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When your offense starts sluggish coming off a rivalry game, sometimes just having Connor Crabtree is enough.

Orange labored through a lethargic opening  against Southern Alamance on Tuesday night at Jim King Gymnasium, scoring just one field goal in the opening six minutes. After Southern’s Harrison Cochran’s backdoor lay-in put the Patriots ahead 7-6, Crabtree simply took the game over.

He went on a personal 9-0 run bridging the opening quarters, finished with 29 and Orange (5-3) defeated Southern Alamance 71-55.

Fellow senior Logan Vosburg added 14 points, while freshman  Mitch Portman also added 14, 13 in the 2nd half.

Orange’s defense held the Patriots (2-6) to nine points in the second quarter and never led by less than ten points in the second half.

Kyle Forbes led the Patriots with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Harrison Cochran added 15.

“It took a while for us to get into a flow on offense tonight,” said Orange Coach Greg Motley. “We didn’t anticipate that. We feel that’s one of our strong points. At least it has so far this season. So we struggled to get into a groove.”

Orange was aided at the beginning of the second quarter after a bizarre technical foul against SAHS. Patriots backup center Lewis Drake was cited for wearing a different colored t-shirt underneath his red jersey. That led to Crabtree scoring both technical free throws, then canned a 15-footer on the subsequent possession.

At one point, Motley inserted the Football Four off the bench: Ryan Sellers, Morgan Pashcal. Kendall Whitted and Eli Haithcock, all of whom joined the team two weeks ago after Orange’s football season ended. Sellers had a season-high seven points of the bench.

While Orange still prides itself on its transition game, the one thing that’s missing this year is a point guard that can lead the break. Crabtree has triggered almost all of Orange’s transition opportunities, which Motley doesn’t mind. He just prefers Crabtree as a finisher.

“We’ve looked at our freshman guards (Portman and Joey McMillian) to try to fill that role,” said Motley. “It’s a work in progress.”

Orange will return to action against East Chapel Hill on Wednesday night, the team they defeated for its first win of the season 57-55 on November 29th.

“We have to enjoy this one quickly,” said Motley. “It’s a tough one tomorrow.”

ORANGE 71, SOUTHERN ALAMANCE 55

SOUTHERN ALAMANCE: Kyle Forbes 19, Jsi Hatfield 5, Harrison Cochran 15, Chandler Smith 7, Mikol Slade 2, Grant Sharpe 2, Lewis Drake 5.

ORANGE: Mitch Portman 14, Connor Crabtree 29, Logan Vosburg 14, Eli Haithcock 2, Morgan Paschal 1, Ryan Sellers 7, Matt Athenton 2, Treshon Richardson 2.

Even without placing a starter in double figures, the Orange girls basketball team found a way to start 6-0 for the first time in eight years.

Sophomore Lauren Cates came off the bench to score 16 points, including four three-pointers, while Icez Barnett added a dozen as the Panthers defeated Southern Alamance 52-39 on Tuesday night at Jim King Gymnasium.

Orange is 6-0 for the first time since the 2008-09 season, when they played in the 2A/1A Mid State Conference.

The Panthers never trailed against the Patriots (1-5), but it was a battle. Trailing by 14 early in the third quarter, Southern got consecutive field goals from Meghan Deese to narrow their deficit to 34-29 going into the fourth quarter. The Patriots made their charge with four reserves on the floor, including point guard Gracie Williams, who went the rest of the way running the offense.

Orange started the fourth quarter with consecutive three-pointers from Cates to push the advantage up to 40-29.

Orange’s 33 bench points were a season high.

“We have more scorers on this team than any other I’ve had,” said Orange coach B.J. Condron. “I think we played tentative at times tonight. I’d like to see us play a little better than we did at times tonight.”

Kaylen Campbell, Orange’s leading scorer, opened the game with a three-pointer that banked in off the right win. Campbell finished with nine, the first time all year she’s been held under double figures.

It was the second time in three weeks the Panthers defeated the Patriots. Orange won 47-3o in Graham on November 30.

Tuesday’s contest was the first in a span of three games in four days. On Wednesday night, the Panthers travel to East Chapel Hill. Tipoff is at 5:30. Orange defeated East Chapel Hill 58-51 on November 29. After a day off Thursday, Orange returns to Big 8 Conference action on Friday with a home game against Northern Vance. The Vikings fell to Cedar Ridge on Tuesday 56-32.

ORANGE 52, SOUTHERN ALAMANCE 39

SOUTHERN ALAMANCE: Allysa Jacobson 2, Eden Deanhardt 3, Jenna Haugle 17, Caroline Cousey 4, Gracie Williams 4, Cheyenne Cox 2, Meghan Deese 7.

ORANGE: Kaylen Campbell 9, Jazlyn Watson 8, Mia Davidson 2, Bethlyn Early 2, Janea Myers 3, Icez Barnett 12, Lauren Cates 16.

Joey McMullin scored 15 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range, as Orange held off Cedar Ridge 60-59 on Saturday at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

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McMullin hit 5-of-7 from three point range as the Panthers edged the Red Wolves 60-59 on Saturday

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Campbell lead Orange with ten points as the Panthers improved to 5-0.

It would be inaccurate to say the Orange-Cedar Ridge girls game was just as physical as the Army-Navy football game it coincided with on Saturday afternoon.

But only slightly inaccurate.

Players hit the floor with reckless abandon so often, one may have wondered if the officials would throw a flag for targeting. In the third quarter, Cedar Ridge’s leading scorer, Carrie Davis,  had to go under concussion protocol following a midcourt collision for a loose ball.

In the end, Orange won 42-34 after holding the Red Wolves scoreless in the final 4:44. The Panthers (5-0, 1-0 in the Big 8) are off to their best start ever under head coach B.J. Condron, now in his fourth season.

Kaylen Campbell led Orange with ten points, while Lauren Cates and Icez Barnett added seven. Davis led Cedar Ridge (3-3, 0-1) with ten points.

Davis hit a three-pointer to give Cedar Ridge a 34-32 lead with 4:44 remaining, the seventh lead change of the second half. Barnett’s lay-up with 2:47 remaining put Orange ahead for good.

The two teams have now split the last six meetings.

“We knew coming in that this was going to be a battle,” said Condron. “It’s like that anytime Orange and Cedar Ridge play. I think we managed the game well in the end by hitting free throws.”

Clinging to a 35-34 lead with 2:14 remaining, the Panthers went 7-of11 from the foul line down the stretch.

Free throws turned out to be Cedar Ridge’s undoing. The Red Wolves went 5-from-20 from the foul line.

“That was the difference in the game,” said Cedar Ridge Coach Felton Page. “You’re not going to win too many ballgames like that.”

Orange jumped out to a 12-4 lead after two early field goals from Bethlyn Early and a three-pointer from Campbell.

The lead would extend to 17-5 before Cedar Ridge mounted a charge. Guard Taylin Jean scored all five of her points during a 13-4 Red Wolves run to close out the second quarter, narrowing Orange’s lead to 21-18 at the half.

Cedar Ridge’s Jasmin Lee scored her only field goal of the day to give the Red Wolves it’s first lead of the day with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter, while Miracle Page knocked in a three-pointer in the waning second to put the Red Wolves ahead going into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter had five lead changes and two ties. After Campbell started the stanza with a trey to put Orange ahead 30-28, Davis tied the game with a one-handed runner. Barnett and Cates had key steals during the Cedar Ridge dry spell that ended the game.

Orange’s Mia Davidson and Early finished with seven rebounds. Campbell and Barnett each had three steals.

Orange has three games this week. They face Southern Alamance at home on Tuesday at 5:30, followed by a road trip against East Chapel Hill on Wednesday, also at 5:30. They continue conference play with another home game against Northern Vance on Friday at 6.

Cedar Ridge hosts Northern Vance on Tuesday at 6, then travels to Southern Durham on Friday at 7.

ORANGE–Grace Dively 5, Kaylen Campbell 10, Icez Barnett 7, Lauren Cates 7, Mia Davidson 2, Bethlyn Early 6, Adalyn Fleming 2, Janea Myers 1, Mary Beth Dobbins 2.

CEDAR RIDGE–Yolanda Simpson 4, Miracle Page 6, Carrie Davis 10, Taylin Jean 5, Madison Wardlow 4, Natalia Garay 1, Jacori Walton 1, Jasmyn Lee 2, Abby Lloyd 1.

For the first time in his four year tenure, B.J. Condron has led Orange to a 5-0 start after beating crosstown rival Cedar Ridge 42-34 on Saturday at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Orange Girls Coach B.J. Condron Discusses the Panthers 42-34 Win Over Cedar Ridge

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Coming off its first conference win of the season, the Orange wrestling team maintained an undefeated record after winning all five matches at the Jim Coggins Hall of Fame Classic held at Southwest Guilford High School in High Point on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers defeated Rockingham County 66-15; shut out Ronald Reagan 77-0; also whitewashed Eastern Guilford 78-0; topped North Davidson 69-9 and held off Southwest Guilford 45-26.

Senior Charley Fitzpatrick scored four pinfall victories, improving his record to 14-1 with twelve pins. He pinned Rockingham’s Steven Washburn in 4:47, finished off Eastern Guilford’s Dalton Stanley in 1:05; pinned North Davidson’s Cameron Fisher in 2:32 and polished off Southwest Guilford’s Luiz Velez in :22.

Also earning four victories on the day was Avery Jenkins at 145 pounds. Jenkins is now 11-3 with ten pins. He pinned Rockingham’s Lawrence Mitchell in 3:41; pinned Eastern Guilford’s Darius Alston in 1:03; pinned North Davidson’s Gabriel Blackman in 1:58 and scored a major decision against Southwest Guilford’s Kevin Arango 13-0.

At 106, Mitchell Askew was the only grappler in the entire meet to earn five wins. After two forfeits, he defeated Eastern Guilford’s Tyree Harris 10-5; pinned North Davidison’s Logan Qualkenbush in 2:22 and got a technical fall over Southwest Guilford’s Tristen Dean 16-0. Askew is 14-2 on the season.

Josiah Ramirez, coming off his Jim King Invitational Championship at 170 pounds, also picked up four individual wins to remain undefeated at 16-0. After a forfeit win against Reagan, he pinned Eastern Guilford’s Isaiah Manning in 1:35; North Davidson’s Shawn Tibet in 1:25 and Southwest Guilford’s Alex Thompson also in 1:25.

Heavyweight Daylen Alston also earned four victories, three by pinfall. He pinned Eastern Guilford’s C.J. Newman in 2:45; North Davidson’s Desmon Hall in 1:14 and Southwest Guilford’s John Oxce in 2:37.

After winning the 220-pound championship at the Jim King Invitational, junior Payton Wilson earned four victories: forfeits over Rockingham and Eastern Guilford. He pinned Southwest Guilford’s Tyler Chambers in 2:02 and earned a major decision over Reagan’s Robert Sprinkle 15-1. Wilson, who began wrestling practice two weeks ago, is 9-0.

At 138 pounds, Levi Anderson picked up four wins, including three pins. Anderson is now 11-4 and is on a five match winning streak.

Junior Bailey Hawkins picked up three wins, including a pin of Reagan’s Rhett Steelman in :28. That ties Hawkins’ fastest pin of the season.

Orange is now 13-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big 8. They face a crucial Big 8 Conference match against Northwood on Wednesday in Jim King Gymnasium. Last year in Pittsboro, Northwood led Orange 36-34 going into the final match at 170, where then-sophomore Jamar Davis won 14-4 to give the Panthers a 38-36 victory.

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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,

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.