Jeff Hamlin

Once again, too many bonus points allowed cost the Orange wrestling team with its season on the line.

Union Pines scored four pins and two major decisions to defeat the Panthers 43-33 in the opening round of the NCHSAA 3A State Dual Playoffs on Tuesday night at Panther Gymnasium.

In the subsequent second round, Northern Guilford routed the Vikings 46-19 to move into the quarterfinals.

Orange, who lost to Chapel Hill last week with the Big 8 Conference championship on the line, had its earliest exit in the state playoffs since 2004, at least. Chapel Hill ended the Panthers’ string of 17 consecutive conference titles last Thursday. It was Orange’s first conference loss since 2003, when they fell to Riverside.

Union Pines led 25-3 after four matches. Orange’s only victory in that span came from Tayton Alvis at 145 pounds, who defeated Gabriel Robbins 10-7.

Orange’s Xavier Tinnen pinned Collin VanCleeve in 39 seconds to cut Orange’s deficit to 25-9, but Union Pines got a pin from Jaheem Uzzell in 4:58 to get the points back.

Orange senior Juan Navarro, in his final match inside Panther Gymnasium, pinned Kellen DeVries in 4:48. Navarro is 33-9 with 18 pins this season.

At 106 pounds, Orange freshman Dillon Heffernan earned a forfeit victory, but the Vikings scored pinfall wins from Johann Diaz and William Worley at 113 & 120 pounds, respectively, to pull off the win.

Kessel Summers and Matthew Smith-Breeden picked up forfeit wins after the Vikings ensured victory.

While Orange was knocked out, Chapel Hill advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time in modern history. The Tigers will host Northern Guilford in the regional semifinals on Thursday night. The winner faces Wilson Fike or C.B. Aycock for the Eastern Regional Championship.

Orange finished the year 24-4, suffering as many losses this year as the previous three seasons combined. The Panthers went 28-2 last season and lost to Cape Fear in the 2nd round of the State Dual Playoffs. They upended Eden Morehead for its first win.

The wrestling team was the second squad from Orange to make the state playoffs this year. The Lady Panthers volleyball team lost to Clayton in the opening round of the state playoffs in October.

Orange and Cedar Ridge will now focus on the 3A Mideast Regionals at Cape Fear High School on February 14-15. The top four wrestlers from each weight class will qualify for the 3A State Championships, held at the Greensboro Coliseum starting on February 20.

Navarro will be one of the Panthers top hopes to reach Greensboro. Last season, he narrowly missed qualifying for the Mideast Regionals. In the consolation semifinals against Hillside’s Rodney Harris, which ended in a forced ride where Harris escaped and won 4-3.

Summers qualified for the state championships at 113 pounds. Last year at Southeast Guilford High, Summers pinned Shyheem Davis in 4:57. This season, Summers leads Orange with 36 wins and 22 pins.

Cedar Ridge’s Kady Watkins, who became the first female Hillsborough wrestler to compete for a state championship last year, will again be in the NCHSAA Girls State Tournament in Concord on Saturday morning. Watkins has seven wins with three pins this season.

Story by Tim Hackett

A lot can change in a month. Fewer than four weeks after the Cedar Ridge men scored 22 straight points en route to a rout and the Cedar Ridge women saw a potential game-tying three at the buzzer slip barely offline in a split with Northern Durham in Hillsborough, a lot changed Tuesday night in Durham. Last time, the Cedar Ridge men never trailed, put together a third quarter for the ages and won by 25; this time, they trailed by 15 early on in the second and needed an all-time clutch shot by a red-hot shooter to fall in just to force overtime and eventually eke out a win. Last time, neither Cedar Ridge nor Northern ever led by more than five before one star Knight ultimately took over; this time, that star Knight shone again, and Cedar Ridge never got going. And ultimately, even though a lot of things changed, two things remained the same: the Cedar Ridge men won and the women lost, resulting in a doubleheader split for the second time this season.

The Cedar Ridge men’s team certainly looked a lot different Tuesday than it did last month. With Mekai Collins and KJ Barnes unavailable for the first quarter (the Cedar Ridge coaches later revealed they had been suspended for deciding to miss practice earlier in the week) and Derrick Smith and Grayson Ramos unavailable for the entirety of the game, the Red Wolves were down four frequent starters. They were soon down 10-0 before James Ragland finally got the visitors on the board with a three with 2:07 left in the first – Cedar Ridge did not score otherwise and Northern led 14-3 after one. Collins and Barnes, suspensions lifted with the situation dire, entered the fray but could only watch as the Knights stretched their lead out to 21-8 midway through the second. Then Northern head coach Ronnie Russell called a timeout to set his defense, but it had the opposite effect: Cedar Ridge reeled off the final nine points of the period to pull within four at the halftime break at 21-17 – with every point coming courtesy of Ragland and Collins until a late three-point spurt by Grady Ray provided some balance.

Cedar Ridge is a tough team to figure out. Rookie head coach Jaison Brooks features a 16-man roster when it’s fully stocked, and he frequently rolls out 12 or more guys in any given game. But it’s always a guessing game as to which of those guys will step into a starring role. Mekai Collins nearly always is up to the task, and he’s more than good enough to keep the Red Wolves in contention on many nights, but he can rarely ever do it himself. Last time out against Orange, Chris Tinnen and Jai’kel Gibbs answered the bell with career games; in this game, they combined for three points. Players like Barnes, Ian Johnson and Cameron Harper have had their moments this season; on this night, they combined for two points on a field goal in the final minutes by Barnes. The Red Wolves needed someone else.

Enter Andrew Altieri. The senior lefty sharpshooter can be a streaky scorer, but on this night he was simply scorching. He got the start with all of the team’s absences but couldn’t crack the scoreboard in the first half, but that all changed as soon as he hit Cedar Ridge’s first shot of the second half, his patented right-wing lefty three-pointer. And he wasn’t close to done. He hit two more wing threes for his team’s next two buckets to cut their deficit to two as he and Luke Pagnanelli combined for seven second-half threes to flip the script and get Cedar Ridge back in the game.

But Derrien Hicklen was getting hot on the other side: his deep right-wing three, part of a 13-point second-half outburst, capped an 8-0 Knight run to put them ahead 52-47 in the fourth with time running out. After Pagnanelli hit a three and Collins hit a two to make it 53-52, it seemed like any hope of a Cedar Ridge comeback was snuffed as Jaylen Lee sprung Anthony Freeman with an over-the-shoulder pass for an easy bucket with 20 seconds left and a three-point lead. But the sharpshooters delivered: Altieri set up Pagnanelli for an open right corner three to tie, but it sprung off the rim – into the waiting hands of Altieri, who took one peek at the scoreboard, shifted back into the left corner, stepped back for a fadeaway three over the outstretched arm of the much-taller Lee and straight in for the tie with less than ten seconds left. Cedar Ridge could’ve won at the last gasp of regulation, but Barnes missed a free throw, sending Cedar Ridge to overtime for the first time this year. From there, it was little surprise that it was Altieri who delivered another three – his sixth of the game – and two clutch free throws for a career-high 20 points to steer the Red Wolves (6-14, 4-7 Big 8) to a 67-63 overtime win over the Knights (4-17, 2-9) and keep their incredibly slim playoff hopes intact.

Caitlin Lloyd owns Northern Durham. Unfortunately, Maya Hood owns just about everybody. Fresh off a 22-point showing against the Red Wolves in Hillsborough last month, the star Knight sophomore gashed Cedar Ridge for 23 more on Tuesday to lead Northern (7-11, 3-8 Big 8) to a 41-31 victory over Cedar Ridge (1-19, 0-11 Big 8) in Durham.

It was frankly a disappointing start for the Red Wolves after they played so well for three quarters on Senior Night last week against Orange and, more importantly, after they played so well for four quarters against Northern last month – Hood’s 18 second half points and Phoenix Smith’s buzzer-beater than was centimeters offline were the only reasons Cedar Ridge failed to win three weeks ago. But this time around they couldn’t stop Hood early, couldn’t convert their offensive chances, and couldn’t dig out of an early deficit. Cedar Ridge conceded ten of the final 11 points of the first quarter and ten of the final 12 of the second to fall behind 25-10 at the break, and better team defense in the second half capped by an 8-0 surge in the game’s final minutes made the scoreline closer than it was.

But, as usual, the Red Wolves produced plenty of highlights. Angelica Carbajal drained a three for her first field goal of the season. Tori Dalehite erupted for ten fourth-quarter points, showing off her shot-making ability and persistence in the face of a slow start to give her a team-high 11 points. And Caitlyn Lloyd exploited Northern’s often nonexistent post defense en route to a ten-point showing, her first career double-digit outing. She scored five field goals, at least one in every quarter, flashed some range and some shot-making of her own, and won multiple offensive boards for her team. The road ahead for the Cedar Ridge women is rough indeed with three of the conference’s best on tap, all on the road, but on this night this team once again proved that even if they go down, it won’t be without a fight.

The Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team defeated Northern Durham 67-63 in overtime at Poe Gymtorium on Tuesday night. Andrew Altieri hit six 3-points for the Red Wolves and finished with a career-high 20 points. Cedar Ridge won its sixth game, more than its previous two seasons combined. They also completed a season sweep of Northern Durham. Cedar Ridge played without Derrick Smith and Grayson Ramos. James Ragland, Mekai Collins and Grady Ray scored all 20 of the Red Wolves points in the first half. Afterwards, Cedar Ridge Coach Jaison Brooks talked with Hillsboroughsports.com’s Jamir Graham. Cedar Ridge will host East Chapel Hill for its final home game of the year on Friday night at 7:30. You can hear the game on Hillsboroughsports.com starting at 7:25.

After winning five games in the previous two years, the Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team won its sixth game of the season on Tuesday night. The Red Wolves defeated Northern Durham in overtime at Poe Gymtorium in Durham. Red Wolves senior Andrew Altieri hit a critical shot in overtime to even the game. Afterwards, Altieri spoke with Hillsboroughsports.com’s Jmari Graham. Altieri has had a strong finish to his final season at Cedar Ridge. He helped the Red Wolves defeated crosstown rival Orange on Friday night, the first time Cedar Ridge swept the Panthers in the regular season since 2015. Cedar Ridge will look to continue its climb in the Big 8 Conference with its final home game against East Chapel Hill on Friday night in Hillsborough. You can hear that game on Hillsboroughsports.com starting at 7:30 with Tim Hackett and Jmari.

Stanford and Stanback wrestling: While the Orange wrestling team’s string of dominance in the Big 8 Conference ended last week, the Stanford Chargers’ run continues. In front of a large crowd inside Charger Gymnasium, Stanford defeated Stanback 51-45 on Friday afternoon. The victory completed the Chargers’ 20th consecutive Orange-Person Athletic Conference championship and its 18th straight undefeated regular season. Earlier in January, the Chargers defeated the Bulldogs by one point at Stanback.

Five Stanford wrestlers completed undefeated seasons. Wyatt Hedrick scored a pin at 85 pounds. At 92 pounds, Kale Womble earned an 11-4 decision to give Stanford an 15-0 lead. Jared Hutchins pinned his opponent in 31 seconds at 108 pounds. Josh Cowan completed a perfect regular season with a pinfall victory in 2:00 at 115 pounds. At 134 pounds, Jace Womble earned a pin in 3:10.

Unlike the matchup on January 10, Stanford got off to a strong start, winning the first three matches. Luke Stitz earned a pin to open the match at 76 pounds. Wyatt Hedrick picked up a forfeit win at 86 pounds, which was followed by Kale Womble’s victory to put Stanford ahead 15-0.

Stanback’s Pierce Prescod, who won his match against Stanford in their initial meeting, scored a pin in 90 seconds on Friday. Then the Chargers reeled off consecutive pins from Hutchins and Cowan. The tightest match of the day came at 122 pounds, where Stanford’s Luke Nevius defeated Stanback’s Abinijah Lewis 9-7 in overtime.

Stanford’s Colton Jones claimed a 7-3 decision for a victory at 128 pounds.

For Stanback, Kaden Tatro earned a pin at 140 pounds in 2:20. Marcos Esparza squeezed out a 7-5 decision at 162 pounds. At 172 pounds, Joe O’Melia scored a pin in 20 seconds. Marcos McNeil picked up a forfeit win at 184 pounds. Stanback’s Carlos Vera de Lara pinned his opponent at 197 pounds in 2:00 minutes to reduce Stanford’s lead to 51-33.

At 222, Stanback’s Kellan McMullen won via forfeit. He completed his own perfect regular season at 11-0.

At 154 pounds, Stanford’s Sasha Van Praag earned a pin in 50 seconds, which turned out to be the final win of the day for the Chargers. The Chargers’ Luciano Grimaldo also earned a pin in 30 seconds. Colton Jones earned a 7-3 decision for the Chargers at 128 pounds.

The Orange-Person Athletic Conference Tournament will take place on Saturday.

On January 29, Stanback defeated Gravelly Hill 84-24. Among the winners for the Bulldogs: Flavio Jaramillo Esparza via pinfall (78 pounds), Gavin Stone (85 pounds), Tommy Heckler (92, via a forfeit), Prescod, Zoey Morendo (108 pounds), Oguntoyinbo, Ryan Rakouskas, Juan Estrada Parra (128, via pinfall), Edwin Hernandez Huerta (who finished the season at 9-2 at 134 pounds), Tatro (ended the year 12-0), Esparza (162, who claimed a forfeit win and is now 10-0), O’Meila (10-1 on the year), McNeil, and McMullen.

Gravelly Hill boys basketball: The Gravelly Hill Grizzles claimed the OPAC Northern Division championship by beating Northern Roxboro 46-28 in Person County last Thursday. Landon Dalehite led the Grizzlies with 23 points, a career-high. Kai Wade added 12. Sincere Hanner had five. Nathan Sorrells added four and Crawford Farmer had two. The Grizzlies will complete the regular season against McDougle on Tuesday in Efland, they play in the OPAC Championship game at a time to be determined.

Stanford girls basketball: The Lady Chargers defeated Southern Roxboro 30-19 in Hillsborough on January 28. Evelyn George led the Chargers with eleven points. Shannon Murphy added five. Katie Wolter and Dyreshia Farrish each had four. Olivia Jones scored three, and Samiya Baldwin scored two.

Stanford defeated Northern Roxboro 36-27 on January 30.

Icez Barnett: Erskine defeated the Division II Chowan women’s basketball team 60-57 on Saturday in Due West, S.C. Barnett didn’t play. Last Tuesday, #21 Belmont-Abbey defeated Chowan 95-84. Barnett scored two points in three minutes. The Hawks are 4-16, 4-12 in Conference Carolinas.

Lauren Cates: The Wake Tech women’s basketball team edged Bryant & Stratton College 62-59 on Saturday at Maury High School in Norfolk, VA. Cates, who graduated from Orange in 2019, finished with four points, one rebound, two assists and two steals. She shot 1-of-5 from the field. On Wednesday, Louisburg College defeated Wake Tech 80-66 in a game where the two teams combined for seven technical fouls. Cates finished with six points. Wake Tech is 15-5 overall, 8-4 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Jamar Davis: The N.C. State indoor track & field team competed at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, TX over the weekend. Davis finished 11th in the triple jump with a leap of 15.38 meters.

Braden Homsey: Over the weekend, the Division III Ferrum Panthers wrestling team finished 16th at the Pete Wilson Invitational at Wheaton University in Wheaton, IL. Homsey came in 7th at 197 pounds, one of three Panthers to place individually. Homsey finished 5-2 with two pins in the tournament. This season, Homsey is 24-9 with two pins.

Next weekend will start the spring sports season for many college across the state. Hillsborough will be represented in baseball, softball and men’s lacrosse. Here are some of the local athletes that will return to action at colleges across the southeast.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State catcher was named a Preseason All-American by Softball America. Davidson, who led Orange to the 2017 3A State Championship, is 10th among active players with 45 home runs in her first two years in Starkville. She led Mississippi State in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, runs, RBIs and total bases in 2019. Davidson was a top-10 finalist for USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year in 2019.

Montana Davidson: Montana will join Mia Davidson for a Mississippi State team that hired Samantha Ricketts as its new head coach in the offseason. After Montana received a medical redshirt during her sophomore season due to a knee injury, she started all 58 games for the Bulldogs in 2019. As a redshirt sophomore, she hit .269 with seven doubles and 21 RBIs. Mississippi State will play Missouri State to start its season on Friday during a weekend series in Clearwater, FL. That series will also include N.C. State, Louisville, and Liberty.

Amy Stutzer: Stutzer, a 2019 Cedar Ridge graduate, will start her softball career at Division III Salem College in Virginia against Southern Virginia on February 14.

Brad Debo: This upcoming season will be the senior campaign for Debo, who was the catcher for four consecutive Big 8 Conference championship teams for the Orange Panthers. Last season for N.C. State, Debo appeared in 59 of the Wolfpack’s 61 games. He hit .242 with 47 hits, 16 doubles, one triple, four homers and 39 RBIs. The Wolfpack will start its season against James Madison on February 14.

Brandon Andrews: Andrews will start his junior season with the Nicholls Colonels against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in Thibodaux, LA on February 14. Andrews appeared in 24 games as a pitcher last season for the Colonels. He was 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA and two saves.

Jaylin Jones: The Division II Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team has become Hillsborough south. There are three former Orange and Cedar Ridge players who will suit up for the Falcons this year. Jones will start his junior season in Misenheimer. In his sophomore season, Jones made six starts and played in 16 games. He scored two goals and added three assists for the Falcons.

Zach Berry: The former Cedar Ridge goalkeeper transferred from the Virginia Military Institute to Pfeiffer last season. In his only year at VMI, Berry was between the pipes for five games. He gave up seven goals in 55 minutes and made six saves.

Luke Hernandez: Also now at Pfeiffer. Hernandez played in one game for the Falcons last season. Pfeiffer faces Emmanuel in Franklin Springs, GA on Saturday.

Bowen Collins: A former star at Orange, Collins is now at redshirt senior at Division Lenoir-Rhyne. Last season, Collins played in 15 games for the Bears. He scored seven points with ten shots on goal.

Zach Wright: Now a senior at Division II Mars Hill, Wright had nine goals in 15 games last season. Mars Hill hosts Montevallo on Saturday.

Aidan Poole: A former defenseman at Cedar Ridge, Poole is now at Division III Greensboro College. Greensboro opens its season on February 15 against Virginia Wesleyan at Pride Field in Greensboro.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is men’s basketball guard Chris Tinnen. On Friday night, Tinnen led the Red Wolves with 21 points as Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 66-60. The win completed a regular season sweep by the Red Wolves of its crosstown rival for the first time since 2015. After Orange made a run in the third quarter, Tinnen scored 14 points in the second half, including nine in the third quarter. Tinnen has been an instrumental part of Cedar Ridge’s most successful season since Tinnen’s freshman year. Chris’ brother, Justin, previously played for Cedar Ridge. Tinnen will play his final home game against East Chapel Hill on Friday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium.