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There will be one final basketball doubleheader at Orange High this winter.

A difficult non-conference schedule led to the Orange men’s basketball team hosting a state playoff game for the second straight year.

The Orange women’s basketball team will host a state playoff game for the first time since 2019.

On Sunday, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the seeding for the state men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Orange, which finished in third place in the Central Conference, received a #13 seed. The Panthers will host #20 C.B. Aycock in Hillsborough on Tuesday night in the opening round of the 3A State Tournament.

The Orange women, which reached the Central Conference Tournament championship game, received a #16 seed. The Lady Panthers will face Swansboro, the #17 seed from the Costal Conference in the opening round.

The Orange men’s team jumped ahead of Eastern Alamance in the final regular season RPI rankings released by the NCHSAA on Sunday morning. The Panthers played six games against teams that won their respective regular season conference championships. They defeated Voyager Academy, who finished 12-0 in the 1A Triangle North Athletic Conference, in the season-opener. They also won at Chapel Hill, which finished 3rd in the DAC Conference, and was one of only two teams to defeat Central Conference champion Person.

Though Eastern Alamance swept the regular season series from Orange to tie Person for a share of the conference regular season title, the Eagles also lost to Chapel Hill (65-37), Mt. Zion Christian Academy, whom the Panthers defeated 60-56 on November 22. The Eagles also dropped a game to Western Alamance, a squad the Panthers handily swept.

Most intriguing of all for Orange is the potential second-round matchup. The winner of Orange-C.B. Aycock will face either Person or Currituck County. The Panthers have played Person three times, with the total margin of victory being five points. On January 9, Person led 28-9 in Roxboro, but Orange roared back with its best outside shooting game of the season in a stunning 67-65 win in Roxboro.

On February 4, Person defeated Orange 53-52 in Hillsborough. Last Tuesday, Person’s Tyler Wilson scored on a stickback bucket at the buzzer to lift the Rockets over the Panthers 55-53.

Person (25-2), seeded #4, had both of its regular season losses come in a span of five days during January. They have avenged losses to Orange and Eastern Alamance this month and defeated both teams to win the Central Conference Tournament last week.

C.B. Aycock and Orange have one common opponent this season. East Wake, the champions of the Quad County Conference, defeated Orange 57-54 on December 27 in the South Granville Holiday Invitational when Jamal Tayborn hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in Creedmoor.

C.B. Aycock split the season series with East Wake. The Golden Falcons defeated East Wake 79-67 on December 20, just before the Warriors game against Orange. East Wake won the rematch 61-57 in Wendell.

C.B. Aycock is undefeated in February and takes an eight-game winning streak into the state playoffs. They haven’t lost since January 29.

Most likely, Tuesday will be the final home game for Orange seniors Xandrell Pennix, Freddy Sneed, Michael Clark, Ethan Ellis, Conrad Graham, Jamari McDaniel, Barrett Liner and Ian Wilson.

The Orange women’s basketball team surpassed Eastern Alamance in the final two weeks of the season to earn a home date in the state playoffs. Senior Shannon Murphy hit two free throws with one second remaining to push the Lady Panthers past Eastern Alamance 64-63 on February 18 in Hillsborough. Last week, the Panthers routed the Eagles 54-36 at Western Alamance to reach the title game of a conference tournament for the first time since 2017.

The winner of Orange-Swansboro will face either top-seeded Terry Sanford or #32 West Johnston.

Swansboro finished the regular season with five straight wins, including two victories over West Carteret in a span of eleven days to wind up in second place in the Coastal Conference. The Pirates (14-6) finished behind Croatan.

Orange (17-9) had a season-best six-game winning streak come to an end against Western Alamance in the Central Conference Tournament championship game in Hillsborough on Saturday. In all likelihood, it will be the final home game for Orange seniors Evelyn George, Marshea Byrd, Shannon Murphy, Chloe Caldwell, Bryce Jones and Rhiley Crabtree.

The last time the Orange women’s team hosted a state playoff game, it was 2019. Eastern Alamance upset Orange 57-52 in Hillsborough. The Lady Panthers last state playoff win came in 2017 when they defeated Havelock in the 2nd round behind 20 points from Kaylen Campbell, now a Lady Panthers assistant coach.

Appeals from Orange High Principal Jason Johnson and athletic director Jason Knapp apparently didn’t sway the North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment committee.

On February 14, the committee released its third draft of conferences that will go into effect in August, based on the new, expanded eight classification model by the NCHSAA, which is shifting away from the traditional four classifications.

The latest draft keeps Cedar Ridge and Orange as 5A teams. They would be in a conference with Durham School of the Arts, Seaforth, South Granville, J.F. Webb and Carrboro.

The only change from the prior two drafts is the inclusion of Carrboro, which is currently classified as a 4A team. The other six teams would be 5A. It would make the new conference, which is yet to be finalized or named, a split 5A-4A league. In previous drafts, Carrboro was penciled in for a league with Southwestern Randolph, Jordan-Matthews, Uwharrie Charter, Eastern Randolph, North Moore and Northwood.

Since 2021, Cedar Ridge and Orange have competed in the Central Conference with teams primarily based in Alamance County. It started with Western Alamance, Eastern Alamance, Walter Williams, Person, Northwood and the two Hillsborough schools. In 2023, Southern Alamance replaced Northwood, which dropped down to 2A.

If Johnson and Knapp had their way, Orange would be in a league that maintains rivalries with Alamance and Person County schools. On February 4, Johnson and Knapp made their appeals heard in front of the realignment committee in Chapel Hill.

“In a nutshell, our students are going to have to be out of class longer,” Knapp said. “That schedule keeps our students in class longer and it’s more beneficial to us as an athletic department.”

Currently, the longest distance for a conference game for Orange High is the trek to Western Alamance. 28 miles separates Orange from Western Alamance. Cedar Ridge’s longest road trip is Person, which is 29 miles, or about 45-50 minutes via bus.

On top of that, Alamance County Schools have traditional media outlets. While the Burlington Times-News scaled back its sports division in 2019, they still have consistent sports coverage. Bob Sutton, the longtime Sports Editor of the Times-News, is now a writer for the weekly Alamance News.

The presence has helped Alamance County Schools retain a strong fan base amid a growing district. Over the weekend, there were solid turnouts at Orange High School as the Western Alamance women’s basketball team and the Eastern Alamance men’s basketball team competed during the Central Conference Tournament in Hillsborough.

“Alamance County schools travel well,” Knapp said. “The proximity isn’t very far. You have Eastern Alamance 20 minutes away. Southeast Alamance 20 minutes away. Southern (Alamance) and (Walter) Williams are probably 30 minutes.”

Under the proposed new conference, Orange would have a 47-mile trip for conference games at Webb High School in Oxboro. The Panthers would travel 36 miles for conference games against Seaforth in Chatham County.

Cedar Ridge would travel 48 miles to Oxford and 30 miles to Seaforth. Both the Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s basketball teams had road trips to Seaforth and DSA this season.

Among Knapp’s major concerns is not just varsity sports.

“All the schools over there (Alamance County) have very good JV and varsity programs,” Knapp said. “To go along with that, we’re not really sure if that would be available in the new conference if that’s going to be available as far as junior varsity programs.”

Durham School of the Arts is the current incarnation of Durham High School, which traces it roots all the way back to 1906. Once a rival to Orange High, Durham High became a magnet school in 1995 after winning a football title the old Crescent Conference. Since it was rebranded Durham School of the Arts, the institution has never fielded a football team.

As Orange and Cedar Ridge wait for the final decision from the realignment committee, football scheduling for 2025 has been delayed. With potentially only six teams fielding football teams in the new league, local athletic directors have been unclear about how many non-conference games will be required for next year.

“That concerns us, as well,” Knapp said. “We feel like we need to do what’s best for Orange High School. Our student-athletes are our biggest concern.”

Katie Belle Sikes: The University of Georgia women’s swimming team finished fourth in the Southeastern Conference championships at Bauerle Pool at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, GA last week. Sikes accomplished a personal best in the 100 yard freestyle, finishing 26th with a B-cut of 48.94 seconds. In the 400 yard freestyle relay, Sikes, Helena Jones, Slaone Reinstein and Ieva Maluka came in sixth with an A-cut time of 3:13.37. It was the first time that the Georgia women’s swimming team finished in the top four since 2022. Next week, Sikes will compete in the Bulldog Invitational Last Chance meet.

Carson Bradsher: After transferring to Division III Averett University away from South Carolina Upstate, Bradsher finally got to make her debut with the Cougars softball team this weekend. Averett split a doubleheader with Methodist University at Price Field in Fayetteville. Bradsher hit leadoff in both games. In the nightcap, which was a 14-5 win over Methodist in six innings, Bradsher went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases. Bradsher scored the game-winning run off a double by Mackenzie Newcomb in the fourth inning as the Cougars came back from a 5-1 deficit to win. In the first game, Bradsher went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. The Cougars came back from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game, but the Monarchs won 8-7 with a walkout run in the seventh.

Takia Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team lost to North Carolina A&T 14-6 in six innings at Aggies Softball Complex in Greensboro on Wednesday. Nichols drove in the first run of the game with an RBI groundout. Nichols, who started at first base, went 1-for-3. Over the weekend, Longwood swept a doubleheader from the Eagles on scores of 10-0 and 8-0. Central is 1-8 and will travel to East Carolina on Wednesday.

Mary Moss Wirt: Wire played in the Elon softball team’s win over Villanova on Saturday. The Phoenix defeated the Wildcats 4-3 at McWhorter Stadium at Clemson University. Elon went 2-2 in the event, including two wins over Villanova and a 4-3 loss to Clemson.

Ava Lowry: Division III North Carolina Wesleyan started its season by splitting a doubleheader against Bridgewater at Edge Field in Rocky Mount on Sunday. In the opening game, Bridgewater defeated the Battling Bishops 1-0 Lowry started both games at shortstop. Wesleyan won the second game 3-2, scoring the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Lowry finished 1-for-2. The Battling Bishops will travel to Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday.

Brianne Foster: The Wake Tech Community College softball team started its season against USC Sumter in South Carolina on Saturday. Sumter swept a doubleheader. In the opener, which Sumter won 1-0, Foster started as catcher. Foster, a former catcher at Orange, entered the second game as a reserve. On Wednesday, Wake Tech will travel to Pitt Community College in Winterville.

Coltin Hedrick: The Wake Tech baseball team took a series from Guilford Technical Community College over the weekend. Hedrick made his first appearance for Wake Tech in the opening game of a doubleheader on Sunday. Hedrick came out of the bullpen and threw a shutout inning, striking out two batters in one-and-one-third inning. Guilford Tech won that game 10-8. The Eagles would go on to take the nightcap 9-8. Coltin’s brother, Wyatt, is also pitching for the Eagles. Wake Tech is 6-7 overall and will travel to Gaston College in Gastonia on Tuesday. Former Orange pitcher Cross Clayton is on the roster at Gaston. 2

Cy Horner: The Methodist men’s lacrosse team defeated Virginia Wesleyan 10-9 at Monarch Stadium in Fayetteville on Saturday. Horner scored two goals, including a man-up goal in the fourth quarter to put the Monarchs ahead 9-6. In the opening four games of the year, Horner has scored four goals. Methodist is now 2-2 and will face State University of New York Delhi on Wednesday at Monarch Stadium.

Nick Cardone: The Catawba College men’s lacrosse team rolled past Barton 13-2 at Shuford Stadium in Salisbury. Cardone, a former Orange High defensemen, played in his second game of the year. Catawba is 4-0 and will travel to Tusculum next Saturday.

It was the requiem for the Central Conference basketball tournament.

It was likely the final time that rivals from Alamance, Orange and Person Counties would converge inside one gymnasium for local basketball supremacy.

When the Central Conference started in 2021-2022, the Western Alamance women’s basketball team was knocking on the door of being the queens of the conference. Before 2023 was over, they kicked the door in when they ended Northwood’s dynasty in the 3rd round of the state playoffs.

On Saturday, they likely ended their run in the league as the undisputed champions as a threat to win the 3A State Championship.

Allie Sykes scored 28 points as Western Alamance claimed its second consecutive Central Conference championship with a wire-to-wire 76-38 win over Orange at Panther Gymnasium in Hillsborough. It was the Warriors (22-4) 26th consecutive win against a conference opponent. The latest Warrior win came on the same floor where they last lost a conference game. The Lady Panthers upset Western 45-42 on January 3, 2024.

Since then, the Lady Warriors have won five straight over Orange. The level of domination was nothing unusual for Western Alamance and neither was the way they went about it. The Lady Warriors forced 18 turnovers in the first half. They out rebounded Orange 45-31, grabbing 22 offensive rebounds. Sykes shot 8-of-15 from 3-point range.

Seniors Tina Bowers and Cayden White each added ten points for the Warriors. Bowers also contained Orange’s leading scorer Evelyn George, who was held to four points, just one above her season-low.

Orange (17-9) tried to slow the game down, which worked to an extent early. Senior center Marshea Byrd scored on a lay-in off an entry pass from Addie Atkins to even the game at 4-4 midway through the first quarter. Then the Warriors started forcing turnovers off its full court press. Sykes’ first 3-pointer put the Warriors ahead for good. Western closed out the first quarter with a 10-5 run, capped by a shot from downtown by Ziomara Moser.

Central Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Final: Person 67, Eastern Alamance 65: 

With big stakes on the line, Person overcame the loss of leading scorer Lance Clarke to defeat the Eagles and claim one of the top-ten seeds in the 3A State Tournament.

Clarke led the Rockets with 21 points, but fouled out with 1:56 remaining in regulation. The Rockets also lost starting forward DaeJon Hodge in a game that was truly last man standing by sundown.

Eastern Alamance lost sophomore shooting guard Hunter Eichman with a lower-body injury in the second quarter and didn’t return.

Eastern Alamance’s leading scorer, Ja’vier Tinnin, fouled out in the waning minutes, as well.

Eagles freshman Mason Murphy sank two free throws to tie the game at 53-53 with 5:48 remaining in regulation. Clarke dropped off a pass to Quante Bowman, who sank a 3-poiner from the wing. It vaulted the Rockets ahead for good.

The Eagles went 4:27 without a field goal in the fourth quarter. Person guard Tyler Wilson found Clarke in transition for a lay-in, which sent the Rockets off and running in their full-throttle transition game. After a miss by Tinnin, Wilson found Clarke again for a bucket to give the Rockets at 60-54 lead.

Person overcame a slow start as the Eagles came out of the gates with an 18-6 lead. Eichman hit two 3-pointers early, followed by another from Ryan Tate.

Person reserve Kyan Lunsford started a Person rally with the final three-pointer of the first quarter, reducing the Eagle lead to 21-11.

In the second quarter, Eastern Alamance led 27-19. Then Person went on a 14-4 run, capped by a lay-in by Lunsford off a pass from Wilson, giving the Rockets its first lead of the game at 33-31.

Person (25-2) truly had plenty to lose. The Rockets have been ranked among the top-five teams in the East Region RPI all season. If they had lost, the best seed they could have received for next week’s 3A State Tournament would have been a #11 seed. Most likely, the Rockets will receive the #4 seed in the East Region.

Eastern Alamance finishes the regular season with a share of the Central Conference regular season title and a 16-9 overall record.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore wrestler Alejandro Briones. This season, Briones won his second Central Conference championship. At Walter Williams High School, Briones pinned Orange High’s Sebastian Guardia in 1:36 to take the conference crown. Briones, the top-seed, pinned Aiden Cameron of Southern Alamance in the semifinals. Briones has been a quick study for the Red Wolves. A regular starter during his freshman year, he was an invaluable presence during Cedar Ridge’s run to the Central Conference regular season championship in 2023-2024. Briones went 23-14 in his freshman year and defeated senior Mason Tanner of Eastern Alamance to win the 2024 Central Conference championship at 144-pounds. Last week at the Mideast Regional championships at Cedar Ridge High, Briones reached the semifinals and came one win shy of qualifying for the state championships. He starts the tournament by pinning Gavin Macmurray of E.E. Smith. In the quarterfinals, Briones outscored Kyan Webster of Eastern Guilford 24-20. Briones hasn’t lost to a Central Conference opponent in his first two years. He has accumulated 66 wins in his first two varsity seasons. As Pierce Prescod and Ryan Rakouskas graduate, Briones will be one of the grapplers that head coach Scott Metcalf relies on to lead the Cedar Ridge wrestling program into the future.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Alejandro Briones

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore wrestler Alejandro Briones. This season, Briones won his second Central Conference championship. At Walter Williams High School, Briones pinned Orange High’s Sebastian Guardia in 1:36 to take the conference crown. Briones, the top-seed, pinned Aiden Cameron of Southern Alamance in the semifinals.

Next week marks the beginning of Cedar Ridge senior pitcher Quinn Finnegan’s final season. Finnegan is a true renaissance man with the Red Wolves. Just last week, Finnegan appeared on WRAL’s Brain Game with Cedar Ridge. This year, Finnegan wants to take the Diamond Red Wolves to the Central Conference championship. In December, Finnegan signed with Wagner College based out of Staten Island, New York. Through his relentless work ethic, Finnegan has been a constant at the Barn, a local facility for baseball players. A founding member of Cedar Ridge’s DECA Club, Finnegan is a three-time co-Captain of the Cedar Ridge baseball team under head coach Bryson Massey. He has a 4.38 grade-point average, 31st in his class. He was inducted into the National Honor Society last year. Finnegan was an All-Central Conference selection last season after helping Cedar Ridge finish in 3rd place in the Central Conference. With the graduation of Mason Cates, Finnegan will be the top man in the Red Wolves pitching rotation in a highly competitive conference. Cedar Ridge will open its season with three home games next week. They will open against Jordan on Tuesday night at 7 PM. On Wednesday, the Red Wolves will face Burlington Christian Academy. Then they’ll take on South Granville next Friday.

Cedar Ridge pitcher Quinn Finnegan discusses signing with Wagner College

Next week marks the beginning of Cedar Ridge senior pitcher Quinn Finnegan’s final season. Finnegan is a true renaissance man with the Red Wolves. Just last week, Finnegan appeared on WRAL’s Brain Game with Cedar Ridge. This year, Finnegan wants to take the Diamond Red Wolves to the Central Conference championship.

For Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod, his wait to reach the 3A State Wrestling championships wasn’t denied. It was just delayed. Last Saturday, Prescod finished third in the Mideast Regional championships at Cedar Ridge High School at 120 pounds. Prescod had to overcome some anxious moments in the consolation semifinals. Facing Westover Connor Dean, Prescod got out to a 5-1 lead at the end of the first period. Prescod scored a slam that left Dean injured. It was reminiscent of 2023, when Prescod was disqualified in the consolation semifinal at 120 pounds. This time, the slam was ruled legal. Prescod was awarded the win when Dean couldn’t continue. Prescod would go on to finish in 3rd place in the regional with a decisive technical fall victory over Chris Schroth of Union Pines 20-4. Prescod is now 49-8 on the season. On Saturday in the opening round of the 3A State Tournament at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, Prescod pinned Ethan Brownlee of South Johnston in 5:53. Prescod is now tied with Kaden Tatro for second place all-time in school history in career wins. Prescod has now won 161 matches. Earlier this year, he celebrated his 100th career pinfall win. Prescod will face Kane Bryson of Pisgah in the state quarterfinals on Sunday.

Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod discusses qualifying for state wrestling championships

For Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod, his wait to reach the 3A State Wrestling championships wasn’t denied. It was just delayed. Last Saturday, Prescod finished third in the Mideast Regional championships at Cedar Ridge High School at 120 pounds. Prescod had to overcome some anxious moments in the consolation semifinals.

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After being a member of Orange’s men’s cross country state championship in November, junior Myles Jermyn nearly won an individual state title in Winston-Salem.

At the 3A State Indoor Track & Field Championships at the JDL Fast Track on February 15; Jermyn finished 2nd in the 3,200 meters. The longest race in track & field came down to a thrilling finish as North Buncombe’s Michael Ferguson edged Jermyn to the finish line by .62 of a second. Ferguson crossed the finish line at 9:24.38, while Jermyn clocked in at 9:25.00.

Jermyn’s teammate, junior Lucas Van Mater, finished at 9:37.44.

Meanwhile, Cedar Ridge nearly had its first individual track and field state champion since 2022. Junior Ender Buchanan finished second in the pole vault, topping out at 14-feet. Swansboro’s James Yesunas captured the state championship at 14-feet, 6-inches.

Orange junior Owen Grant finished tied for 16th at 11-feet, 6-inches.

Cedar Ridge’s last state champion in track & field was Caroline Fowlkes, who won the pole vault in the 2022 outdoor track and field championships at Truist Stadium at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro.

Orange’s relay team of Cyrus Neal, Grant Schid, Van Mater and Jermyn finished 2nd in the 4×800 meter relay. They closed at 8:16.39. Croatan won the state championship at 7:59.66.

Cedar Ridge senior Naomi Dyreng finished in the top-five in two separate events. She finished 5th in the 1,600 meters at 5:16.18. North Lincoln had the top two finishers. Olivia Ferraro claimed the state title at 5:07.95, while Bella Green finished 2nd (5:09.91).

Dyreng also finished 5th in the 3,200 meters (11:38.42). Morgan Miller of First Flight claimed the state title at 10:49.37, a good 14 seconds ahead of the runner-up, freshman June Leis of A.C. Reynolds (11:03.96).

Orange junior Adeline Alvis finished 5th in the long jump at 17-feet, 6-inches. Alvis also nearly medaled in the 4×400 relay. Running the anchor leg with Gianni Burnette, Asia Whitsett and Kayla Willey, Orange finished at 4:13.05. Franklin’s team earned the bronze at 4:12.85. Greensboro Dudley, who won the overall women’s team championship, earned the gold medal at 4:01.82.

The Orange men’s 4×400 relay team of Riley Potter, Cyrus Neal, Hunter Albert and Gabe Yen finished 10th at 3;38.41. Dudley, which won the overall men’s state championship, earned the relay state title with a time of 3:29.45.

Neal finished 8th in the 1000 meters at 2:43.77. Croatan’s Noah Guerrero won the state title at 2:30.29.

Orange finished 13th in the women’s  4×800 relay. Sullivan Gaddy, Kayla Willey, Evelyn Over and Caroline Cathey finished at 11:03.97.

Orange’s Clara Flowkes came in fourth in the women’s pole vault as she cleared 8-feet, 6-inches. Blythe Jaworsky of North Lincoln claimed the state title at 10-feet, 6-inches.