This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior basketball guard Nikayla Whitted. On December 6th, Whitted set her career-high with 14 points in Orange’s 41-36 win over Carrboro. On December 2, Whitted scored eleven points as the Lady Panthers defeated Riverside 46-8 in Durham. Last week, Whitted was named to the All-Tournament team for the Eastern Guilford Holiday Invitational in Gibsonville after Orange won the championship. Whitted started the tournament with eleven points as the Lady Panthers defeated The Burlington School on December 26. Presenting the award to Whitted was Orange guard Jada Reed, who has been teammates with Whitted since they played together with the Orange Parks and Recreation Department. Both have started each game this season for Orange. Last week’s tournament win for the Orange women’s basketball team was its first tournament championship since the 2017 team won the Big 8 Conference Tournament. The Orange women’s basketball team was the only basketball team in Hillsborough to reach the state playoffs last year. This year’s team will look to reach the state playoffs, as well. The Lady Panthers will host Cedar Ridge tonight at Orange High Gymnasium.