Jeff Hamlin

It was no secret that the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves would be the #1 seed from the Big 8 Conference. They will host a home match in the first round of the state playoffs on Saturday night.

But there was a question as to who would make the playoffs after three teams tied for 2nd place in the Big 8: Chapel Hill, Orange and Webb. Now, we have the answer.

A drawing was held on Wednesday night. Chapel Hill drew 2nd, Orange 3rd. They’re both in the state playoffs. Webb was the unlucky one, drawing 4th. That doesn’t mean the Warriors are out of the postseason, but they will need an at-large birth in order to make the field of 64.

We’ll have coverage of Cedar Ridge, including possible radio broadcasts, here on HillsboroughSports.com. Check here for more information.

Listen back to the 12 plays that decided Orange’s 41-6 victory over Cedar Ridge on this week’s Dire Dozen!

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Orange Volleyball could have made its playoff life simple on Tuesday night. Win at Webb, and they finish 2nd in the Big 8 Conference.

It didn’t work out that way.

The Warriors shut out the Panthers 3-0 by scores of 25-21, 25-19, and 25-19. With the loss, Webb, Orange and Chapel Hill finish tied for 2nd at 8-4 in the Big 8, all behind undefeated conference champion Cedar Ridge.

The playoff field is set to be announced on Wednesday, with 1st round matches set for Saturday. Cedar Ridge will have a home match, and will likely be a top seed.

We’ll have coverage of Cedar Ridge, and possibly Orange, here on HillsborughSports.com

Orange High School Stat Leaders:
Kayla Durham – 16 kills, 2 assists, 15 digs
Jordan Lloyd – 1 ace, 1 kill, 1 assist, 13 digs
M’Lynn Dease – 5 kills, 4 blocks
Mileah Shriner – 6 kills, 3 blocks, 1 dig

Get ready to listen to some of the game for the Red Wolves starting next month here on Hillsborough Sports.com. Here’s the schedule released by boys basketball coach Clay Jones.

DATE​ OPPONENT​ SITE JV VARSITY
Nov. 12 (Thurs.) Riverside & Granville Central (Scrimmage)​ HOME Starting @ 5:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Sat.)​ Wheatmore (Jamboree) ​ ​ Away TBA TBA
Nov. 17 (Tues.)​ Carrboro (Tripleheader)​ ​ Away (JV-B)4:30 / (V-G )6:00 / (V-B) 7:30
Nov.20 (Fri.) Bartlett Yancey (Tripleheader)​ HOME (JV-B)4:30 / (V-G)6:00/ (V-B) 7:30 Nov. 23 (Mon.)​ Person​​ ​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B ) 7:00
Dec. 1 (Tues.) South Granville (Tripleheader)​ HOME (JV-B)4:30 / (V-G)6:00 / (V-B)7:30
Dec. 2 (Wed.)​ Southern Alamance (Vars. Girls & Boys ONLY!) Away — (V-G)6:00 / (V-B) 7:30
Dec. 3 (Thurs.)​ Southern Alamance (JV Girls & Boys ONLY!) HOME (JV-G)5:00/ (JV-B) 6:30 —
Dec. 4 (Fri.) Cummings ​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B ) 7:00
Dec. 7 (Mon.) Australian Team (Varsity Boys ONLY!)​ HOME — / (V-B) 7:30
Dec. 8 (Tues.)​ Graham (Tripleheader)​ ​ Away (JV-B) 4:30 / (V-G)6:00 / (V-B)7:30
Dec. 11 (Fri.)​ *OHS​​ ​ ​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B ) 7:00
Dec. 15 (Tues.)​ *NORTHERN VANCE (Tripleheader)​HOME (JV-B)4:30 /(V-G)6:00 / (V-B)7:30
Dec. 18 (Fri.)​ *SOUTHERN DURHAM​​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B ) 7:00
Dec. 28-29(Mon-Tues) Clinton Christmas Tournament (JV & V.Boys) Away (JV-B) TBA / (V-B ) TBA
Jan. 5 (Tues.)​ *CHAPEL HILL​​​ HOME (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Jan. 8 (Fri.)​ *NORTHWOOD​​​ HOME (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Jan. 19 (Tues.)​ *OHS​​​ HOME (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Jan. 20 (Wed.)​ *J.F. WEBB​​​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B ) 7:00
Jan. 22 (Fri.)​ *NORTHERN VANCE (Tripleheader)​ Away (JV-B)4:30 / (V-G)6:00 / (V-B)7:30 Jan. 26 (Tues.)​ *SOUTHERN DURHAM​​ HOME (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Jan. 29 (Fri.)​ *CHAPEL HILL​​​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Feb. 2 (Tues.)​ *NORTHWOOD​​​ Away (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Feb. 5 (Fri.)​ *J.F. WEBB​​​ HOME (JV-B) 5:30 / (V-B) 7:00
Feb. 9 (Tues) Roxboro Comm.School (Tripleheader) ​ HOME (JV-B)4:30 / (V-G )6:00 / (V-B) 7:30
Feb. 11 (Thurs.)​ Carrboro (Tripleheader) [SENIOR NIGHT!]​ HOME (JV-B)4:30 / (V-G) 6:00 / (V-B) 7:30
*DENOTES – CONFERENCE GAMES — Bold denotes – HOME Games

Typically, we don’t like repeating winners of the Orange or Cedar Ridge Players of the Week. But Drew Lemaster’s game was too good on Friday night. In Orange’s 41-6 win over Cedar Ridge, Lemaster rushed for a career-high 124 yards on 18 carries and intercepted a pass for a touchdown. Plus, he tipped a punt that led to a 58-yard touchdown return for Montavious Beasley. Congratulations to Drew Lemaster, our Orange Panther of the Week for the second straight week!.

The Orange boys soccer team picked a good time to pull an upset.

The Panthers defeated Chapel Hill 2-1 on Monday night in Hillsborough, handing the Tigers its first loss in Big 8 play this season. The Panthers improve to 9-8-1. More importantly, they’re 5-4 in the Big 8 Conference, good enough for 3rd place. The top three finishers in the Big 8 automatically qualify for the state playoffs.

“I am extremely proud of our group tonight,” said Orange coach Palmer Bowman. “They played with great energy and effort, and were able to come out on top. Chapel Hill is an incredibly strong side. They are very skilled, well-coached, and play quality soccer. We were fortunate enough to catch some breaks and make the most of the opportunities that we got during the game.”

Orange opened with a goal from Henry Guevara-Alfaro in the 42nd minute. The Panthers received insurance from Malcolm Phillips during the second half.

It was Guevara-Alfaro’s seventh goal of the year. Phillips earned his 2nd goal of the season.

Chapel Hill responded with a goal in the 74th minute, but Orange goalkeeper Noah Miller stood strong down the stretch to pave the way for a Panther result.

“You have to tip your hat to Chapel Hill,” said Bowman. “They played a man-down for 3/4 of the game and continued to create chances. We were fortunate to put a few away and hold on at the end. Malcolm Phillips and Henrry Guevara scored some very timely goals, and our defense weathered the storm to ensure the win.”

In its last three games against Chapel Hill, the Tigers had outscored the Panthers 21-0, including a 6-0 loss earlier this year.

The Orange soccer program started in 1988. MaxPreps.com doesn’t list any past Orange teams having defeated the Tigers.

After holding Orange to a scoreless first quarter, the Red Wolves gave up 27 points in the second quarter. The Panthers went on to win 41-6. Shemar Miles scored the Red Wolves only touchdown in the fourth quarter, his eighth of the year. Miles finished with 73 rushing yards. Quarterback Peyton Pappas finished 8-of-20 for 83 yards.  Montae Kee and Lucas Baldwin had interceptions for the Red Wolves.

The Cedar Ridge Women’s Tennis team will start play in the 3-A state team tournament on Tuesday facing either Union Pines or Fayetteville 71st. Plus, two Red Wolves representatives will compete in the 3-A Regionals next weekend. Tess Johnson will compete in the singles tournament, while the doubles team of Leah Thompson and Maddie Andrews will enters the doubles tournament.

Cedar Ridge coach Lennie Corbett discussed Wednesday’s Big 8 Tournament at Orange High Tennis Courts and what lines up ahead for the Red Wolves.

The Orange Panthers wrapped up a birth in the state playoffs by sweeping Northwood 3-0 on senior night at Jim King Gymnasium on Thursday night.

The Panthers, under first-year head coach Christina Carinci, finish the regular season 13-8, 8-3 in the Big 8 Conference. Orange finished 2nd in the Big 8, second only to Cedar Ridge.

Varisty Match Score:
Orange 3 – Northwood 0

Varsity Game Scores (Orange first):
25-17
25-19
25-15

Orange High School Stat Leaders:
Andie McKinnon – 1 ace, 13 kills, 2 assists, 10 digs
Kayla Durham – 4 aces, 11 kills, 2 assists, 3 digs
Jordan Lloyd – 1 ace, 18 digs
Caroline Compton – 1 ace, 18 assists, 3 digs
Julia Lovingood – 2 aces, 15 assists, 4 digs

Northwood High School Stat Leaders:
unknown

JV Match Score
Orange 2 – Northwood 0

JV Game Scores (Orange first):
25-19
25-22