For someone who had just one season as a rotation player for the Orange men’s basketball team, senior J.T. Gray made the most of it. In his final home game on Monday night, Gray scored a career-high 31 points as the Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 69-46 in the Big 7 Men’s Tournament quarterfinals in Hillsborough. Gray shot 6-of-7 from 3-point range for his 2nd game over 20 points this season. His previous career-high came against Carrboro on December 29 in the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoopla Tournament in Haw River, where he scored 21 points. Orange junior Jalen Crayon added 19 points and 14 rebounds, his 16th double-double of the season. Hector Garrido added 14 points as the Panthers defeated the Red Wolves for the 12th straight time. This season has been Gray’s first as a rotation player after the departure of several prominent Panthers last summer. He leads the team with 37 3-pointers and is third on the team with 11.5 points per game. Gray, Logan Edwards and Rugabo Byishimo all played their final home games. Despite four new starters, the Panthers will make the 5A State Playoffs. After falling to Seaforth in the Big 7 semifinals on Tuesday night, the Panthers are 10-15 and will play its opening round game on Tuesday night.
