Orange High School

Following a disappointing loss to Cedar Ridge, the Orange women’s basketball team rebounded well last week. The night after losing to the Red Wolves, the Lady Panthers rolled past Chapel Hill 64-42 at Orange Gymnasium. On Friday, Orange defeated Northwood 52-37 on a night that belonged to the Lady Panther freshman. Mary Moss Wirt had a career-high 12 points, while classmate Aaliyah Harris added six points. It was Orange’s eighth win outside of Hillsborough this season. The Lady Panthers are 10-4, 2-2 in the Big 8 Conference going into Friday’s game against Southern Durham in Hillsborough.

The Orange wrestling team is on the verge of winning its 17th consecutive conference championship. On Wednesday night, Orange defeated Chapel Hill 37-21. Orange’s Chandler Harward got the Panthers off to a good start with a 3-1 decision victory in the opening match. Donald Hicks and Jake McBroom won the subsequent matches to keep the Panthers ahead. Harward is 20-6 after placing 2nd at 182 pounds in the Quentin Crosby Tournament at Dudley High School in Greensboro last weekend. Next up for Orange is the Havelock Duals on Saturday.

One night after a disappointing loss to Cedar Ridge, the Orange women’s basketball team came back strong on Wednesday night against Chapel Hill. The Lady Panthers never trailed and defeated the Tigers 64-42 at Orange Gymnasium. After being held to six points against Cedar Ridge, Orange forward Icez Barnett scored a career-high 25 points. She came out firing with 12 points in the first quarter as Orange built an early lead and withstood several comeback attempts by the Tigers. Orange is now 9-4 overall, 2-2 in the Big 8 Conference. On Friday night, the Lady Panthers travels to Northwood. It will be Orange’s third game in four nights.

Orange sophomore guard Jason Franklin scored 15 points in the Panthers 83-39 victory over Cedar Ridge in a crosstown battle at Red Wolves Gymnasium on Tuesday night. Franklin was 3-of-5 from 3-point range and shot 5-of-9 from the field. Franklin’s career-high came on November 30 when he scored 18 points at Granville Central. After Orange earned its first conference win of the season against the Red Wolves, they now focus their attention on Chapel Hill, who come calling to Panther Gymnasium on Wednesday night. That game can be heard live on Hillsboroughsports.com starting at 6 with the women’s game.

The Orange Panthers never trailed in beating Cedar Ridge 83-39 on Tuesday night at Cedar Ridge Gymnasium. It was Orange’s first Big 8 Conference win of the season. It came after two disappointing losses last week against Southern Lee and East Chapel Hill. Junior Joey McMullin, who started as an off guard his freshman season, is now a low-post presence for the Panthers. He scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field against the Red Wolves. Machai Holt led Orange with 22 points. The Panthers are now 7-6, 1-2 in the Big 8 Conference as they have to turn right back around and host Chapel Hill tonight at Orange Gymnasium. The women’s game will start at 6, while the men will follow ten minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is basketball forward Icez Barnett. Last week, Barnett helped the Orange women’s basketball team to a 2nd place finish in the Granville Central Holiday Tournament in Stem. In the semifinals, the Lady Panthers defeated Franklinton 55-48, ending the Rams’ seven-game winning streak. Barnett scored 15 points. In the championship game, Barnett scored 14 points in a loss to Ravenscroft. On Friday, Barnett put up eleven points as Orange defeated East Chapel Hill 40-33 for its first Big 8 Conference victory of the season. Barnett recently committed to Chowan College. She’s in her third season as a varsity player and aims to put Orange back in the state playoffs.

Orange Panther of the Week: Icez Barnett

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is basketball forward Icez Barnett. Last week, Barnett helped the Orange women’s basketball team to a 2nd place finish in the Granville Central Holiday Tournament in Stem. In the semifinals, the Lady Panthers defeated Franklinton 55-48, ending the Rams’ seven-game winning streak.

The Orange women’s basketball team had a struggle on Friday night, but defeated East Chapel Hill 40-35 at Wildcat Gymnasium for its first Big 8 Conference win of the season. Orange was held to a season-low 12 points in the first half, but scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to earn its seventh win away from home this season. Lauren Cates scored nine points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 18 points. Icez Barnett added eleven. Orange, now 8-3, will play three games in four days next week. They face Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Gymnasium on Tuesday night at 6, a game that can be heard on Hillsboroughsports.com.