Orange’s J.J. Thompson is in his first season as a starting guard for the men’s basketball team, and it’s been successful so far. The Panthers are off to its best start in 13 years after beating Williams 74-56. Thompson finished with 12 points against the Bulldogs as Orange won its final game before Christmas. The son of Shayne and Tracy Thompson, who graduated from Orange in 1992, Thompson has been the starting point guard in all seven of Orange’s games thus far. In a 82-32 victory over East Chapel Hill on Tuesday night, Thompson hit two early 3-pointers. Next Thursday, Thompson and the rest of the Panthers will return to action in the South Granville Holiday Tournament. Orange will be in the eight-team Navy Bracket and opens against Sanderson. Thompson will spend the holidays with his family, along with his pet bulldog Duke, whose videos on Facebook make for entertaining fare.