Orange High School

The last time the Orange men’s basketball team played in the South Granville Holiday Invitational, there were high expectations.

Yet it couldn’t have gone much worse.

In 2019, the Panthers rolled into Creedmoor with a 7-1 record, fresh off a 74-56 win over defending 3A State Champion Walter Williams. Yet orange came away with consecutive losses to Sanderson, Franklinton and Green Hope, and never returned to form for the rest of the season.

This holiday season, Orange has battled an injury to its top scorer during its only scrimmage, injuries and the usual assortment of Covid issues common among many programs across the state. It hampered Orange to a 2-7 start to the season, yet this year’s trip to South Granville was much more joyous and successful.

On December 30, the Panthers defeated Granville Central 67-59 to win the third place game of the Navy Bracket in the South Granville Holiday Invitational. The Panthers started the tournament with a 73-70 victory over Rolesville. In the semifinals, Cary held off Orange 69-64.

The Navy Bracket championship game was slated to be contested between Hillside and Cary, but it was never played because of COVID issues within the Hillside program.

Orange guard Jerec Thompson was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Navy Bracket. In three games, Thompson scored 33 points against Rolesville, 32 points against Cary and 17 points against Granville Central.

In addition, Orange point guard J.J. Thompson was selected to the All-Navy Bracket team. Against Granville Central, J.J. scored a career-high 27 points off 8-of-13 shooting from 3-point range.

The Granville Central tournament was the debut of junior Amare Morgan, who hit the ground running with a double-double in his third varsity game. Against Granville Central, Morgan amassed 14 points and 16 rebounds. Granville Central, coached by 1992 Orange graduate Mike McDaniel (who was an All-PAC-6 linebacker with the football team but never played basketball), is 12-4 overall.

In his first varsity game, Morgan scored 15 points against Rolesville. Against the Rams, Orange held on for dear life as the Rams made a late run, but Jerec Thompson knocked down key free throws down the stretch.

In the loss to Cary on December 30, the Panthers were held to a tournament-low 39% shooting from the field against the rangier Imps. In addition to his 32 points, Thompson led Orange with seven rebounds, but no other Panther had more than three. Darius Corbett added 13 points, but was the only other Panther in double-figures. Giovanni Prete paced Cary with 20 points.

Thompson finished 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.

In the 3rd place game, Granville Central led 27-11 midway through the second quarter. Morgan scored Orange’s final two field goals of the first half to reduce the Panthers’ deficit to 31-22.

J.J. Thompson had three points at halftime, but Clark Kent went into the phone booth at halftime and emerged as Superman. He drained seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points in the second half as the Panthers outscored Granville Central 21-9 in the third quarter. Thompson drained three shots from downtown in the opening four minutes of the third quarter to cut the Granville Central led to 36-32. Thompson also set up Morgan with a feed in the low post for another field goal. Then Morgan drained a 3-pointer to put Orange ahead 37-36. Ky’saun Russell and Jordan Alston scored consecutive baskets to put Granville back ahead 40-37, but J.J. swished another 30pointer to tie the game, then added another with 14 seconds remaining in the quarter to put Orange ahead for good.

Orange shot 7-of-11 from 3-point range in the third quarter against Granville, then shot 7-of-12 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. J.J. Thompson added three more 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Again, illness, injures and interruptions to the schedule have impacted Orange since the holiday tournament. The Panthers have played just one conference game since Christmas, a 88-79 loss to Person. Since then, the winter weather has limited Orange to only two non-conference games in two weeks: an 80-63 loss at Wake Forest and an 87-66 defeat against Garner.

The Panthers were supposed to face Cedar Ridge on Friday and South Garner on Saturday, but neither took place because of the snow on Friday night. On Tuesday, Orange will travel to Walter Williams, travel to Cedar Ridge on Friday, then go to Western Alamance on Saturday at 2.

With an overall record of 4-12, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say this is a make-or-break week in regards to making the state playoffs.

Jamar Davis: One of the most versatile performers in Orange High history has made his return to the N.C. State Track & Field team. Jamar Davis returned at the Virginia Tech Invite in Blacksburg, VA on January 14. Davis competed in the triple jump, where he had a leap of 15.21 meters, the 18th-best mark in the NCAA this year. In the long jump, Davis finished 3rd at 7.67 meters, the fifth-best mark in the country and the eighth best in N.C. State history. Davis is a 2018 Orange High graduate. In his final meet at Orange, he was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 3A State Championships at North Carolina A&T University. In his senior year, Davis won the 3A State Championship in the long jump and the triple jump. In addition, Davis was the leading scorer on the men’s soccer team in 2017, arguably the best team in school history. Davis helped Orange win over White Oak in Jacksonville in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs. Also, Davis wrestled for three years and compiled a record of 73-28 with 40 pinfall victories. In his sophomore year, Davis was in the final individual match against Northwood with the Chargers leading 36-34. Davis defeated Northwood’s Luke Orbich 19-4 for a technical fall, and Orange won the dual match 39-36. The Panthers went on to win the Big 8 Conference Championship. Davis missed last season, but qualified for the ACC Championship in 2019 in indoor and outdoor track and field in the triple jump.

Marvin Jones: The North Carolina Central men’s indoor track and field team started its season last month. Jones, a former Cedar Ridge All-Big 8 Conference performer, finished second in the men’s high jump at the Winston-Salem College Kickoff at the JDL Fast Track on December 5. Jones’ best jump was 2.11 meters. It was the first event for Central’s indoor team in 644 days. On Sunday, the Eagles returned to action in the JDL Flat is Fast Invitational, also in Winston-Salem. Jones won the event with a leap of 2.08 meters, the best among 22 other competitors, including schools like South Carolina-Upstate, Davidson, UNC Pembroke and Mars Hill.

Connor Crabtree: The Richmond Spiders men’s basketball team defeated La Salle 64-56 at Tom Goal Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday. Crabtree came off the bench to play two minutes. It was Richmond coach Chris Mooney’s 300th win. On January 18, the Spiders defeated Fordham 83-70 at Rose Hill Gym in Bronx, NY. Crabtree scored three points, scoring his only basket off a 3-pointer. He played eight minutes. The Spiders are 12-7 overall, 3-3 in the Atlantic 10. They travel to Rhode Island on Tuesday

Joey McMullin: The Sandhills Community College men’s basketball team is back in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll, ranked #15. Not only that, but the Flyers have won five in a row after beating Lenoir Community College 94-78 in Pinehurst on Saturday. McMullin played 16 minutes and scored four points in the victory over the Lacers. He shot 2-of-6 from the field. McMullin also grabbed four rebounds and recorded an assist. Sandhills is 15-6 overall, 4-0 in Region X. The Flyers will face Central Carolina Community College in Sanford on Wednesday.

Braden Homsey: On Friday, the Division III Ferrum College wrestling team lost to Averett 35-3 at the Grant Center in Danville, VA. Homsey was the only Panther to win his match on the day. Competing at 197-pounds, Homsey defeated Averett’s William Baldwin 16-1, earning a technical fall. Ferrum is 5-5 in dual matches this season. Next weekend, they will compete in the Pete Wilson Invitational in Wheaton, IL.

The Orange men’s swimming team completed an undefeated regular season in dual matches last Friday night at the Orange County Sportsplex. In its final regular season dual meet, the Orange men’s team defeated Northwood, Walter Williams and Carrboro. Impressively, the Orange men’s team, coached by Ron Geib, has several freshmen who have already qualified for the 3A Central Regionals. Among them is Luke Roman, who qualified for regionals in the 500 yard freestyle, the 200 yard individual medley and 50 yard freestyle. Junior Evan Phillips has qualified for regionals in the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 yard breaststroke, an event where Phillips finished first in Orange’s season-opening dual meet on November 22. Together, Roman, Phillips, Nick Baczara and Alexander Andre qualified for the 400 yard freestyle relay in November with a time of 3:38.21. On January 29, the Orange men’s and women’s swimming teams will compete in the Central Carolina Conference championships at Orange County Sportsplex.

Photo by Sandhills Community College Athletic Department

Joey McMullin: The Sandhills Community College men’s basketball team has won four in a row. On Saturday, the Flyers defeated Oxford College of Emory University 93-78 in Oxford, GA. McMullin scored 19 points, including 12 in the first half, as the Flyers improved to 4-0 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association. McMullin shot 8-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, as the Flyers pushed out to a 41-29 halftime lead. McMullin and Darryl McCaster each had 19 points to lead the Flyers. McMullin added three rebounds and an assist. On January 12, the Flyers defeated Central Carolina Community College in Pinehurst. McMullin had four points, one rebound, one assist and one block. Last weekend, the Flyers swept a two-game weekend series against Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, VA. On Friday, the Flyers defeated the Roadrunners 107-62. McMullin scored 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field in 15 minutes. He also grabbed one rebound. The following day, Sandhills defeated Lancaster 100-55. McMullin led all Flyers with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. He played 18 minutes. McMullin also led the team with nine rebounds. On January 4, USC Salkehatchie defeated Sandhills 104-91 in Walterboro, SC. McMullin scored 14 points in 20 minutes. He shot 7-of-15 from the field. He also had six rebounds and two assists. On New Year’s Day, Davidson-Davie Community College downed the Flyers 95-56 at Brinkley Gymnasium. McMullin had five points in ten minutes. McMullin, a freshman, is averaging 13.1 points per game over 20 games. Sandhills is 14-6 overall, 4-0 in Region X. McMullin is the last Orange player to score 1,000 points for his career. He accomplished that feat in his senior season during the 2019-2020 campaign.

Connor Crabtree: The Richmond Spiders men’s basketball team faced possibly the hottest team in the country on Friday night. The Davidson Wildcats won its 13th consecutive game after a 87-84 victory over the Spiders at the Robins Center. Crabtree came off the bench for Richmond to play three minutes. He knocked down his only shot from the field and finished with two points. On January 5, the Spiders defeated Massachusetts 80-72. Crabtree played eleven minutes against the Minutemen and scored five points. He shot 2-for-2 from the field, including his only 3-point attempt. Richmond scored 50 points in the first half, shooting 65% from the field. It was the most points in a half by the Spiders since March 2020. Richmond opened 2022 with a 76-69 loss to St. Louis at Chaifets Arena. Crabtree played seven minutes and scored two points and grabbed a rebound. Richmond’s game against George Mason, scheduled for January 11 in the Robins Center, was postponed due to COVID issues within the Patriots program. Richmond is 10-7 overall, 1-3 in the Atlantic 10. They will travel to Fordham on Tuesday. Crabtree started his college career with Tulane before transferring.

Braden Homsey: The Division III Ferrum Panthers wrestling team ended 2021 in the the Citrus Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Homsey, seeded #2 at 197 pounds, went to the finals. In the semifinals, Homsey edged Chance Lapier of Castleton University, who was seeded #3, 4-3 to advance to the finals. in the championship match, top-seeded Bentley Schwanbeck-Ost of Augsburg University defeated Homsey 10-4 for the championship. After receiving a bye in the opening round, Homsey defeated Sean Gillespie of Liberty University 14-1. In the quarterfinals, Homsey scored a technical fall over Tyler Raway of Augsburg 16-0 in 4:40. Ferrum placed 8th out of 12 teams in the tournament. Homsey placed the highest of any of the other Panther wrestlers.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior wrestler Elijah Acosta. Last week, Acosta won the Quentin Crosby Tournament in the 220-pound weight division at Dudley High School in Greensboro. It was his third individual championship this year, Acosta’s first as a varsity starter for Orange. On December 18, Acosta won the Eastern Alamance Invitational in Mebane, scoring three pins in all of his matches to win the championship. Acosta’s first varsity tournament came on December 4 in the Jim King/Orange Invitational. In the championship match, Acosta defeated Northwood’s Jake Dunning 12-5 for his first title. On December 22, Acosta finished third at the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School. This season, Acosta is 24-2 with 16 pins. Against Northwood on January 6, Acosta won his match via a 7-3 decision, which sewed up a victory along with a share of the Central Carolina Conference championship for Orange. Winning this award comes full circle for Acosta. His father, Mike, wrestled for Coach Bobby Shriner in the 1990s. Now, Elijah is wrestling for Orange head coach Spenser Poteat.

After the Orange women’s basketball team finished undefeated in the Eastern Guilford Holiday Basketball Showcase, two seniors and a freshman were selected as outstanding performers in the event.

Point guard Aaliyah Harris, forward Jarmil Wingate and freshman guard Evelyn George were honored for their performances. The trio was selected by participating coaches in the event, which included six teams. Orange and their Central Carolina Conference rival Walter Williams were the only teams to emerge from the three-day event undefeated in Gibsonville.

Harris averaged 18.6 points over the three-day event. George came off the bench to finish in double figures in all three games, averaging 11.3 points per game.

The only day where Orange received a serious challenge came against Reidsville on December 27, where the Lady Panthers pulled away 71-45. Harris led all scorers with 22 points against the Rams. In the second half, the Lady Panthers built a 42-26 lead with 4:50 remaining, only to have the Rams roar back to make it a 44-40 game following a 3-pointer by Gracious Walker. Orange calmly finished the game on a 27-5 run, which included eight points from Harris in the fourth quarter.

Wingate had a season-high six assists. She also added seven rebounds and three steals.

George came off the bench and added three key field goals for the Lady Panthers. Her older sister, senior Samantha George, added 13 points.

The following night, Orange played the last of six games on the day with a 67-30 victory over Eastern Guilford. It was another strong game for Harris, who scored 20 points to lead all scorers. Wingate, who is listed at 5’4″, has been pressed into duties as a center at times this season because of injuries to juniors Erin Jordan-Cornell and Katelyn Van Mater. Against Eastern Guilford, Wingate tied her season high with eleven rebounds. She also had seven points, four steals and three assists.

Evelyn George, who basically became a sixth lady for Orange in the final games of 2021, had another strong fourth quarter against Eastern Guilford. George scored eleven points, all in the second half. Samantha George added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Eastern Guilford was led by Taylor Branch, who scored 12 points. Branch fouled out in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats’ offense had no other answers. They scored only five points in the fourth quarter.

The following morning Orange defeated Northeast Guilford 52-27 to complete three wins in three days. It was also Orange coach B.J. Condron’s 100th career win.

Orange put three players in double figures. Harris and Evelyn George each had 13 points to lead all scorers. It was the first time in George’s career that she led Orange in scoring.

Wingate played a vital role on defense in limiting Northeast Guilford to just four field goals in the first half as Orange took a 34-12 lead to the locker room at halftime. Wingate added four points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Samantha George scored ten points against Northeast Guilford. George has scored in double figures in six straight games and nine out of 12 this season for the Lady Panthers.

This was the first time that Orange played at Eastern Guilford for its holiday tournament. In recent years, the Lady Panthers have played in the Eastern Alamance Holiday Hoops Tournament or the Granville Central Holiday Invitational, where they finished 2nd in 2018-2019.

Orange is currently 9-3, 1-2 in the Central Carolina Conference. They’re set to resume its season against Cedar Ridge next Thursday inside Orange Gymnasium.

To show how deep the Central Carolina Conference is, Orange is currently #19 among 3A East teams in the MaxPreps rankings. Three CCC teams are ranked ahead of the Lady Panthers. Northwood, who defeated Orange in Pittsboro on December 4, is #3. Williams, who knocked off Orange 74-50 in Hillsborough on December 17, is #8. Eastern Alamance is #12.

It has been a successful start to 2022 for Orange wrestling.

After beating Northwood to all but sew up the Central Carolina Conference championship, the Panthers captured the Quentin Crosby Tournament at Dudley High School in Greensboro on Saturday.

Four Panthers captured individual championships as Orange won its second team tournament title of the season. The Panthers finished with 148.5 points. Greensboro Page finished second at 101 points.

It was another impressive outing for 220 pounder Elijah Acosta, who captured his second tournament championship this year. Acosta, won rolled to the Jim King/Orange Invitational Championship last month, earned three pins en route to the title in Greensboro. In the championship match, Acosta defeated Jaquaid Owens of Dudley 5-2. Owens was the only grappler to go the distance with Acosta all day. Acosta opened by pinning Braylon Clark of Southwestern Guilford in 5:30. In the quarterfinals, Acosta pinned Noel Jennings of Eastern Alamance in 1:11. Acosta reached the finals after he pined Carter Bland of Southern Guilford in 2:50.

Acosta finished third in the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School on December 22. He defeated Asheboro’s Eduardo Soto-Canas 8-3 in the consolation final.

Orange’s Dillon Heffernan finished the Tiger Holiday Classic in 2nd place. In Greensboro, he captured the championship at 126 pounds, edging Allen Cohen of Eden Morehead 6-5 in the championship bout. It was the only competitive match of the day for Heffernan. In the semifinals, he pinned Eastern Alamance’s Mason Taner in 4:43. Heffernan had a 16-3 lead at the time of the pin. In the opening round, Heffernan had a technical fall over R.J. Reynolds Hamzah Mahmoud 16-0. Heffernan opened the season 15-5 with ten pins.

After losing 2-1 in the 195 pound championship match at the Tiger Holiday Invitational, Acoya Isley won the 195 title in Greensboro with three pins in three matches, none of which went beyond the first period. Isley pinned Christian Brown of Page in 1:09 for the championship. Isley pinned Dudley’s Collin Morehead in 33 seconds. In the opening round, Isley finished off Thomas Tippeconnie of R.J. Reynolds in 21 seconds.

It was the second individual championship of the year for Isley. He won the 195 title at the JKO Invitational.

Senior Brendon Worsham, who qualified for the 3A State Championships after a runner-up finish in the Mideast Regionals, won the 182 pound championship. Worsham defeated Lexington’s Chris Cartrette 9-1. In the semifinals, Worsham pinned Edwin Cantu of Morehead in 52 seconds. It was Worsham’s first tournament championship of the season. To open the season, Worsham won 17 of his first 22 matches with eleven pins.

Talan Pearley had his best-ever showing in a tournament, finishing 3rd at 138 pounds. After dropping his opening round match, Pearly pinned Eastern Alamance’s Jahzion Patterson in 1:18. In the consolation final, Pearley pinned Lexington’s Michael Mays in 54 seconds.

At 132 pounds, Orange’s Jared Hutchins finished third. Hutchins opened with a pin of Shawn Bass of Dudley in 1:56. Ivan Benitez pinned Hutchins in 2:33. In the consolation bracket, Hutchins pinned R.J. Reynolds Amarr Lumpkins in 2:52. Hutchins clinched third place with a 10-4 win over Donovan Edwards of Southwestern Guilford.

Orange’s Kale Womble finished 3rd at 113 pounds. In the third place match, Womble pinned Lexington’s Andres Couto in 4:25.

At 120 pounds, Braden Crawford finished 3rd. After losing in the opening round, Crawford won three straight matches in the consolation round. He pinned Page’s Omari Williams in 2:50. In the consolation semifinals, Crawford defeated Tucker Rakes in 4:12. In the consolation final, Crawford defeated Lexington’s Jason Allen 12-2.

Last Thursday, Orange defeated Northwood 43-24 in Pittsboro to improve to 5-0 in the Central Carolina Conference. The Panthers have clinched a share of the conference championship. They’re scheduled to host Eastern Alamance on January 19 in Hillsborough. If the Panthers win, they take the overall conference championship.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior swimmer Melissa Campbell. During Orange’s first meet of the year at the Orange County Sportsplex, Campbell qualified for the 3A Mideast Regionals in four separate events. Competing against Cedar Ridge and Eastern Alamance, Campbell finished first in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:07.26. Campbell also finished first in the 200 yard freestyle at 2:17.48. She teamed with Katie Belle Sikes, Sandra McCouch and Ellie Wileman to qualify in the regionals for the 200 yard medley relay and the 400 yard freestyle relay. On Thursday night, Campbell and the rest of the Orange seniors were honored at the Orange County Sportsplex during senior night with a meet against Cedar Ridge, Walter Williams and Northwood. On senior night, Campbell teamed with McCouch, Sikes and Wileman to finish first in the 200 yard freestyle relay. Campbell has been going to the Orange County Sportsplex since she was six, when she started swimming. In addition to competing for Orange, she swims for the Hillsborough Aquatic Club. As a sophomore, Campbell qualified for the 3A State Championships at the Cary Aquatic Center. She hopes to reach that prestigious stage once again next month.