Jeff Hamlin

The Orange girls’ basketball went into the opening game of the Eastern Alamance Holiday Tournament on a four-game losing streak, and it appeared only a Christmas miracle would keep it from becoming five games.

Against Burlington Williams, coached by former Cedar Ridge boys’ basketball Coach Jim Pappas, the Panthers were held to one point in the first quarter. They trailed 23-8 at the half.

Yet the Panthers found the outside shooting they needed from sophomore Lauren Cates to find a way to advance.

Cates scored twelve points and Janea Myers held a layup in the final minute to put Orange ahead as the Panthers defeated the Bulldogs 37-35 at Eastern Alamance Gymnasium. The Panthers (4-6), who claimed the championship last year in the midst of a 21-game winning streak to start the season, advance to the semifinals to face Eastern Alamance on Friday night at 6.

Grace Dively hit two free throws in the waning minutes for Orange, who won for the first time since December 12. Cates came up huge in the fourth quarter, scoring eleven points after being held without a field goal in the first three quarters.

The game also marked the return of guard Icez Barnett, who had not played since injuring her right foot against Hillside on December 15. She finished with eight points.

Mekayia White led Williams (3-4) with 20 points. The Bulldogs were held to three points in the third quarter and four field goals in the second half.

ORANGE 37, WILLIAMS 35

ORANGE: Grace Dively 6, Lauren Cates 12, Janea Myers 8, Ices Barnett 9, Jala Rainey 2.

WILLIAMS: Makayla Crawley 7, Mekayla White 20, Kimberly Jara 6, Jada Lightsey 2.

Since 1991, the Orange Wrestling team has won five state championships, nine regional championships, 620 dual matches, crowned 24 individual state champions and have had 42 wrestlers win 100 matches. All of that was under Coach Bobby Shriner, who retired in June every bit the legendary figure within his own program and Mike Krzyzewski and Dean Smith are in theirs.

Yet Orange Wrestling never captured the championship of the Tiger Holiday Classic.

Until now.

Behind two individual championship performances from seniors Josiah Ramirez and Braden Homsey, the Panthers finished atop the 36-team field in the 25th Tiger Holiday Wrestling Classic. The two-day event concluded Saturday at Chapel Hill High School.

It also became clear that a rematch from the 2016 3A State Championship Dual Match between Orange and Piedmont could be on the horizon. Orange finished 1st with 230.5 points, while Piedmont came in 2nd with 201.5.

Wrestlers from Piedmont and Orange faced off in five different weight classes, wiith Piedmont coming away with a 3-2 edge. In February in Monroe, Piedmont rallied from a 27-17 deficit with four matches remaining to hand Orange a 29-27 defeat, its only loss of the 2016-17 season.

After trying for four years, Ramirez finallly came away with a Tiger Holiday Invididual Championship at 182 pounds. After finishing fifth at 170 pounds in 2016, Ramirez defeated South Vie’s Tyrese Bryd 4-1 for his third individual championship this season. Ramirez, now 24-0, pinned Terry Sanford’s Finley Allen in 1:25. It was only the second loss of the season for Allen.

Homsey’s victory at 195 came in his second appearance in the Tiger Holiday Classic. Last season, was eliminated without placing at 182. For the past three years, Orange’s top 195 pounder has been Jamar Davis, who focused on soccer this season. Homsey defeated Chapel Hill’s Bradley Kenyon by major decision 19-9 in the semifinals, then grinded out a 5-3 victory over Cameron Blizard of Ragsdale. Homsey also has three individual championships this season and is also 24-0.

Even for those who didn’t win their respective tournaments, it was a weekend of milestones. Heavyweight Daylan Alston won his 100th match, becoming the 41st member of Orange’s 100-win club. After a semifinal loss to Ragsdale’s Brandon Williams, the eventual champion, Alston defeated New Bern’s Jacob Flowers 3-1 for win #100. Alston finished 4th at heavyweight after coming in 5th in 2016.

Avery Jenkins (160) and Trey Jones (170) finished 2nd in their respective weight classes. Jenkins, who competed at 145 last season and won two matches without placing, defeated Pinecrest’s Will Herbert 5-0 to reach the finals. Union Pines Alex Faison, now 29-0, defeated Jenkins for the championship 7-2. Jenkins is now 19-4.

Jones, competing in his first Tiger Classic, won four matches overall in the tournament, including a 6-1 decision over West Cartaret’s Micah Dixon in the semifinals. In the championship Newton Conover’s Joshua Nichols pinned Jones at 2:40.

Mitchell Askew placed third at 113 pounds, while Gavin Wiggins finished 3rd at 126.

Bailey Hawkins, who claimed his 100th win last week, came in 5th at 132. Mario Manduiano, competing in his first Tiger Classic at 152, finished 6th.

Orange will resume its dual team season on Saturday at West Stanley. The Panthers are 9-0 on the season, 3-0 in the Big 8 with wins over East Chapel Hill,  Cedar Ridge and Hillside.

When the Tiger Holiday Classic resumes on Saturday morning at Chapel Hill High School, Orange High will have seven wrestlers competing in the semifinals.

At the end of day one of the 30-team event on Friday, Orange led the team standings wth 141.5 points. Fittingly, Piedmont High is in 2nd place at 123 points. Piedmont defeated Orange for the 3A Dual Team State Championship last February in Bobby Shriner’s final dual match as head coach of OHS.

Gavin Wiggins (126), Bailey Hawkins (132), Avery Jenkins (160), Trey Jones (170), Josiah Ramirez (182), Braden Homsey (195), and Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Daylan Alston all advanced to the semifinals on Friday.

Wiggins opened by pinning Piedmont’s Jackson Little in 1:11. Last February, Wiggins defeated Piedmont’s Jordan Parlmer 3-1 at 120. In the quarterfinals, Wiggins improved to 18-3 on the season with a 9-3 victory over Union Pines Michael Shook. Wiggins will face Holly Springs’ Jaxon Maroney (9-0) in the semifinals on Saturday morning.

At 132, Bailey Hawkins pinned North Pitt’s Dalton English in 1:06. In the quarterfinals, Hawkins scored a major decision over J.H. Rose’s Phifer Osijek 13-2. Hawkins, who has won 14 consecutive matches, will face junior Colby Funderburk of Piedmont tomorrow in the semifinals. Last season, Hawkins fell to Piedmont’s Michael Flitz 8-5. Funderburk claimed the state championship at 113 for Piedmont when he scored a technical fall over Noah Davis.

Avery Jenkins improved to 17-2 by winning both of his matches on Friday. He started by pinning Piedmonth’s Kylan Thomas in 5:16, then pinned Croatan’s Sean O’Connell in 4:27. Next up for Jenkins will be Will Herbert of Panther Creek, who is 13-2.

At 170, senior Trey Jones grinded out a 15-11 decision over Union Pines Caleb Kimpler. In the quarterfinals, Jones pinned Liam Harris of Rutherfordton-Spindale High in 3:23. In Saturday’s semifinals, Jones will tangle with West Cartaret’s Micah Dixon.

Josiah Ramirez remained undefeated at 182. Ramirez is now 20-0 after starting the day with a 7-2 decision over Riverside’s Jatavian Hart. In the quarterfinals, Ramirez pinned West Brunswick’s Sae’vyon McCray in 1:31. Ramirez will have among the most anticipated matches of the day tomorrow when he faces undefeated Finley Allen of Terry Sanford in the semifinals.

Braden Homsey remained undefeated on the season at 195 with two pins on Friday. He started by pinning North Pitt’s Artemio Sanchez in :45. Then Homsey pinned Joey Ferguson of William Hough in 1:45. Homsey faces Chapel Hill’s Bradley Kenyon on Saturday morning, a preview of a Big 8 Conference match next month.

At heavyweight, Alston was extended to triple overtime in the opening round by Croatan’s Nathan Waltrip. Alston earned an escape point in the third extra session to remain undefeated. The quarterfinal match against Grayson County (VA) Matthew Bourne was anticlimactic, with Alston cruising to a 17-6 major decision. Alston is now 19-0.

It was a nonconference basketball game between two teams who rarely play just days before Christmas.

Not exactly the recipie for anyting memorable, except for those who were on hand in Creedmoor to see it for themselves.

South Granville’s Bobby Pettiford reenacted the same basketball moment played out in the backyards of thousands of kids across the country, taking the ball in a tie game with :3.1 remaining. Except in Pettiford’s case, his running one-hander from 15-feet counted at the buzzer, sending Viking Gymnasium into a frenzy.

South Granville defeated Orange 65-63 on Friday night, sending the Panthers to consecutive losses for the first time this season.

“I was pleased with the effort, we just have to clean up some of the other stuff,” said Orange Coach Greg Motley. “We have to clean up missed opportunities. We missed too many layups and free throws.”

The Panthers squandered a golden performance by senior guard Mitch Portman, who scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. Portman finished with a game-high 22, while Eli Haithcock came away with 19.

”I thought Mitch played extremely tough,” said Orange Coach Greg Motley. “We came in not knowing a lot about this team. It was a good game. We battled tooth and nail and in the end we came up just a little bit short.”

Pettiford and James Morton paced the Vikings (7-3) with 17 each.

Orange ended the final frame trailing 48-39 after Pettiford scored on a rebound basket at the third quarter buzzer.  Orange opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run with a Haithcock lay-in. After Haithcock made a free throw, Portman sank a 3-pointer with 6:03 remaining. After Pettiford scored on a stickback basket, Porter sank another trey, his fourth of the game, to put Orange within 50-48.

After Joey McMullin sank a three-pointer to narrow the South Granville lead to 55-53 with 4:35 remaining, Portman sank a 12-footer, then hit a 3-pointer on the next trip down the floor to give Orange a 58-57 lead. SGHS’ Romelle Faucette hit a free thrown to tie the game, but Haithcock took a pass from Mekai Holt to score a layup and give Orange a 60-58 lead. Portman took a rebound after a miss by James Morton, then hit Haithcock for a baseline jumper to extend Orange’s lead to 62-58 with 2:58 remaining.

Orange maintained the lead with 1:56 until Romelle Faucette scored on a jumper following a Panther turnover. Faucette forced a turnover on the subsequent Orange inbound, Morton spit a pair from the line.

With Orange leading 62-61, Portman hit one of two from the stripe with :36 remaining. Pettiford tied the game with a running 10-footer with :17 left, leading to his game-winner at the buzzer.

“The kid made a tough shot,” said Motley “There’s not much more that we could have done. He got the dribble down the side and went against one of our best leaders. It was a great shot.”

Orange will resume the season next Thursday in the opening round of the Eastern Guilford Holiday Tournament in Gibsonville, an event the Panthers won last year. Orange will open against an Australian select team on Thursday morning at 11.

OR: 11    16    12   24-63

SG: 15    13    20   17-65

ORANGE: Marquis Phelps 4, Mitch Portman 22, Morgan Paschall 2, Joey McMullin 14, Eli Haithcock 19, Mekai Holt 2.

SOUTH GRANVILLE: Bobby Pettiford 17, Isaiah McLen 9, Romelle Faucette 8, James Morton 17, Ryan Moore 11, Wy’kise Allen 3.

For the third time in four games, Orange center Eli Haithcock scored in double figures on Friday night. Haithcock came off the bench to score 19 points as Orange lost to South Granville 65-63 in a thrilling game at Viking Gymnasium. With the holidays approaching, Haithcock has had plenty of reason to play with emotion and drive, as he explained in this postgame interview.

Even on his first day after his high school career ended, Payton Wilson is still getting accolades.

Wilson was named to the Associated Press first-team All-State football squad on Wednesday. Wilson is the first Panther to achieve this recognition since defensive lineman J.R. Bolden in 1987, who went on to play for Mack Brown at UNC in the early 90s, which triggered the most successful period in modern Tar Heel football history.

Wilson made the team as a linebacker, but easily could have been designated under the athlete category. He played four different positions in his senior year, including starting at quarterback in three games. In his opening game of the season against Northern Nash, Wilson accounted for 393 all purpose yards, including 244 off punt returns. He also made five catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

After starting quarterback Rodney Brooks suffered a torn ACL in Orange’s fourth game against Riverside, Wilson alternated with Brandon Huss at quarterback. Wilson led Orange in receptions (15), touchdowns (10), tackles (103), and tackles for loss (21).

19 media members vote for the Associated Press All-State team. Wilson, who was named Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year earlier this month, received eight votes. He was the only player from the Big 8 Conference to be named to the All-State team and one of four from the Triangle. Javon Terry, a defensive back from the 4-AA state champions Wake Forest, made the squad. Peyton Winstead of Leesville Road made the team as an offfensive lineman. Kick returner Jordyn Adams of Green Hope earned a spot as a kick returner.

Wilson was named to the All-State team one day after officially signing with N.C. State to conclude a heated recruiting battle between the Wolfpack, UNC, Clemson, Ohio State and several other schools.

D.H. Conley quarterback Holton Ahlers was named the North Carolina Offensive Player of the Year. Shelby linebacker Dax Hollifield was the Defensive Player of the Year.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is 195-pound wrestler Braden Homsey, who captured the championship at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic. It was Braden’s 2nd individual championship this season following his victory at the Jim King Invitational earlier this month. Braden is 16-0 with six pins this season after a forfeit victory against Cedar Ridge on Wednesday night. Homsey is now focused on the Tiger Holiday Classic, which starts Friday morning at Chapel Hill High.

For the second consecutive conference match, the Orange wrestling team posted a shutout. This time, it was against a crosstown rival.

Orange defeated Cedar Ridge 81-0 at Red Wolves Gymnasium on Wednesday night. Cedar Ridge forfeited eight matches, essentially giving Orange the victory before the buses rolled up to the school. Of the six matches contested, Orange won five by pin.

The only contest of the match that went the distance was at 120, where Noah Davis defeated Darius McLeod 6-3. Davis is now 6-4 this season.

At 113, Mitchell Askew pinned Debra Urban in 1:01. Askew improved to 11-3 with his seventh pin of the season.

Bailey Hawkins scored his 13th consecutive win by pinning Diana Pritchard in 1:35. Hawkins is now 14-1 on the season and hasn’t lost since the opening dual meet of the season on November 18 at OHS.

CT Lopeman earned his fifth pinfall of the season by finishing off Keegan Huntington in 1:06.

At 152, Mario Manduiano pinned Wyatt Robinson in 1:47. It was Manduiano’s fifth pin of the year.

Avery Jenkins improved to 12-2 by pinning Cutter Tate in 1:17. Jenkins is now 12-2 with six pins.

Josiah Ramirez (182), Braden Homsey (195), Jacob McBroom (220), Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Daylan Alston (285), Stephen Buck (106), Noah Davis (120), Levi Anderson (145), and Trey Jones (170) all won by forfeit. Ramiriez is now 15-0 this season with two individual championships. Homsey, also a senior, improved to 14-0, also with two individual championships.

Orange is now 9-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big 8 Conference.

Photo by Tracey Owens Wilson

If you remember your final day of high school, you probably recall a variety of emotions. Joy. Sadness. Finality. A sense of accomplishment. For Payton Wilson, there was only relief. It was the end of a long, emotionally taxing four months which featured an intense recruiting battle between the two largest public universities in North Carolina, and relentless attacks from those who should know better on social media. Not to mention Wilson tore his ACL six weeks ago, ending his hopes of leading Orange to a state football championship. On Wednesday, the most decorated Orange High football player in history officially signed with N.C. State, concluding a career where he was named the Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year twice, an Army All-American and the 4th-ranked player in North Carolina.