Orange High School

Scoring a pin in his last match at Orange High Gym was a fitting finale for Josiah Ramirez, who defeated Zachary Baumannn in :49 on Tuesday night. But it was only another step towards a series of goals that will unfold over the next week for Ramirez, a 182 pound senior. First, he wants to lead Orange to the state team championship this weekend in Greensboro. To advance that far, Orange will have to win two matches on Thursday at a location to be determined. Ramirez is now 29-1 on the season.

Orange Senior Josiah Ramirez Talks Winning his Final Match at Orange Gymnasium

Scoring a pin in his last match at Orange High Gym was a fitting finale for Josiah Ramirez, who defeated Zachary Baumannn in :49 on Tuesday night. But it was only another step towards a series of goals that will unfold over the next week for Ramirez, a 182 pound senior.

Donald Hicks found himself with big shoes to fill as he entered his first season as a starter on the Orange Wrestling team. He replaced Payton Wilson at 220 pounds after Wilson left midway through his senior season to enroll at N.C. State early. Wilson captured the 3A State Championship last season. On Tuesday night, Hicks pinned Morehead’s Nate Lowe in 2:55. Hicks also earned a forfeit victory in the 1st round of the state playoffs vs. Gray’s Creek.

Orange Junior Donald Hicks Discusses His Win vs. Morehead in the State Playoffs

Donald Hicks found himself with big shoes to fill as he entered his first season as a starter on the Orange Wrestling team. He replaced Payton Wilson at 220 pounds after Wilson left midway through his senior season to enroll at N.C. State early. Wilson captured the 3A State Championship last season.

The surprise snowfall in northern Orange County led to yet another snow day at Orange and Cedar Ridge on Tuesday. It also will send the local basketball teams to play a lot of games in a short amount of time.

Cedar Ridge will play three tripleheader in three days, starting Thursday night. The Cedar Ridge Red Wolves game at Northern Durham, set for Tuesday, was moved to Thursday night. Cedar Ridge’s scheduled nonconference game against Sanderson, scheduled for Wednesday, has been canceled.

On Friday night, the Red Wolves will host East Chapel Hill. Then on Saturday, they host Northwood. It stands to be a crucial stretch for the Cedar Ridge girls team, coming off a topsy turvy week where they defeated Chapel Hill and Southern Durham, only to lose to Orange at home. The Red Wolves are 5-3 in the Big 8, tied in the loss column with Chapel Hill. After the loss to Orange, CRHS is two games behind Southern Durham and Hillside for 1st.

Orange will play three doubleheaders in three days. They start with a road game against Northern Durham on Wednesday night. Orange travels to Northwood on Thursday. That game was supposed to be played on Tuesday, but was moved due to the snow. On Friday, the Panthers host Chapel Hill.

Orange Wrestling’s 16 consecutive Big 8 Conference Championship will direct them to an opening round matchup against a familiar face on Tuesday night.

The Panthers will face Grey’s Creek in the opening round of the 32-team 3A state dual team playoffs on Tuesday night at Orange High starting at 6. Orange defeated Gray’s Creek last February in Hope Mills to win the Eastern Regional Championship. This season, the Bears are 11-7.

If Orange wins over Grey’s Creek on Tuesday, they will face either Eden Morehead or Franklinton in the 2nd round that same night. In 2016, Morehead and Orange had a classic match in the 2nd round of the state playoffs which saw Morehead rally from a 12-0 deficit to defeat the Panthers 31-29. The entire match boiled down to the final bout at heavyweight, where Morehead’s George Blackstone defeated Orange’s Daylan Alston 13-3 to advance to the round of 8. Four days later, Morehead claimed the state championship by beating Enka 39-30.

The entire bracket can be viewed here. 

If Orange and Morehead (also nicknamed the Panthers) do meet, it will be the sixth time in seven years they’ve squared off in the state playoffs.

Orange is the defending Eastern Regional Champion. They fell to Piedmont last season in Monroe in another dramatic final which came to the final bout. Piedmont (32-1) is the top seed from the Southern Carolina Conference.

The regional semifinals and finals will take place on Thursday at a location to be determined. This year, the state championship meet will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse, the home of the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA Gatorade League. In recent years, the state championship has been held at a host team’s gymnasium. In 2017, the 3A final was held at Piedmont High.

Orange will go into the state playoffs with a 18-0 record. This year, the East Region appears much deeper than in year’s past, complete with undefeated Cape Fear (13-0) and Western Harnett (20-0). In the West Region, Southwest Guilford is 19-1, with its only loss coming in November against Orange. It was the closest OHS has come to tasting defeat this season.

Rivalry games aren’t supposed to make sense.

On Friday night, the Orange girls basketball team rolled into Cedar Ridge winless for 2018. They had lost six consecutive conference games, including a 46-39 decision to the Red Wolves on December 19th at Orange. The Panthers were 72 hours removed from a 49-27 loss to Hillside.

On the other hand, Cedar Ridge had five of its last six. On Wednesday night, they handed Southern Durham its first Big 8 loss of the season, rallying from a seven-point deficit with 5:12 remaining to beat the Spartans 49-43.

Leading 16-14 at the half, it appeared Cedar Ridge was set to pull away in the opening minutes of the second half. Center Grace Davies opened the third quarter with a three-point play, followed by a three-pointer from Madison Wardlow to push its lead to 22-14.

And as quickly as that lead came, it disappeared.

The Lady Panthers held the Red Wolves to nine points in the final 13 minutes, including only three field goals. Icez Barnett and Lauren Cates took over the offensive load for Orange, combining for 13 points in the second half as Orange (6-12, 2-6) upset the Red Wolves 39-31 at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Barnett paced Orange with 13 points, while Cates finished with ten. Logan Woody led Cedar Ridge with nine points. But the most impressive job came from the Orange defense, who held Cedar Ridge center Yolanda Simpson to three points. Simpson came into the game with consecutive double-doubles earlier in the week against Chapel Hill (16 points and 12 rebounds) and Southern Durham (13 points and eleven rebounds).

Simpson’s only points came on three free throws in the fourth quarter. Barnett took a pass from Grace Dively and scored on a lay-in while drawing a foul to tie the game at 27 with 4:32 remaining. Orange got the ball on a held ball, leading to Cates giving Orange the lead for good with a three-pointer from the wing. After Cedar Ridge committed consecutive turnovers, Barnett scored on a three-point play to extend the Lady Panther lead to 32-26 with 2:40 left.

Cedar Ridge’s only field goal in the final five minutes came from Woody, who scored in the final minute after Orange had opened up a seven-point lead.

Dively had the hot hand for the Panthers in the first quarter, scoring six points. Woody struck back for Cedar Ridge with seven points in the first half, including five in the second quarter.

While Orange reveled in the upset, it greatly hampered the Red Wolves chances of catching Southern and Hillside for first place in the Big 8. After its upset of Southern on Wednesday, the Red Wolves were just one game back of first place.

Cedar Ridge (11-7, 5-3) travels to Northern Durham on Tuesday. Orange heads to Northwood Tuesday night at 6.

ORANGE 39, CEDAR RIDGE 31

ORANGE: Grace Dively 7, Icez Barnett 13, Lauren Cates 10, Janea Myers 4, Grace Andrews 3, Nashyra Wilkins 2.

CEDAR RIDGE: Grace Davies 5, Yolanda Simpson 3, Taylin Jean 2, Madison Wardlow 8, Logan Woody 9, Natalia Garay 4.

Rivalry games sometime produce surprising results. On Friday night, the Orange girls basketball team came into its rivalry game with Cedar Ridge on a five-game losing streak. They had yet to win in 2018, but junior forward Icez Barnett changed that by scoring 13 points, including seven in the fourth quarter as the Lady Panthers upset Cedar Ridge 39-31 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Barnett led a surge in the fourth quarter where the Lady Panthers held Cedar Ridge to nine points in the final 13 minutes to improve to 6-12, 2-6 in the Big 8.

Orange Junior Icez Barnett Discusses 39-31 Win over Cedar Ridge

Rivalry games sometime produce surprising results. On Friday night, the Orange girls basketball team came into its rivalry game with Cedar Ridge on a five-game losing streak. They had yet to win in 2018, but junior forward Icez Barnett changed that by scoring 13 points, including seven in the fourth quarter as the Lady Panthers upset Cedar Ridge 39-31 at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Now this is a dynasty.

Orange Wrestling has been dominant across Orange and Durham Counties since Bobby Shriner took over the program in 1991. When Shriner retired last May, assistant Spencer Poteat was the only true choice to replace him. Poteat grew up in the Orange program, not just wrestling under Shriner, but learning about life lessons from him.

Now, whenever someone speaks of high school sports dynasties, one can include Northern Durham’s 18 consecutive PAC-6 football championship from 1984-2000, East Chapel Hill’s twenty girls and boys state tennis championships under Coach Lindsay Linker during the 90s and 00s…and Orange wrestling winning 16 consecutive conference championship across three different classifications.

And counting.

On Thursday night,  the Panthers defeated Southern Durham 70-8 in Hillsborough. Orange will be the #1 seed from the Big 8 and host a quad meet in the first round of the state dual tournament on Tuesday night. The field of 32 will be annnounced on Monday.

Orange finishes the regular season 18-0, 7-0 in the Big 8. Returning to the state championship dual meet has been a mission for the Panthers since a heartbreaking loss to Piedmont in the 3A State Dual Championship match last February. Orange led 27-17 with three matches remaining, but Piedmont rallied to win 29-27. Orange was one takedown away from its sixth state title, but instead fell two points short in what turned out to be Bobby Shriner’s final dual match as Orange head coach.

The closest match the Panthers have had all season was against Souteast Guilford during the Thanksgiving Duals on November 21, a 41-31 Orange win. However, Southeast Guilford had three wrestlers out that day, all leading to Panther forfeit victories. Chances are Orange won’t be as fortunate if there’s a rematch in the state playoffs.

Orange’s victory over Southern started with senior Bailey Hawkins pinning Anincoo Nyaangoro in 6:00. Hawkins finishes the regular season 28-4 after also pinning Marcus De La Rosa of Northern Durham in 3:10 on Wednesday.

Junior Levi Anderson pinned Demetrius Moore in :23. Anderson, who placed 2nd in the King of Kings Tournament at Olympic High School in Charlotte two weeks ago, is now 22-5 this season.

Senior Malcolm Phillips pinned Juddah Hardville in :50 at 145. At 152, senior Mario Manduiano pinned Tyshawn Watson in 1:20 and the Panthers led 24-0 in the opening four matches.

After Avery Jenkins earned a forfeit victory, senior Trey Jones pinned A’Cire Collins in 1:17. At 182, senior Josiah Ramirez concluded the regular season with a major decision win over Zatay Lindensy 13-3.

Senior Braden Homsey remained undefeated by pinning William Torain in :31.

At 113, Mitchell Askew pinned Tyree Hunter in 1:06. Justin Hutchins scored a pin at 1:20 in 3:23. Junior Gavin Wiggins earned a pin in the final match of the night over Zion Mcare in 2:48.

Southern Durham’s Xavier McGhee got a 6-1 victory over Donald Hicks at 220. Shaheed Davis of Southern earned the Spartans only pinfall victory of the night in 3:34.

The Orange Wrestling Team captured its 16th consecutive conference championship on Thursday night, defeating Southern Durham 70-9 at Jim King Gymnasium. It was the final regular season home match for Bailey Hawkins, who pinned Anincoo Nyanngoro in 6:00 to improve to 27-4. At 126, Gavin Wiggins pinned Zion Mcare in 2:48. Wiggins, coming off winning his first individual championship of the season in the King of Kings Tournament in Charlotte, is now 28-4.

Orange Junior Gavin Wiggins and Senior Bailey Hawkins Talk Conference Championship

The Orange Wrestling Team captured its 16th consecutive conference championship on Thursday night, defeating Southern Durham 70-9 at Jim King Gymnasium. It was the final regular season home match for Bailey Hawkins, who pinned Anincoo Nyanngoro in 6:00 to improve to 27-4. At 126, Gavin Wiggins pinned Zion Mcare in 2:48.

In his final regular season match at Orange High, senior Trey Jones pinned A’Cire Collins in :17 to help the Panthers win the Big 8 Championship, its 16th consecutive league title. Jones is now 27-6 after winning his second conference match in two night. On Tuesday, Jones pinned Northern Durham’s Christian Dixon in 1:49. Unlike last year when he was injured during Orange’s run to the Eastern Regional Championship, Jones will be healthy win the Panthers start play in the dual state playoffs on Tuesday.

Orange Senior Trey Jones Discusses Senior Night Victory

In his final regular season match at Orange High, senior Trey Jones pinned A’Cire Collins in :17 to help the Panthers win the Big 8 Championship, its 16th consecutive league title. Jones is now 27-6 after winning his second conference match in two night. On Tuesday, Jones pinned Northern Durham’s Christian Dixon in 1:49.

After eleven days off created by last week’s snowstorm, Orange Boys Basketball Coach Greg Motley wanted to see an effort from his team that would solidify its standing in the state playoffs.

Instead, Orange’s future is more up in the air than ever.

Hillside defeated Orange 57-43 on Tuesday night at Jim King Gymnasium, dropping the Panthers to 8-9, 3-4 in the Big 8. Trey Crews led a balanced Hillside attack with eleven points, while Drake Thompson added ten.

Orange was only 8-24 from the foul line and shot 35% from the field. Point guard Mitch Portman led the Panthers with 12 points, while Ryan Sellers came off the bench for ten points.

Hillside has now passed Orange in the Big 8 standings with a 3-3 league mark, 7-7 overall.

At a time when the Panthers are struggling on offense, they lost starting sophomore guard Mechai Holt in the 2nd quarter with an injured left foot. Holt was injured early in the first quarter, then returned later in the first half after Portman was kneed in the head on a shot fake by Crews, who tumbled over him. Holt didn’t return after halftime.

“When you’re down, sometimes you just keeping going that way,” said Motley. “Losing Mekai hurts because he’s a ball handler that does some things for us. He puts pressure on the floor for us.”

The two teams traded the lead six times in a low-scoring first quarter, but Hillside bridged a 13-0 run between the opening quarters to control the rest of the game. Damon Sanders scored off a steal to give the Hornets an 8-7 lead, and Crews responded off a Sanders steal moments later with a 3-pointer.

Hillside forced 13 steals and pressed Orange into 18 turnovers. Trailing 28-17 at the half, Orange never got within single digits in the second half as the absence of Holt took away any spark in the Panther offense.

With makeup games coming against Northern Durham and East Chapel Hill, Orange will play seven games over the next 14 days to finish the regular season, followed by the Big 8 Tournament.

Next up is a road game at Chapel Hill.

“It’s been a rough couple of weeks,” said Motley. “If you watch us play, we play pretty good defense. It’s not like teams are scoring a million points against us. We just can’t score the ball. It’s something that we’ve struggled with all year.”

In the opening game of the doubleheader, Hillside easily put away the Orange girls team to complete a season sweep. The Lady Panthers fall to 5-12, 1-6 in the Big 8.

HILLSIDE 57, ORANGE 43

H: 12    16     11     18-57

O: 7       8       12   16-43

HILLSIDE: Traylen Warren 9, Xavier Young 3, Rod Bailey 6, Brain Bullock 2, Drake Thompson 10, Damon Sanders 4, Trey Crews 11, Treyvion Graham 3, Ja’Lyn McIntosh 3, Deontrae Brown 6.

ORANGE: Mitch Portman 12, Mechai Holt 3, Kendall Whitted 4, Joey McMullin 5, Zyon Pettiford 4, Morgan Paschall 2, Ryan Sellers 10, Marvante Beasley 3.