00 (JV)

Thursday:

Volleyball: Southern Durham at Cedar Ridge 6:30 (V), 5:00 (JV); Northern Vance at Orange 6:30 (V), 5:00 (JV)

Girls Tennis: Cedar Ridge at Northwood 4:30; Chapel Hill at Orange 4:30.

Friday: 

Football: Riverside at Cedar Ridge 7:00; Orange at Burlington Cummings 7:00

Boys Soccer: Orange at Riverside 6:30 (V), 5:00 (JV)

Saturday:

Cedar Ridge Boys & Girls Cross Country & Orange Boys and Girls Cross Country: Leesville Road Twilight Invite 6:00

 

De Jesus, Robinette Lead Cedar Ridge VB Over Orange 3-1

For a team that was two sets away from playing for the 3A state championship last season, 2016 hasn’t started the way Cedar Ridge expected.

After going 24-4, the Red Wolves had a rough summer. Coach Charlie Oakley resigned after getting married. Seniors Asha Barnes and Courtney Eckmann graduated. There were other vital parts to last year’s team that were expected back, but opted not to play this season.

That led to a predictable difficult start against the rigorous competition in Orange County, namely 2A state title contender Carrboro, who has demolished everything in its path so far, even periennial power Cardinal Gibbons.

After an 1-6 start, the Red Wolves needed something big in its conference opener. And they got it from a senior co-captain against their arch rival on Thursday night.

Kayla Robinette served on five consecutive points, notching two aces and a block during that span as the Red Wolves defeated Orange 3-1 on Thursday night on scores of 25-21, 24-26, 25-17 and 25-21.

Sophomore Juliann De Jesus killed match point to send the crowded gym into a frenzy as the Red Wolves defeated their crosstown rival for the 7th consecutive time.

De Jesus finished with nine kills. Sophomore Macy Henry finished with 17 assists, including match point. Alexis Dumain had 15 assists while Sarah McCluston had three solo blocks.

The victory was the 2nd for Laura Fortner as the Red Wolves’ head coach.

The Panthers fall to 1-5.

Orange captured a back-and-forth 2nd set. They jumped out 9-2 behind seven consecutive points, all of which came on the service of Macy Hughes, who had two aces during the run. CRHS jumped back to tie at 14 following a kill by Robinette off an assist by Henry.

Orange jumped back to force three set points after a Jordan Lloyd kill made the score 24-21, yet Cedar Ridge scored three consecutive points to tie. The Panthers Mileah Shriner scored set point to even the match.

Cedar Ridge won the final two sets. In the third, the Red Wolves jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never led by less than four points from that point forward. They pushed the advantage out to 23-14 before Robinette scored an ace to win the set.

Cedar Ridge travels to Northern Vance next Tuesday and hosts Southern Durham on Thursday. Orange has two home games next week. They face Graham on Tuesday, followed by Northern Vance on Thursday.