Jeff Hamlin

Last season, the Orange women’s basketball team opened 21-0 en route to the Big 8 Regular Season championship, followed by the Big 8 Tournament championship.

With the loss of seven seniors who are scattered everywhere from Starkville, Mississippi to Raleigh to Hartford, Connecticut, it’s too early to say if a similar fate awaits the 2017-18 edition of the Lady Panthers. All that’s certain right now is Orange is 1-0 and junior Lauren Cates is a big reason why.

Cates scored 17 points as the Panthers defeated the North Carolina School of Science and Math 55–44 in the season opener at Jim King Gymnasium in Hillsborough on Tuesday night. Janea Myers added 13 while Icez Barnett scored twelve.

Orange outrebounded the Unicorns 19-10 and created 13 turnovers. Junior point guard Grave Dively and Namron Chapman each corralled four rebounds.

The Panthers roared out to a 20-11 lead and led 41-20 at the half. Shannon Hunter led the Unicorns with 16 points.

Despite workouts throughout the summer to prepare for the loses of top scorer Kaylen Campbell (now at Trinity College in Hartford), leading rebounder Mia Davidson (now a catcher at Mississippi State) and center Bethlyn Early, plus the leadership of Adalyn Fleming, Jazlyn Watson and Mary Beth Dobbins, there was only so much practices could do to prepare Orange for an actual game.

“We definitely played with some nervousness early,” said Orange Coach B.J. Condron. “We got into a little foul trouble, but some reserves stepped up and gave us some valuable minutes. We got to see a lot that we need to work on moving forward.”

Orange hosts Lee County Thursday night at 6.

NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATH—Faith Merrit 3, Kaylah Davis 3, Aneesha Manocha 10, Christina Alperi 3, Laila Barnes 6, Shannon Hunter 16.

ORANGE—Janea Myers 13, Icez Barnett 12, Lauren Cates 17, Grace Dively 9, Nashyra Wilkins 8, Jala Rainey 1, Grace Andrews 6.

After making the state playoffs for the third straight years, two Orange Panthers have been named to the 2017 All-Big 8 volleyball team.

In addition, Cedar Ridge’s Sarah McCuiston was named to the All-Big 8 squad.

For Orange, senior Bailey Lucas and sophomore Emma Clements were named to the 14-person squad. Lucas had 141 kills, 42 aces, ten blocks, 110 digs, and placed 2nd on the team with 278 digs. Lucas had a 40% kill percentage, the highest among players with at least 60 kills on the season.

Clements led Orange in two categories: kills with 202, aces with 61. Her kill percentage was 38.3%. She was second on the team with 256 digs. Clements also had six total blocks. Orange finished 13-11, 6-8 in the Big 8 Conference. In the opening round of the state playoffs, Orange lost to eventual Eastern Regional champions Chapel Hill.

McCuiston, a junior, led Cedar Ridge with 123 kills, tops on the team. She also had a team-leading 36 blocks.

Even though Chapel Hill was one set away from winning the 3A state championship, Northwood swept the conference awards. Northwood’s Cera Powell was named the Big 8 Player of the Year while Steve Thomas took Coach of the Year honors.

Chapel Hill finished 14-0 in the conference, 17-6 overall and lost to North Iredell 3-2 for the state championship.

In regards to Honorable Mentions, Orange senior Faith Foushee was honored. So was senior co-captain Caroline Compton. For Cedar Ridge, juniors Juliann De Jesus and Rachel Tucker was also on the Honorable Mention list.

Last Tuesday, Orange 182-pound wrestler Josiah Ramirez became the 42nd Panther to record 100 wins in his career. Ramirez clinched the milestone by pinning Riverside’s Chuma Ubezonu in 1:13. Last season, Ramirez made it all the way to the 3A individual state championship match at 170 pounds, where he fell short of the title. For his senior year, Ramirez wants to earn state championships on several levels as he gears up for this week’s Jim King Invitational at Orange starting Friday.

Orange senior Gavin Wiggins has plenty to aim for in his final season wrestling for the Panthers. He wants to win a championship at the Jim King Invitational next Saturday. He hasn’t forgotten about the Panthers crushing loss to Piedmont in the 3A State Dual Championship last season in Murphy, something he would like the entire team to atone for this year. Wiggins has opened the season 3-1, including a pin of Sanderson’s Eli Kays in 1:02 in the season-opening dual match, a 76-6 Orange victory.

During Orange’s Thanksgiving Duals last Tuesday, Orange heavyweight Daylan Alston received a stiff challenge from Southeast Guilford’s Jonathan King. Alston prevailed in double overtime 8-6 to improve to 5-0 on the season. Alston also pinned Northwood’s Abraham Pena in :17 and received a forfeit victory against Riverside. Alston is gearing up for the Jim King Invitational starting Friday at Orange.

To conclude a whirlwind week that included a lavish trip to Notre Dame, decommitting from UNC and the subsequent predictable social media backlash from countless people living in their parents’ basements, Payton Wilson added another superlative to his storied Orange high career.

Wilson was named the Big 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Friday for the second consecutive season. Wilson was the ultimate utility player for the Panthers in his senior season. In addition to starting nine games at linebacker, Wilson started four games as quarterback, served as punt returner and finished the season tied for the team lead with 15 receptions.

Despite missing essentially the final three games of the season (he suffered a torn ACL during the opening kickoff against Cedar Ridge, the penultimate game of the regular season), Wilson still led the team with 103 tackles and 21 tackles for loss. He had ten sacks, an interception (returned for a touchdown against Rolesville) and a fumble recovery.

Wilson was one of eleven Orange players to make the All-Big 8 squad. Also making the team for Orange:

Marvante Beasley: The senior running back had 977 yards and eight touchdowns. In all seven games he played, Beasley rushed for over 100 yards. His season, and possibly career, ended when he knocked out of the Hillside game on October 13 when he was carried off the field on a stretcher. An MRI later revealed his had a bruise on his spinal cord, jeopardizing his hopes of playing in college. Beasley, who was walking around without pain during last week’s Orange Thanksgiving Duals wrestling meet, is currently seeking a second medical opinion.

Ryan Sellers: A defensive end for the past three years, Sellers will be remembered as an anchor for some of the most accomplished Orange defenses in school history. In 2017, he led Orange with 24 tackles for loss and eleven sacks. Earlier this month, Sellers took a recruiting trip to East Tennessee State, which resurrected its program in 2015 under former UNC head coach Carl Torbush.  Sellers is currently gearing up for basketball season, which starts Monday.

Noah Rogers: Orange’s most accomplished two-way player, Rogers started as a nose guard on defense and a left guard on offense. He finished with 44 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Rogers will best be remembered for his junior season, when he teamed with Sellers and current Vanderbilt Commodore Stone Edwards to form a defensive line that yielded just six points in the second half during the entire regular season.

Jeremiah Bailey: Possibly the biggest revelation of the season, Bailey was a reserve defensive end. He became a regular starter at right guard and frequently played both ways during the Big 8 portion of the schedule. One of six Orange juniors to make All-Big 8.

Milton Purcell: A junior linebacker/wide receiver, Purcell finished with 39 tackles, five tackles for loss and four interceptions. Perhaps the emotional leader of the team, Purcell’s interception return for a touchdown against Hillside sewed up a win that ultimately led Orange to its third consecutive Big 8 Championship and handed Hillside its first loss in conference play since 2010. Purcell also scored perhaps the most adventurous touchdown of the season in the waning moments of the first half at Rolesville. With the clock ticking, Purcell returned the ball to the referee while struggling to get his shoe on, got the play from quarterback Rodney Brooks, then caught a touchdown.

Eryk Mercado: Tied for the team lead with four interceptions and led the team with five pass break-ups. Told teammates the night before the Northern Durham game he would make an interception against the Knights, then did just that the following night.

Jett Satterfield: The son of former Orange fullback Trent Satterfield and nephew of Appalachian State football coach Scott Satterfield, Jett transitioned from a wingback in Pat Moser’s single-wing offense to a linebacker who became the second-leading tackler on the team with 74. He also had 11 tackles for loss. Figures to be instrumental in his senior year.

Colin Guentensberger: A junior who started as a linebacker in Orange’s 3-5-3 defense. Guentensberger was fourth on the team with 61 tackles, eleven for a loss. Become more of a presence as a skill player late in the season after Wilson’s injury. Scored a receiving touchdown vs. Chapel Hill.

Hunter Pettiford: Another two-way player who was third on the team with 64 tackles. Became part of a two-way backfield after Beasley’s injury. Rushed for 262 yards and four touchdowns in his first full season at the varsity level.

Francisco McKinley: Named the Big 8 Kicker of the Year. While it may have been overlooked, McKinley may have provided the most dramatic moment of the season when he kicked a 26-yard field goal with 1:29 remaining, which was the game-winner against Southern Durham, a 16-15 Orange win in the Big 8 opener. Just minutes earlier, McKinley injured his right knee when Southern blocked a punt deep in Orange territory.

Three Cedar Ridge Red Wolves make the All-Big 8 team.

Jacob Gravitte: The senior linebacker piled up 106 tackles for the Red Wolves, leading the team. Gravitte was a three-year varsity starter who was also All-Conference during his junior season, when Cedar Ridge went 6-5, its first winning season in six years.

Freddy Francis: Originally a wide receiver, Francis had a baptism by fire as a first-year quarterback after an injury to starter Phillip Berger. Francis started the final eight games of the season behind center, throwing for 477 yards and four touchdowns.

Thomas Upchurch: The junior linebacker had 62 tackles, second on the team. Also on offensive lineman.

Making honorable mention All Conference: Taison Farrington and Eli Haithcock for Orange. Kevin Wright and Aidan Poole for Cedar Ridge.

In a disappointing 70-65 loss to Durham School of the Arts on Tuesday night, Cedar Ridge guard Khalil Barnett had a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds. The Red Wolves led for most of the first half, but couldn’t overcome the Bulldogs height advantage. DSA outrebounded the Red Wolves 33-29. Cedar Ridge returns to action on Friday night to host Jordan Matthews.

Coming off making the 2nd round of the 3A State Playoffs last season, the Cedar Ridge girls basketball team has been expectations for the 2017-18 season. The Red Wolves defeated Durham School of the Arts 51-42 on Tuesday night to open the season. Yolanda Simpson scored eleven points for the Red Wolves, who return to action on Friday night to host Jordan-Matthews.

From the moment Orange fans entered Auman Stadium Friday night, something felt off.

Maybe it was the sight of Payton Wilson and Rodney Brooks on crutches and Marvante Beasley in street clothes. They were on the sidelines with season-ending injuries in the 1st round of the state playoffs. Together, they had played in seven playoff games for Orange. Now, their high school careers were over.

As they watched, Cape Fear quarterback Justice Galloway-Velazquez anxiously high-fives head coach Jacob Thomas. Galloway-Velazquez showed no ill effects from a broken finger suffered last month, which caused him to miss the Colts’ last three regular-season games in the Patriot Conference.

Injuries had taken away Orange’s best players at the worst possible time. Cape Fear’s best players (leading rusher Zaire Boykin also returned Friday after missing the past month) were back at the best possible time.

And it all added up to the worst possible end of the season for the Panthers.

Cape Fear scored five touchdowns before Orange even had one first down and dominated the Panthers 44-6 in the first round of the 3-AA state playoffs on Friday night.

It was the most lopsided loss for the Panthers since a 42-7 loss to Havelock in the 2012 3A Eastern Regional Final.

The loss ended a five-game winning streak in the opening round of the state playoffs. The last time Orange fell in round 1, Fayetteville Byrd throttled the Panthers 41-12.

“They were just physically stronger than us on the front line on both sides of the ball,” said Orange Coach Van Smith. “That’s where it all starts and that’s where it all ended tonight.”

The first play from scrimmage summarized the night for Orange. After calling a timeout after the opening kickoff, then getting an offside penalty, Galloway-Velazquez had a shotgun snap go over his head. Most quarterbacks would have dived on the ball and swallowed a 15-yard loss. Galloway-Velazquez picked up the ball and threw a strike to a wide open Cody Grunden, who raced across midfield for a 42-yard gain. It was Grunden’s 4th catch of the year.

J’Velus Peterson scored on a 17-yard touchdown run three plays later and the rout was on.

After Orange failed to convert a 3rd-and-1 on its next drive, Galloway-Velazquez ran 20 yards to move the ball into the red zone. Aaron Lewis ran around right end for a six-yard touchdown.

Hunter Pettiford fumbled on the subsequent play from scrimmage, leading to Galloway-Velazquez punching in a touchdown run to make it 21-0.

It became 28-0 when Boykin scored on a 1-yard dive. The most points Orange surrendered in a game this season was 26 against Wilmington Hoggard, and the Vikings had to run up the score in the final ten seconds to do that. Cape Fear scored 28 in the first quarter.

Orange only had two first downs and 50 yard total offense, both season lows. Only Owen Brimmer’s 48 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown kept the Panthers from getting shut out for the first time since August 27, 2010 against Carrboro.

For the 18 seniors on the team who came into 2017 thinking there was unfinished business from last year’s 12-1 season, it was a crushing and despairing end. Defensive end Ryan Sellers hugged free safety Eli Haithcock and linebacker Milton Purcell as the final seconds ticked off the clock to their high school careers.

Between 1993-2007, Orange had no winning season. No conference championships. No playoff births.

The class of Wilson, Sellers, Beasley, Purcell, Haithcock, Noah Rogers and Huss conclude the year with Orange’s sixth consecutive winning season, three conference championships, and played in eight playoff games, victorious in half of them.

Certainly Friday night was the worst case scenario for Orange even before kickoff, when easily the lowest home crowd of the season gathered in sub-50 degree temperatures.

Hopefully, when the 18 players move on in life and think back to sustaining the resurrection of Orange football, they’ll understand it was far from wasted time.