Orange High School

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is guard Mekai Collins.

In his first game in an Orange uniform on November 27, Collins scored 35 points as the Panthers defeated Union Pines 84-78 as Derryl Britt won his first game as Orange head coach. On November 30, Collins scored 28 points as the Panthers rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Granville Central 86-77 in Stem. Collins is a transfer from Cedar Ridge who has added plenty to the Panther offense. On Friday night, Collins scored 14 point as Orange defeated Lee County 67-57 in Sanford to improve to 3-2. Orange is supposed to play at Southern Lee on Monday night. If the winter weather forces a postponement, the Panthers will return to the floor on Friday against Lee County in Hillsborough.

Orange Panther of the Week: Mekai Collins

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is guard Mekai Collins. In his first game in an Orange uniform on November 27, Collins scored 35 points as the Panthers defeated Union Pines 84-78 as Derryl Britt won his first game as Orange head coach.

After a disappointing loss to Williams on Thursday night where they never led, Orange never trailed in a 67-57 win over Lee County on Friday night in Sanford. The Panthers, now 3-2, jumped out to a 9-0 lead. Junior Joey McMullin, in his third season as a starter, hit a career-high six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points, leading all scorers. Machai Holt added 17 while Mekai Collins finished with 14. Orange is slated to play at Southern Lee on Monday night, though Mother Nature may have other plans. After five consecutive road games, Orange will finally return home on Friday for a rematch against Lee County.

Orange guard Joey McMullin discusses win over Lee County

After a disappointing loss to Williams on Thursday night where they never led, Orange never trailed in a 67-57 win over Lee County on Friday night in Sanford. The Panthers, now 3-2, jumped out to a 9-0 lead. Junior Joey McMullin, in his third season as a starter, hit a career-high six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points, leading all scorers.

The Orange women’s basketball team is 4-1 after defeating Lee County on 56-41 on Friday night. All four of Orange’s wins have been on the road. The Lady Panthers started the season with a 48-39 victory over Union Pines. Orange senior Kate Burgess, in her third year on the varsity, scored five points against the Yellow Jackets. On Thursday night, Orange defeated Williams 86-63 in Burlington, where Burgess scored four points. Orange returns to action on Friday night when they host Lee County in a rematch in Hillsborough. Gametime will be at 6 PM. Burgess is also a two-sport athlete for Orange. In the fall, she runs cross country with her teammate, point guard Grace Dively.

Orange center Kate Burgess discusses win over Williams

The Orange women’s basketball team is 4-1 after defeating Lee County on 56-41 on Friday night. All four of Orange’s wins have been on the road. The Lady Panthers started the season with a 48-39 victory over Union Pines. Orange senior Kate Burgess, in her third year on the varsity, scored five points against the Yellow Jackets.

(Editor’s note: This Orange Panther of the Week is meant for the opening week of winter sports for the week ending November 17. Another Orange Panther of the Week, for events from the week ending December 1st, will be posted on Saturday)

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is 195-pound wrestler Donald Hicks. In the opening week of wrestling season, Hicks scored four wins in the Orange Duals at Orange High Gymnasium. In his first match starting at 195, Hicks pinned an opponent from North Davidson in 35 seconds. His most important victory of the day came against South Stokes. At the time, Stokes led the dual match 27-23, but Hicks held on to defeat Cooper Ross 5-4 following a takedown in the second period. Orange went on to win the dual match Sauras 50-27. Hicks pinned Sanderson’s Ethan King in 2:12 to conclude his day. Over the weekend in the Jim King/Orange Invitational, Hicks finished 3rd in the 195-pound weight class. He pinned Cardinal Gibbons’ Gabe Jensen in 2:35 in the consolation final.

Orange Panther of the Week: Donald Hicks

(Editor’s note: This Orange Panther of the Week is meant for the opening week of winter sports for the week ending November 17. Another Orange Panther of the Week, for events from the week ending December 1st, will be posted on Saturday) This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is 195-pound wrestler Donald Hicks.

For the fourth year in a row, the Orange wrestling team captured the championship of the Jim King/Orange Invitational wrestling tournament last weekend. Orange’s only individual champion was Levi Anderson, who won the 152-pound title. Anderson defeated Marlon Toruno of Cary 12-5. In the semifinals, Anderson defeated Person’s Justin Breeze 11-4. Anderson won four matches en route to his first JKO title. In the opener, Anderson pinned Northern Durham’s Deven Cates in eleven seconds. In the second round, Anderson defeated Riverside’s DeAnthony Bright 6-3. After missing last year’s JKO, Anderson was looking forward to this year’s tournament and it paid off with a championship.

Orange senior Levi Anderson discusses winning the 152-pound championship at the JKO Invitational

For the fourth year in a row, the Orange wrestling team captured the championship of the Jim King/Orange Invitational wrestling tournament. Orange’s only individual champion was Levi Anderson, who won the 152-pound title. Anderson defeated Marlon Toruno of Cary 12-5. In the semifinals, Anderson defeated Person’s Justin Breeze 11-4.

On Friday night, the Orange Panthers trailed the Granville Central Panthers 56-45 going into the fourth quarter. The Panthers scored 41 points in the 4th quarter to win 86-77. Sophomore Jason Franklin had a career-high 18 points, including a clutch 3-pointer during Orange’s comeback. Joey McMullin added ten points as the Panthers grabbed a victory against Central, coached by former Orange middle linebacker Mike McDaniel. It was a thrilling finish to the first win of the season under new head coach Deryl Britt. Franklin also nailed some clutch free throws down the stretch as Orange improved to 2-1. Franklin, in his second year on the varsity, had ten points in Tuesday’s season-opening win over Union Pines.

Orange sophomore Jason Franklin discusses the comeback in Stem

On Friday night, the Orange Panthers trailed the Granville Central Panthers 56-45 going into the fourth quarter. The Panthers scored 41 points in the 4th quarter to win 86-77. Sophomore Jason Franklin had a career-high 18 points, including a clutch 3-pointer during Orange’s comeback.

Orange’s Kyle Stanley scored nine points on Friday night, including two late free throws, to help push the Panthers past Granville Central 86-77 on Friday night. Orange trailed 56-45 going into the 4th quarter, but scored a whopping 41 points in the final eight minutes. Stanley, a sophomore, has had a strong start to the season. In Tueday’s season opener against Union Pines, Stanley scored ten points. It was his first varsity game as the Panthers defeated the Vikings 60-59. Orange is 2-1 and will travel to Burlington Williams on Thursday night, followed by another road trip to Lee County on Friday.

Orange sophomore Kyle Stanley talks win over Granville Central

Orange’s Kyle Stanley scored nine points on Friday night, including two late free throws, to help push the Panthers past Granville Central 86-77 on Friday night. Orange trailed 56-45 going into the 4th quarter, but scored a whopping 41 points in the final eight minutes. Stanley is in his first season starting for the Panthers.

The Orange men’s basketball team trailed by 13 points with 8:43 remaining against Granville Central on Friday night, but stormed back to win 86-77 in a raucous Granville Central Gymnasium. Mekai Collins scored 28 points, while sophomore Jason Franklin added 18, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Zyon Pettiford had 15 as Orange improved to 2-1. The Panthers completed the comeback despite losing guard Machai Holt in the middle of the third quarter, who fouled out. Listen to the final 15 minutes of the game right here!