Month: January 2025

Orange Panther of the Week: Michael Clark

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior forward Michael Clark. This season, the Orange Panthers are off to the best start since Derryl Britt became the head coach in 2018 even though they lost Coleman Cloer, the top-ranked junior in North Carolina, last season. Clark has delivered with leadership from the very beginning of the season, when he scored a career-high 23 points against Voyager Academy in the season-opener. Clark has been a varsity performer since his freshman season, when he scored 13 points against Southern Alamance in his first varsity game. Later on in his freshman year, he scored 17 points against Northwood. As Cloer and Mason Robinson left the team last summer, Clark has filled in every conceivable role possible. He had a double-double of 13 points and ten rebounds against Eastern Alamance on December 13 in Mebane. On January 7, Clark had 14 points in a victory over Cedar Ridge.Against Wakefield, Clark scored 18 points in a 64-59 win in the Southern Alamance Holiday Invitational Tournament. Orange is in contention for its second straight Central Conference regular season championship and Clark has been an invaluable commodity over the past four seasons. He scored a lay-up that sealed Orange’s win over Person in Roxboro on January 9, a game where the Panthers roared back from a 28-9 deficit to win. He will continue his senior season when the Panthers face Person in a crucial game on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.

Orange Panther of the Week: Michael Clark

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior forward Michael Clark. This season, the Orange Panthers are off to the best start since Derryl Britt became the head coach in 2018 even though they lost Coleman Cloer, the top-ranked junior in North Carolina, last season.

Orange softball’s Sadie Cecil & Allie Carden discuss signing with Mars Hill Lions

Two instrumental parts of the Orange softball program signed to play with the Mars Hill Lions on Wednesday night. Senior shortstop Sadie Cecil and catcher Allie Carden were honored during a ceremony at the Orange High School Library. Carden, accompanied by Mike Carden, Carla and Justin, joined Orange last season after two years at Person. She tied for the team lead with 33 RBIs as the Lady Panthers finished 16-7 and reached the 3rd round of the 3A State Playoffs. It was the deepest playoff run for Orange since they won the 2017 3A State Championship. Carden and Cecil played for the Carolina Elite travel team coached by John Warf. Cecil’s contributions for Orange athletics isn’t limited to the softball diamond. An aspiring athletic trainer, Cecil has been a regular at Orange football practices, where her brother Luke is the starting center. She sits in the golf cart alongside trainer Emily Gaddy and assistant Alicia Harris from August to November. Last year, Cecil was the leadoff batter and starting shortstop. She has a lifetime batting average of .354 over 50 games. In 2024, Cecil was tied for the team for second on the team with 32 hits. She also scored 34 runs and hit .410 on the season. Sadie was joined by her father Anthony and mother Robin during the ceremony, which included many members of the Orange softball and baseball teams.

Orange softball’s Sadie Cecil & Allie Carden discuss signing with Mars Hill Lions

Two instrumental parts of the Orange softball program signed to play with the Mars Hill Lions on Wednesday night. Senior shortstop Sadie Cecil and catcher Allie Carden were honored during a ceremony at the Orange High School Library. Carden, accompanied by Mike Carden, Carla and Justin, joined Orange last season after two years at Person.

Orange swimming’s Piper White, Zoe Jones, Ainsley Rasinske & Addison Moore discuss relay championships

It was another dominant meet for the Orange women’s relay team at the Central Conference Swimming championships last Saturday at the Orange County SportsPlex. Orange won the 200 yard medley and the 400 yard freestyle relay races. Senior Zoe Jones, juniors Piper White and Ainsley Rasinske and freshman Addison Moore won the 200 yard medley relay at 2:02.68. They also teamed to win the 400 yard freestyle relay at 4:09.98. Last year, Jones and White were members of the 3A State Champion 200 yard medley relay team, along with Katie Belle Sikes and Riley White. Rasinske and White were members of the 200 yard freestyle relay state championship team last year. Piper White would go on to win two individual conference championships. White won the 50 yard freestyle title for the second year in a row with a time of 26.51 seconds. White also won the 100 yard freestyle at 59.63 seconds, holding off Sophia Shideler of Walter Williams. Piper White and Rasinske were members of the first relay team in school history to win a state championship in 2023. It was also Senior Day for Orange swimming. It was the final home meet for Jones, Kayleigh Karkoski, and Madeline Dutton. Jones finished 2nd in the 500 yard freestyle. The Lady Panthers will prepare for the Central Regional Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Saturday.

Orange swimming’s Piper White, Zoe Jones, Ainsley Rasinske & Addison Moore talk relay championships

It was another dominant meet for the Orange women’s relay team at the Central Conference Swimming championships last Saturday at the Orange County SportsPlex. Orange won the 200 yard medley and the 400 yard freestyle relay races. Senior Zoe Jones, juniors Piper White and Ainsley Rasinske and freshman Addison Moore won the 200 yard medley relay at 2:02.68.

Orange men’s basketball’s Kai Wade & Jalen Crayton discuss win at Western Alamance

The Orange men’s basketball team is back home after ten consecutive games on the road. The Panthers defeated Western Alamance 79-57 on Friday night in Elon to finish the long stretch 7-3. Kai Wade scored 23 points as the Panthers maintained its share of first place in the Central Conference. Wade exploded for 18 points in the first quarter, included a 3-pointer at the first quarter buzzer to push the Panthers to a double-digit lead. Orange sophomore center Jalen Crayton continued to be a dominant force inside, finishing with six points. Orange defeated Western Alamance for the seventh consecutive time. Wade was one of three Panthers in double figures. Senior Xandrell Pennix added 12 points as he continues his march to 1,000. Senior Freddy Sneed added 14 points. Orange returned home on Tuesday night and defeated Walter Williams 72-54. Orange remains tied in the loss column with Eastern Alamance for first place in the Central Conference with four games remaining. Orange is looking for its second consecutive regular season championship. The Panthers have used a mixture of steady outside shooting and dominant defense to pave the way for 15-5 record, its best-ever start under head coach Derryl Britt. Orange will have its final four regular season games all at home. They will host crosstown rival Cedar Ridge on Friday night at Panther Gymnasium.

Orange men’s basketball’s Kai Wade & Jalen Crayton discuss win at Western Alamance

The Orange men’s basketball team is back home after ten consecutive games on the road. The Panthers defeated Western Alamance 79-57 on Friday night in Elon to finish the long stretch 7-3. Kai Wade scored 23 points as the Panthers maintained its share of first place in the Central Conference.

Cedar Ridge women’s swimmers Quinn McCrimmon, Sophia Stinnett & Natalia Kunz discuss winning the conference championship

It was a bittersweet Senior Day for the Cedar Ridge women’s swimming team. On Saturday, the Red Wolves won the Central Conference Championship at the Orange County SportsPlex. It was also the final home meet for Cedar Ridge seniors Sophia Stinnett and Quinn McCrimmon, where they have practiced and competed for years. Stinnett, who won two Central Regional championships last year, successfully defended her Central Conference championship in the 500 yard freestyle. She also won the 100 yard backstroke. Stinnett won five individual conference championships in her Cedar Ridge career. McCrimmon captured the conference championship in the 200 yard freestyle, beating out Elizabeth Merlette of Walter Williams by .18 seconds in the most narrow race of the day. Stinnett, McCrimmon, freshman Natalie Kunz and Hala Zafar finished 2nd in the 200 yard medley relay. Stinnett and McCrimmon, the senior co-Captains, won their first conference championship under head coach Amanda Jones and ended Orange’s string of three consecutive titles. On Saturday, Stinnett and McCrimmon will compete at the Central Regional championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. On Friday, February 7, the 3A State Championships will take place at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Last year, Stinnett finished 3rd in the state in the 100 yard backstroke, her first medal in the state championships.

Cedar Ridge’s Quinn McCrimmon, Sophia Stinnett & Natalie Kunz discuss winning the conference title

It was a bittersweet Senior Day for the Cedar Ridge women’s swimming team. On Saturday, the Red Wolves won the Central Conference Championship at the Orange County SportsPlex. It was also the final home meet for Cedar Ridge seniors Sophia Stinnett and Quinn McCrimmon, where they have practiced and competed for years.

Coming home–Wade scores 23 points, Orange ends 10-game road swing with win at Western Alamance; George scores 22 for Orange women in loss to Warriors

ELON–From McLeansville to Creedmoor to Burlington to Hillsborough to Roxboro to Graham to Reidsville to Elon.

All told, it’s been ten consecutive games away from home for the Orange men’s basketball team since they last played inside Panther Gymnasium on December 20. Five of them were conference games and the team knew before Christmas the long stretch would make or break their hopes of winning a second consecutive Central Conference regular season championship.

The Panthers are now set for the stretch run tied with Eastern Alamance for first place.

On Friday night, Kai Wade scored 23 points to lead a wire-to-wire 79-57 win at Western Alamance on the Coach Evans Court. From the time Wade fired a 18-footer that kicked high off the back iron and fell through the net, it was possibly Wade’s finest performance of the season.

Senior Xandrell Pennix added 12 points, placing him at 932 career points as Orange improved to 14-5. Freddy Sneed added 14 points for the Panthers, who are 7-1 in the Central Conference. Orange has defeated the Warriors seven consecutive times.

In its last home game, Orange rolled past Western Alamance 73-48. The rematch on Friday held the potential for more intrigue because Warriors guard James Newton didn’t play against the Panthers in Hillsborough. Newton, who has committed to play football at Gardner-Webb, was in South Carolina for the Shrine Bowl.

Newton had a huge scoring game in the Warriors upset of Eastern Alamance on January 3. On Friday night against Orange, he was limited to ten points, going scoreless in the second half.

After Newton banked in a 3-pointer to cut Orange’s lead to 8-6, Wade and Pennix responded with consecutive 3-pointers. Newton found Matt Huffman for a lay-in, but Hector Garrido found Jalen Crayton for a monster stuff directly in the face of Camden Oliveira.

Sneed increased Orange’s lead to 18-13 after a strip and steal, but Oliveria responded with a 3-pointer. Wade took the drama out of it when he drained a 27-foot 3-pointer as the quarter wound to a close to give the Panthers a 27-16 lead.

Newton scored an early 3-pointer in the second quarter, but the Warriors had an inability to cash in second-chance points that could have kept the game close. The Panthers shot out to a 9-2 run to put the game away. Wade finished the first half with 18 points.

In the fourth quarter, senior Ethan Ellis drained two 3-pointers. Kamaal Smith would finish with seven points.

Orange will face Walter Williams tonight (Tuesday) to start a string of five consecutive home games to conclude the regular season.

Women’s Basketball: Western Alamance 60, Orange 48: 

Orange played Western Alamance to its closest conference game of the season, but the Warriors claimed its 18th consecutive win against a Central Conference opponent. Looking for its second consecutive league title, senior Allie Sykes led the Warriors with 18 points.

Orange’s Evelyn George scored 22 points. It was her fifth 20-point game of the season and the 13th of her career.

The Warriors didn’t trail but Orange played a much more competitive contest than their previous matchup on December 20. In the fourth quarter, Orange center Marshea Byrd had a personal 10-0 run for Orange.

Once again, the Warriors excelled with 3-point shooting. Emma Johnson finished with 13 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Sykes knocked down four 3-pointers as Western Alamance improved to 14-2 overall, 6-0 in the Central Conference. The Warriors snapped the Lady Panthers six-game winning streak.

Western Alamance’s bench outscored Orange 10-5.

Orange falls to 10-7, 4-3 in the Central Conference. The Lady Panthers will return home to face Walter Williams on Tuesday (tonight) in Hillsborough. It will be the start of a two-game homestand for Orange women’s basketball. On Friday night, they will host crosstown rival Cedar Ridge.