The Wave Goodbye; Wilson’s stickback at the buzzer puts Person over Orange 55-53 in Central Conference semis
Photo by Ben McCormick of the Courier-Times
As the handshake line formed, several celebratory Person players taunted the Orange student section by waving goodbye.
It was reminiscent, and probably inspired by, Damian Lillard when he scored 50 points, including a 3-pointer to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder from the 2019 playoffs.
But in the situation that played out on Tuesday night, Person was waving goodbye not just to their Hillsborough rivals for this year, but probably for the next four years as a conference rival.
If not longer.
If so, the Rockets got the last laugh.
Person’s Tyler Wilson scored on a stickback bucket as time expired to lift Person over Orange 55-53 in the Central Conference Tournament semifinals. The Rockets (24-2) will face Eastern Alamance for the Central Conference Tournament championship at Orange High either Friday or Saturday night.
It was the third time this year that a matchup between Orange and Person was decided by two points or less. The Panthers defeated the Rockets 67-65 in Roxboro on January 9. Two weeks ago, Person’s Tae Winstead scored off an offensive rebound with 1:51 remaining to put the Rockets ahead in a 53-52 win in Hillsborough.
There was another wild finish on Tuesday night. Xandrell Pennix drained a 3-pointer contested by Wilson to tie the game at 53-53 with :7.1 remaining. Pennix, who scored his 1,000th point in Monday’s quarterfinal win over Southern Alamance led the Panthers with 21 points.
On the final play of regulation, Person forward Lance Clarke found Quante Bowman, who drove the left baseline. Bowman put up a floater that banged off the rim. Winstead had a catch-and-shoot from point-blank range, but it missed. Wilson got his first offensive rebound of the game and got the ball of his fingertips and through the net just as the final second rolled off the clock.
Clarke led the Rockets with 28 points and seven rebounds.
In the game two weeks ago, Person outrebounded Orange 53-41, including 21 offensive rebounds. Orange played a more deliberate style and limited Person’s advantage on the boards to 40-35. The Panthers actually got more offensive rebounds 12-11. As it does so often between Person and Orange, the second half was nip-and-tuck. There were eight lead changes in the second half.
Clarke scored off a pass from Kyan Lunsford with 2:19 remaining to put the Rockets ahead 48-46. Orange reserve guard Kamaal Smith, who scored a career-high 12 points, sank two free throws. On the subsequent inbounds pass, Freddy Sneed poked it away at midcourt. Panther point guard Kai Wade threw to Sneed for a lay-in to put Orange ahead 50-48, but Sneed immediately went down with a cramp injury to his right leg.
The Rockets threw the ball away on its next possession. Leading 50-48 with the ball and 1:08 remaining, the Panthers coughed it off 75 feet from their basket when Lunsford poked the ball away, leading to Sneed being called for his fourth foul.
On the next play, Lunsford grabbed an offensive rebound and found Clarke, who drove over Smith, scored on a bank shot and drew Sneed’s fifth foul in the process. Clarke’s free throw put Person ahead 51-50. Orange turned the ball over again and Winstead drained two free throws with 38 seconds remaining.
Person started the game with five consecutive points, but Orange scored eleven in a row, holding the Rockets scoreless for 6:17. Wade scored seven of his ten points in the first quarter as the Panthers led 11-7 at the end of the first eight minutes.
Orange built a 23-17 lead in the first half after Pennix scored on a lay-in off a pass from Sneed. Person scored seven straight points to take its only lead of the second quarter, ending with a lay-in by Clarke off a sharp pass from Wilson. Wade drained a pull-up jumper to put the Panthers ahead 25-24 at the half.
Orange (18-8) will wait for the 3A State Playoff brackets to be released on Sunday. They’re hopeful of earning an opening round home state playoff game. Currently, the Panthers have the #12 RPI in the East Region.
Person had to win in order to keep its hopes alive for taking one of the top eleven seeds for the state tournament. Currently, the Rockets’ RPI is #4 in the latest 3A East Region rankings. If Eastern Alamance wins the tournament championship, the highest seed in the state playoffs that Person could receive would be #12.
Orange guard Xandrell Pennix discusses scoring 1,000th point
The Silent Assassin has done it. Xandrell Pennix scored his 1,000 point for the Orange men’s basketball team in its win over Southern Alamance to open the Central Conference Tournament on Monday night. Pennix had a season-high 21 points. His 1000th point came on a 16-foot jumper from the right of the lane to open the second half, leading to the game being stopped. Pennix was mobbed by his teammates and exchanged chest bumps with starters Kai Wade and Freddy Sneed. In his freshman season, Pennix spent the first half of the season on the junior varsity squad. After the South Granville Holiday Invitational, Pennix was called up to the varsity and played his first game against Person in Roxboro. In just his fourth varsity game, Pennix scored 13 points against Walter Williams. In 2022, Orange finished 8-17. Two years later, they would win the Central Conference championship regular season and postseason tournaments. Pennix was a large part of that success. He was second on the team averaging 12.8 points per game in his junior season, including a career-high 24 points against Chapel Hill on December 8, 2023. For the third year in a row, Pennix will join the Panthers in the 3A State Playoffs next week against an opponent to be determined.
Orange’s Xandrell Pennix discusses scoring 1,000 career points
The Silent Assassin has done it. Xandrell Pennix scored his 1,000 point for the Orange men’s basketball team in its win over Southern Alamance to open the Central Conference Tournament on Monday night. Pennix had a season-high 21 points.
X-1-K–Pennix scores 1000th point as Orange rolls past S. Alamance 70-45; hosts Person in Central Tourny semifinals on Tuesday
The relationship between Xandrell Pennix and Derryl Britt is more than just player and coach.
It’s personal.
Pennix scored his 1,000th point in the Orange men’s basketball team’s win over Southern Alamance in the Central Conference Tournament quarterfinals at Panther Gymnasium on Monday night. Pennix eclipsed the plateau with a 15-foot jumper along the right wing, where it touched nothing but nylon. As the game was momentarily stopped, Pennix exchanged chest bumps with teammates Freddy Sneed and Kai Wade.
Pennix and Sneed were called up from the junior varsity team in 2021, a period of transition for Orange basketball. Two years later, they would help take Orange to the top of the Central Conference.
In a postgame chat, when he is asked how much Pennix helped him establish his footprint within the Orange program, Britt gets a distant look in his eyes.
It takes him a full 15 seconds to find the right words.
Because Pennix reminds Britt of the son he lost in 2008.
Just five days after reporting to boot camp at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, Derryl Lamont Britt Jr. died of an aneurysm at the age of 20.
“I’ve been a coach since I was 16 years old,” Britt said. “Of all the players I’ve ever had in my coaching career, Xandrell reminds me of my son the most. He’s quiet. He listens. He’s tenacious on defense. He can put the ball in the bucket with the best of them.”
Orange public address announcer David Gaddy introduces Pennix as the Silent Assassin. When Pennix does talk, his teammates know it’s something urgent.
Britt hails from the Commonwealth of Virginia, where Allen Iverson is an icon.
“That smaller frame guy who plays really, really tough was my son,” Britt said. “Xandrell plays that way and he’s not from there. He’s not afraid of any moment.”
Last season when Wade and Coleman Cloer were out with injuries, Britt was left searching for a point guard against Forsyth Country Day and East Chapel Hill. Pennix approached him and asked for the assignment, knowing he would face one ball hawk after another.
“He’s fearless and tough as nails,” Britt said.
Pennix finished with a season-high 21 points as the Panthers advanced to the conference tournament semifinals to face Person on Tuesday night. Orange will host the Rockets at 7:30 at Panther Gymnasium.
Pennix opened aggressively as the Patriots stood toe-to-toe with the Panthers early. Southern Alamance center Riley Warren scored eight points in the opening quarter. It appeared that Orange’s defense was still in recovery mode after a difficult loss to Eastern Alamance to finish the regular season on Friday. Early in the second quarter, the Patriots tied the score at 18-18 following a 3-pointer from Bo Day.
Pennix drained two 3-pointers in the second quarter as Orange pulled away. Wade and Hector Garrido added 3-poiners as the Panthers pushed its advantage to 42-21 at halftime. Pennix’s 1000th point was the first basket of the second half. Wade finished with 14 points.
The game marked the varsity debuts of Logan Edwards and L.J. Graves, who were called up from the junior varsity team for the postseason.
For the third year in a row, Orange and Person will square off in the Central Conference Tournament. Each matchup between the Rockets and the Panthers has been memorable this season.
On January 9th, Person led 28-9 early in the second quarter. The Panthers roared back to win in Roxboro despite Wade fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Two weeks ago, Person held off Orange 53-52 in Hillsborough. The Rockets are 23-2. Both of its losses came within five days last month, to Orange and Eastern Alamance.
Person defeated Cedar Ridge 63-54 in Roxboro on Monday night.
The Orange-Person game will be one of two games at Orange High on Tuesday night. In the opening game of the Central Conference semifinals, top-seeded Eastern Alamance will face Walter Williams. The Bulldogs edged Western Alamance 51-49 on Monday night in Burlington. The Eagles, the top-seed in the tournament, received a bye into the semifinals.
Orange Panther of the Week: Luke Roman
This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior swimmer Luke Roman. Last week, Roman cemented his place as the greatest male swimmer in school history when he was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the 2025 3A State Championships. Roman won two individual state championships. He also swam the anchor leg to win the 400 yard freestyle relay with Alexander Andre, Noah Jones and Ayden Twiddy. They became the first men’s relay swim team to win a state championship in Orange High history. For the second year in a row, Roman won the 500 yard freestyle state championship, finishing with a time of 4:40.20. Roman also won the state championship in the 200 yard freestyle for the first time in his career, finishing at 1:41.55. Before he started at Orange, only one male swimmer had ever won a state championship. In his career, Roman won the 500 yard freestyle in the Central Conference championships four consecutive years. He was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer in the Central Conference in 2024 and 2025. Orange has won the Central Conference Championship every year that Roman has completed. As he moves on to graduation, Roman’s place in Orange athletic history has been established and he will be the standard all future male swimmers in Hillsborough are compared with.
Orange Panther of the Week: Luke Roman
This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior swimmer Luke Roman. Last week, Roman cemented his place as the greatest male swimmer in school history when he was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the 2025 3A State Championships. Roman won two individual state championships.
Orange women’s basketball’s Shannon Murphy, Evelyn George, Marshea Byrd & Maura McMurtry discuss win over Eastern Alamance
It was the dream scenario many kids growing up envisioning in their backyard baskets. Shooting the free throws in the big game against a nearby rival with practically no time left. On Friday night in Hillsborough, it played out in real time for Shannon Murphy–on her senior night. Murphy got fouled with one second left and drained two free throws to lift Orange to a 64-63 win over Eastern Alamance. Murphy scored the final eight points for Orange in the game. She finished with 15 points, including ten in the fourth quarter. Orange senior Evelyn George paced the Panthers with 19 points, while junior point guard Maura McMurtry added 13 points. Orange finished the regular season 15-8, 8-4 in the Central Conference. It was Orange’s first win over Eastern Alamance in a conference game since February 10, 2023. The Lady Panthers will enter the Central Conference Tournament as the #3 seed. Orange will open against crosstown rival Cedar Ridge on Monday night at 6PM in Hillsborough. Between games of Friday night’s doubleheader, Orange’s seniors were honored. George, Murphy, Marshea Byrd, Chloe Caldwell, Bryce Jones and Rhiley Crabtree were all honored by head coach Josh Underwood. The winner of the Orange-Cedar Ridge game will advance to face either Eastern Alamance or Southern Alamance on Tuesday night at Western Alamance.
Orange women’s basketball’s Murphy, George, Byrd & McMurtry discuss win vs. Eastern Alamance
It was the dream scenario many kids growing up envisioning in their backyard baskets. Shooting the free throws in the big game against a nearby rival with practically no time left. On Friday night in Hillsborough, it played out in real time for Shannon Murphy–on her senior night.