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For the second time in four nights, Cedar Ridge and Northern Durham went down to the wire on Friday.

This time, Cedar Ridge had the answer in the clutch and his name was Jordan Jacobson.

With 2:00 remaining in the game, Jacobson took an inbounds pass from Braedon Wilbourn, drove past Northern’s Nasir Hasksins, scored on a lay-in while getting fouled to put the Red Wolves ahead 55-52. Jacobson drained four free throws in the final 30 seconds as Cedar Ridge defeated Northern 61-57 at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Cedar Ridge avenged an earlier loss to Northern Durham from last Tuesday at Knights Gymnasium, where the game was also tied with 1:54 remaining. Just like Friday night, Tuesday’s game turned off an old school, 3-point play scored by the Knights’ Amari Stokes, who scored with 1:28 remaining after being fouled by Cedar Ridge’s Luke Orstad. The Knights’ won 59-53.

On Friday, there were ten lead changes and three ties as Cedar Ridge improved to 5-2, improving on its best start since the 2016-2017 season. Wilbourn led Cedar Ridge with 18 points and eleven rebounds.

Haskins paced Northern (3-5) with 17 points.

Cedar Ridge led 48-42 going into the fourth quarter after a foul line jumper by Wllbourn bounced in at the third quarter buzzer as head coach Mike Jones danced down the sidelines to watch it fall through the net.

Northern opened the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run, keyed by Bostic, who drained two free throws to cut the Red Wolf lead to 50-48 with 3:57 remaining. After Northern’s Camden Riley blocked a shot by Jacobson, Riley grabbed the loose ball and was fouled by Jacobson on the other end. Riley’s free throws tied the game at 50-50.

Bostic gave Northern it’s only lead of the fourth quarter when he poked the ball away and scored on a lay-in while being fouled by Orstad, vaulting the Knights ahead 52-50 with 2:34 remaining. Afterwards, Orstad hit two free throws after being fouled by Riley to even it up with 2:23 remaining.

In the third quarter, Cedar Ridge led by as much as 36-25 following a lay-in by center Jack Kelsey off a feed from Orstad. Northern chipped away at the Red Wolf lead, drawing to within 38-36 following a 3-pointer by Hasking with 3;10 remaining in the first half.

Cedar Ridge’s Kevin Etim, who finished with six points and three rebounds, assisted on a basket by Wilbourn. Jacobson stole a long pass by Haskins and fed Wilbourn to push the lead to 46-40.

Cedar Ridge led 32-25 after Orstad scored on another old fashioned three-point play. He was fouled by Haskins as he took a pass from Jacobson and drained a free throw with three seconds remaining before halftime.

MEBANE: After losing to Orange three times last season, it appeared the odds were stacked against Eastern Alamance from contending for the Central Conference championship this year.

The Eagles lost three starters due to graduation. Their top returning scorer and rebounder, Jordan Matthews, suffered a broken foot during the summer and could be lost for the season.

Orange arrived to the Tal Jobe Gymnasium in Mebane on Friday night fresh off a road win at Chapel Hill, a team that had defeated Eastern Alamance by 28 points on December 6.

But the Eagles utilized a 1-3-1 zone to stymie Orange from 3-point range and Eastern senior guard Javier Tinnen wouldn’t let his team lost to their nearby rival for a sixth straight time.

Tinnen scored 15 points while freshman Mason Murphy scored 24 points as the Eagles outscored Orange 25-12 in the fourth quarter to upset the Panthers 66-60 in the Central Conference opener for both teams.

Orange didn’t hit a 3-pointer in the second half and was just 5-of-20 from downtown. Kai Wade led Orange with 18 points while sophomore Hector Garrido added nine points and 15 rebounds. Orange (5-2, 0-1 in the Central Conference) lost to Eastern Alamance for the first time since February 2, 2022.

Orange led 49-43 going into the fourth quarter, but the Eagles got a surprise boost from sophomore Xavier McPherson, who was called up from the junior varsity team for his first varsity game and scored eleven points, all in the second half. McPherson drained two 3-pointers, including one that gave the Eagles the lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Tinnen finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Orange senior Michael Clark scored nine points in the opening quarter, all off 3-pointers. The Panthers built a 12-point lead in the first half based off a 54-38 rebounding edge, plus the Eagles missed its first six three throws. Wade finished with a double-double with 18 points and eleven rebounds. Clark came away with 13 points and ten rebounds.

Orange will return home to face East Chapel Hill in a nonconference game on Tuesday night.

Women’s basketball: Eastern Alamance 37, Orange 34:

In a strange game, Eastern Alamance earned its second win of the year behind Ayila Trollinger’s 16 points.
Orange led 6-2 at the end of the first quarter despite not sinking a field goal. In fact, Orange scored just two field goals in the entire first half and still led 14-5 at halftime.

Senior Evelyn George led all players with 19 points. With four seconds remaining, the Eagles led 37-34 when Orange’s Addie Atkins tied up Selaya Rogers, giving the ball to Orange on the possession arrow. George had a clean look from 3-point range to tie it up and appeared to be hit on the arm by an Eagle, but there was no call as the buzzer sounded.

After being limited to two field goals in the first half, the Eagles exploded to start the second half. Marion Scott scored all nine of her points in the third quarter. Trollinger drained four 3-pointers in the second half, included one that was banked in that put the Eagles ahead 27-20 at the end of the third quarter.

Atkins and George sparked a late comeback for the Lady Panthers. Atkins knocked down a 20-footer while George scored seven points in the fourth quarter. Alexis Stephens added her only field goal of the game. The Eagles’ succeeded in slowing the game down to its own, half-court plodding pace. Only three Orange players scored field goals as the Eagles won its Central Conference opener.

The Eagles defeated Orange for the third straight time. Last year, Orange defeated Eastern Alamance in the Southeastern Alamance Holiday Tournament.

Orange will host East Chapel Hill, a former conference rival, in Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

Cedar Ridge freshmen basketball players Kassidy Tolliver and Kennedi Fearrington have seen plenty of action right away in their high school careers. Tolliver is the leading scorer for the Red Wolves just six games into her varsity career. Against Durham School of the Arts last Friday, Tolliver led Cedar Ridge with 12 points as the Red Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 55-31 in a wire-to-wire victory. Against Eno River Academy on Wednesday night, Tolliver posted a career-high 17 points as the Red Wolves defeated the Bobcats 41-25, squaring its record on the season to 3-3. Fearrington added ten points as the Red Wolves defeated the Bobcats in the first-ever meeting between the two schools from Hillsborough. Cedar Ridge is replacing its top two scorers from last season. They lost Amiyah Ware, who holds the county record with 54 points in a game, when she graduated in June. Ware is now playing at Division II North Greenville. The Red Wolves also lost point guard Sarah Utley, who transferred. Cedar Ridge reached the state playoffs last season and finished with a 13-13 record. They will continue its season with a trip to Bear Creek to face Chatham Central on Wednesday night. They will open Central Conference play with a home game against Person on December 20, its final game before Christmas.

Cedar Ridge women’s basketball’s Kassidy Tolliver & Kennedi Fearrington talk win at DSA

Cedar Ridge freshmen basketball players Kassidy Tolliver and Kennedi Fearrington have seen plenty of action right away in their high school careers. Tolliver is the leading scorer for the Red Wolves just six games into her varsity career.

Cedar Ridge freshman J.E. Sandor had a memorable first high school debut at the Orange County Sportsplex on Monday night. Sandor broke the school record in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 57.03 seconds, automatically qualifying for the 3A Central Regionals in February. In the final event of the night, Sandor teamed with Christopher Seawell, Zion Green and Phillip Cauwels to win the 400 yard freestyle relay, finishing at 3:47.10. It was a successful opening night for the Cedar Ridge men’s team, which won all five of its dual meets against Central Conference opponents. The Red Wolves defeated Orange, the defending Central Conference champions. Sandor also finished second in the 100 yard breaststroke, also qualifying for regionals. Walter Williams Liam Miller narrowly beat Sandor to the wall in the breaststroke, winning by .17 of a second. Sandor, Seawell, Cauwels and Jacob Olmstead finished 2nd in the 200 yard medley relay with a time of 1:53.43. Sandor has been swimming from a young age and joins his teammates every weekday morning at the Sportsplex for practice. After a successful start to the season, the Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s swimming teams will return to action on Thursday, December 19 against Western Alamance and Williams at the Burlington YMCA.

Cedar Ridge freshman swimmer J.E. Sandor discusses record setting opening night

Cedar Ridge freshman J.E. Sandor had a memorable first high school debut at the Orange County Sportsplex on Monday night. Sandor broke the school record in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 57.03 seconds, automatically qualifying for the 3A Central Regionals in February.

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It’s not even the week before Christmas and the Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team has surpassed its win total from all of last year.

Braeden Wilbourn scored 20 points as the Red Wolves defeated Eno River Academy 73-53 at Red Wolves Gymnasium on Wednesday night. It was a wire-to-wire win for Cedar Ridge (4-2), who are off to its best start since the 2015-2016 season, which was the last time they made the playoffs.

Cole Creedle led the Bobcats with 12 points. Eno River fell to 8-3 following its first trip ever to Cedar Ridge, which is only eight miles away.

Last week, the Red Wolves defeated Durham School of the Arts at famed Sikes Gymnasium to win back-to-back road games for the first time since 2018.

Despite giving up size in most positions, the Red Wolves swarmed over the ball against the Bobcats. Junior Tripp Beasley sank the only 3-pointer of the first half for Cedar Ridge early as the Red Wolves built a 18-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Wilbourn scored seven points in the opening frame.

Cedar Ridge junior Tripp Beasley finished with 15 points. Last week, Beasley led Cedar Ridge with 20 points against the Bulldogs.

Cedar Ridge led 30-23 at halftime, but the Bobcats narrowed the led behind early field goals from Jack Kroothoep and Cire McGhee. Eno River’s Ryder Moore was fouled as he fired a rainbow 3-pointer that found its way through the net. He sank the free throw for a 4-point play that cut the Red Wolf lead down to three points.

In the fourth quarter, Cedar Ridge sophomore Jordan Jacobson came alive with four 3-pointers. Jacobson sank three in a row from beyond the arc to pull away. Beasley added another 3-pointer while Kevin Etim had a late lay-in to finish with a career-high ten points.

It was the second game in two nights for Cedar Ridge. They dropped a close loss to Northern Durham on Tuesday.

Women’s basketball: Cedar Ridge 41, Eno River Academy 25: 

The Cedar Ridge women’s team never trailed in beating Eno River in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Freshman Kassidy Tolliver led the Red Wolves with 17 points as Cedar Ridge won for the third time in four games.

Another freshman, Kennedi Fearrington, posted ten points to push the Red Wolves record to 3-3. Eno River, which fell to 4-7, was led by Seno Chan, who finished with eight points.

Cedar Ridge used its size and speed to hold the Bobcats to one field goal in the opening quarter. Tolliver scored eight points early while Elliott Weinfeld opened the game with a 3-pointer. Hailey McLeod and Ellamarie Perel came off the bench to score as the Red Wolves jumped out to an early lead they would not relinquish. Vivienne Matthews got the only points of the first quarter for Eno River.

The Bobcats actually outscored the Red Wolves in the second quarter as Chan got three field goals. Ally Almers and Sadie Olsen also scored for the Bobcats.

Tolliver scored nine points in the second half. Tiana Oxendine knocked down the only 3-pointer of the second half by either team.

Tolliver and Fearrington are producing early for a Cedar Ridge team that lost its top scorer and point guard from last year. Amiyah Ware, who set a county record by scoring 54 points against Western Alamance in 2023, graduated last June and is now playing at Division II North Greenville. Sarah Lowry, who was at Cedar Ridge for her junior year last year, transferred during the summer.

The Red Wolves defeated Durham School of the Arts last Friday for its first road win of the season. Tolliver led Cedar Ridge with 14 points against the Bulldogs while Fearrington added eleven points.

Last year, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team was dominant in its first-ever win over crosstown rival Orange.

On Wednesday night, a veteran and a grappler competing for the first time this season scored pins late in the night to break open a close match and secure the Red Wolves 2nd-ever win over the Panthers.

With Orange leading 30-28, Cedar Ridge sophomore Alejandro Briones pinned Markus Thomas at 144 pounds to put the Red Wolves ahead. Cedar Ridge would score pins in each of the last three matches to defeat the Panthers 52-30 at Panthers Gymnasium on Wednesday night. It was the first time ever that Cedar Ridge won at Orange.

Briones improved to 15-7 with his eighth pinfall win of the season.

In his first match of the season, Cedar Ridge junior Mikey O’Melia pinned Sebastain Guardia in 5:18 to put the Red Wolves ahead 40-30. At 157 pounds, the Red Wolves Ryan Rakouskas earned his team-leading 15th pin of the year by finishing Eben Petrides in 1:00. Rakouskas, who claimed his 100th win of the season last month, is 20-2 on the year.

Cedar Ridge senior Jordin Blue pinned Andrew Pavalonis to end the night in 57 seconds. Cedar Ridge improved to 10-5 overall, 2-1 in the Central Conference.

Orange fell to 3-2, 2-1 in the Central Conference.

None of the 14 matches went the distance and all were decided with bonus points. Cedar Ridge’s Shea Spiller started with a technical fall win over Conner Harward 18-2.

The Panthers, who started five freshman in the Jim King/Orange Invitational last week, surged ahead behind early pins from freshman Jordan Barbee, who defeated Will Meyer in 5:50. It was Barbee’s fourth pin of the season as he improved to 7-4.

Senior Jayden Medley put Orange ahead 12-5 after he pinned Daniel Silva in 51 seconds. Medley, who finished third in the Red Wolf Invitational last month, improved to 10-2 with his third pin.

At heavyweight, Carlos Baldwin pinned Orange’s Eli Clayton in 39 seconds. It was Baldwin’s seventh pin of the year as he won for the 12th time against six losses.

Juan Esparza Jaramillo put Cedar Ridge ahead with a pin of Max Molinar in 3:43. Jaramillo is 14-6. At 113 pounds, Favio Esparza Jaramillo pinned Brady McAdams in 1:02 to put the Red Wolves ahead 23-12.

Orange scored pins in three of the next four matches. At 120 pounds, Logan Scarantino defeated Angel Ramirez in 29 seconds. Cedar Ridge’s Pierce Prescod defeated Renn Van Hoose via technical fall to improve to 22-3, the most wins among the Red Wolves.

With Orange down 28-18, Adrian Sierra put the Panthers closer with a pin over Samuel Olmstead in 1:34. Panthers senior Braden Crawford defeated Graylon Collins at 138 pounds. Crawford is 9-3 after his seventh pin of the season.

There’s making an immediate sensation and there’s what Cedar Ridge freshman J.E. Sandor did on Monday night.

In his first high school meet, Sandor broke the school record in the 100 yard butterfly, immediately qualifying for the Central Regionals at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in February.

In addition, Cedar Ridge women’s relay team of Quinn McCrimmon, Margaret Payton, Natalie Kunz and Sophia Stinnett won the 400 yard freestyle relay. The Red Wolf 200 yard freestyle relay team of Stinnett, McCrimmon, Payton and Hala Zafar came close to breaking the school record in a runner-up finish to Orange. The Lady Panthers’ Ainsley Rasinske, Zoe Jones, Piper White and Reilly Jermyn won the event at 1:44.63.

It completed a big start to the season for the Red Wolf swimming team. Both the men’s and women’s squads won all five of its dual matches against Central Conference opponents, including victories over defending conference champion Orange at the Orange County Sportsplex on Monday. The Red Wolves men’s team won 71-67 over the Panthers. The Cedar Ridge women edged the Lady Panthers 88-79. Cedar Ridge also won over Eastern Alamance, Western Alamance, Southern Alamance and Walter Williams.

Orange senior Luke Roman, the defending 3A 500 yard freestyle state champion, already earned a spot in regionals in his top event last week. On Monday, he finished ahead of Sandor and also took the 200 yard individual medley, qualifying for regionals with a time of 2:05.21. His teammate, senior Nick Baczara, finished second at 2:16.42, also earning a spot in Greensboro.

Cedar Ridge’s Christopher  Seawell won two individual events. He took the 200 yard freestyle at 1:54.60, topping the runner-up by 20 seconds. Seawell also took the 100 yard backstroke at 1:00.92, beating out the 2nd place finisher by 12 seconds.

The Red Wolves’ Phillip Cauwels won the 500 yard freestyle at 5:25.49. Orange’s Ayden Twiddy came in second and earned an automatic spot at regionals at 5:40.65. Cauwels also earned a spot in regionals at 100 yard freestyle at 54.29, finishing second behind Western Alamance’s Eamon Hipps. Orange’s Noah Jones came in 3rd, punching his ticket to Greensboro at 57.50.

In the final event of the night, the Cedar Ridge men’s 400 yard freestyle relay team of Seawell, Sandor, Cauwels and Zion Green finished 1st at 3:47.10, beating the runner-up finisher by 53 seconds.

Orange’s Ayden Twiddy qualified for regionals in the 50 yard freestyle, finishing second at 24.18 seconds. Hipps won the event at 23.29.

Sandor also earned a spot in the 100 yard breaststroke at 1:09.38, finishing second. Walter Williams Liam Miller edged out Sandor for first place by .17 of a second.

Orange’s men’s 200 yard freestyle relay team of Baczara, Noah Jones, Jason Spey and Roman won the 200 yard freestyle relay at 1:37.91.

Stinnett, who won two regional championships last year, won the 100 yard backstroke at 1:05.47. Stinnett also finished second in the 500 yard freestyle at 5:41.26.

McCrimmon, another Cedar Ridge senior, won the 100 yard butterfly at 1:09.28.

Jermyn, in her second high school meet, won the 100 yard breaststroke (1:18.47). She also teamed with Rasinske, Jones and Piper White to win the 200 yard medley relay. The Orange women’s team won dual meets against Western Alamance, Southern Alamance, Western Alamance and Walter Williams.

Piper White swept the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. White, who was a member of two state championship relay teams last year, won the 50 yard freestyle at 25.95, holding off Payton for second place. Both qualified for regionals. White took the 100 yard freestyle at 1:00.79, beating Kunz for second. Cedar Ridge’s Eden Pollard finished third.

Also earning a spot in regionals for the Cedar Ridge women: Kunz in the 200 yard freestyle (3rd at 2:17.25); McCrimmon in the 200 yard individual medley (4th place at 2:31.25); Pollard in the 20o individual medley (5th at 2:39.14); Payton in the 50 yard freestyle (2nd at 27.33); Payton in the 500 yard freestyle (3rd at 6:05.14).

Also earning a spot in regionals for Orange was Jones, who finished second in the 200 yard individual medley and fourth in the 500 yard freestyle (5:57.33); Rasinske, who came in second in the 200 yard freestyle (2:19.79); and Addison Moore, who came in 5th in the 500 yard freestyle and 4th in the 100 yard backstroke.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore men’s basketball guard Jordan Jacobson. The Red Wolves have already surpassed its win total from all of last season. In its season-opener, the Red Wolves defeated Carrboro 54-52 at Red Wolf Gymnasium. Jacobson led Cedar Ridge with 20 points and finished 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Last season, Jacobson played regularly as a freshman. On Wednesday night, Jacobson hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as Cedar Ridge pulled away from Eno River Academy 73-53. He scored 16 points, including a dozen in the fourth quarter as the Red Wolves improved to 4-2. In a win over Durham School of the Arts on December 6, Jacobson scored 18 points as the Red Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 80-66. It was the first time since the 2017-2018 season that Cedar Ridge won consecutive road games. On November 26, the Red Wolves defeated Seaforth 80-66 to end a 16-game road losing streak. In the spring, Jacobson plays lacrosse. Last season, Cedar Ridge hosted a state playoff game against West Carteret. Jacobson scored 45 goals in his freshman year for the Red Wolves. He was second on the team with 75 points. During his freshman basketball season, Jacobson averaged 6.9 points per game. Jacobson has already been a vital contributor to a Cedar Ridge team that is looking to return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Jordan Jacobson

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore men’s basketball guard Jordan Jacobson. The Red Wolves have already surpassed its win total from all of last season. In its season-opener, the Red Wolves defeated Carrboro 54-52 at Red Wolf Gymnasium. Jacobson led Cedar Ridge with 20 points and finished 5-of-7 from 3-point range.