23 assists on 29 field goals led to a successful first trip to Southeast Alamance to venerable Orange High Gymnasium.
Sophomore forward Donnie Fairley finished with 19 points and eleven rebounds for his eighth career double-double as the Stallions defeated Orange 81-53 in Hillsborough on Thursday night. Senior Davian Edwards, coming off scoring 30 points against Seaforth, led all scorers with 22 points as Southeast Alamance won its first-ever meeting with Orange.
Junior Hector Garrido paced Orange (1-6) with eleven points, but the Panthers were hard pressed to match the speed of the Stallions. Southeast Alamance utilised a half-court trap that forced 25 Panther turnovers off 17 steals. Edwards and James Kenan each registered four steals as the Stallions improved to 6-2 with its fourth straight win.
There was a feeling out process in the opening minutes where Orange took its only lead of the game off a lay-in by Jalen Crayton off a feed from Garrido, who led the Panthers with five assists. The Stallions held Orange scoreless in the subsequent 4:16 and reeled off eleven straight points to assume command, starting with a jumper from Edwards. Jakhai McKenzie, who finished with 14 points, opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer assisted by Kenan. The Stallions shot 7-of-10 from the field in the second frame.
After Garrido scored off a give-and-go from Logan Edwards to reduce the Stallions lead to 20-15, Southeast ended the first half with eight straight points. Fairley scored three straight field goals, each assisted by reserve Logan Luang Sy, to push the Stallions lead to 26-14.
The Stallions started the second half with eight straight points, keyed by a thunderous dunk by Fairley that sent the Stallions fans reeling to push the Stallion advantage to 36-15. Orange scored eleven consecutive points, triggered by Jakob Silinski scoring in transition off a pass from Garrido while getting fouled by Sy. Carson James collected an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and fed Garrido, who was fouled by Sy, as well. Garrido’s free throw ended a five-point trip. J.T. Gray banked in a free throw line jumper to cut the Stallions lead to 45-33.
Fairley went to work as the fourth quarter started, leading a 8-2 run that ended any serious Orange threat. Landon Gardner drained a 3-pointer as the Stallions scored a whopping 36 points in the final quarter on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.
Orange will play its final game before Christmas against Cummings in Burlington on Monday. Panthers coach Derryl Britt will return to the sidelines against the Cavaliers after a three-game absence.
Women’s Basketball: Southeast Alamance 65, Orange 36
The Southeast Alamance women’s basketball team are the defending 2A State Champions returning all five starters from last year’s 29-3 squad.
On Thursday night, the Stallions looked the part of a team trying to remain on top by working quick work of Orange 58-34. Sophomore Rreanna Johnson scored 21 points as the Stallions improved to 10-0.
It was a far cry from last year’s game when the Stallions and the Lady Panthers met in the opening round of the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoops Invitational. Orange pressed Southeast to a double overtime battle which the Stallions won 74-72 on its way to the tournament championship.
Senior Shaniya Paylar had eight assists and six assists. Orange was held without a field goal for the opening seven minutes as they fell to 3-3. Freshman Naveah Frost came off the bench and added nine points and ten rebounds.
Only two players scored for Orange in the first half. Freshman guard Mia Albright had a career-high ten points. Junior Lilly Wilson had nine points
Orange will face Cummings in Burlington on Monday. The Lady Panthers will open the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoops Tournament in Haw River against Green Level next Saturday. It will be the third straight year that the Orange women have played in the Southeast Alamance Tournament.
