In a new Big 8 Conference, the Orange Wrestling team took its first step toward another league title with an easy victory at East Chapel Hill.

Orange won 78-3 to improve to 8-0 in its conference opener.

Of the 14 scheduled matches, Orange won nine via forfeit. Trey Jones (170), Josiah Ramirez (182), Braden Homsey (195), Jacob McBroom (220), Daylan Alston (285), Kassel Summers (106), Noah Davis (113), Lucas Riley (138) and Avery Jenkins (160) all captured victories on forfeits.

At 126 pounds, Gavin Wiggins scored a pin of Damien Smith in :40 to improve to 8-2.

Coming off a 4th place finish at 145 pounds in the Jim King Invitational, C.T. Lopeman pinned Zekeriah Philbrick in 1:05. Lopeman, now 5-2, has two pins this season.

Coming off his 132-pound championship at the Jim King Invitational, Bailey Hawkins pinned Autumn Coles in :18. Hawkins is riding a seven-match winning streak.

East Chapel Hill’s Jacoby Ray scored the Wildcats’ only win of the night, a 9-7 decision at 113 pounds.

Orange travels to High Point on Saturday for the Southwest Guilford Round Robin. The first match is scheduled for 9 AM.

In just his 2nd varsity game, sophomore guard Machai Holt provided a spark against Northern Guilford on Tuesday night at Jim King Gymnasium. Holt came off the bench to lead the Panthers with 20 points, and helped the Panthers on a 13-2 spurt in the third quarter that carried them to the lead. Northern Guilford wound up winning 57-52, but Holt gave the Panthers some hope for the future. And he delivered a postgame interview admits a ton of run-ins.

“We’re trying to figure out who can do what.”

Orange Coach Greg Motley uttered that phrase three times in four minutes in the postgame of Orange’s 57-52 loss to Northern Guilford on Tuesday night. It was a rematch of the state quarterfinals from last March, when Orange had just lost superstar senior Connor Crabtree because of a broken ankle suffered three days earlier against Triton, derailing the Panthers’ very serious hopes of winning the state championship.

The two teams that faced off at Jim King Gymnasium on Tuesday night were very different from the ones from last season. Orange was playing its second game and, well, they’re trying to figure out who can do what.

Their tallest player, Eli Haithcock, is on crutches after suffering an injury to his right foot. That leaves five other seniors, the only one of which who has starting experience is Mitch Portman.

Still, sophomore Machi Holt nearly took Orange to victory. Trailing 38-31 early in the third quarter, Holt entered the game and sent the Panthers on a 13-2 run, pushing them to a 41-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.

“Mekai changed things a lot,” said Motley. “He’s actually very aggressive. He’s a good ball handler, so he actually gives us a different look. Right now, we’re trying to figure out which guys can do it.”

The Nighthawks’ (3-1) Andy Pack wouldn’t let his team lose, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Pack scored the game-winning layup with :53 remaining. Arba Allen hit six of seven free throws down the  stretch.

Orange trailed 57-54 when Pack missed a free throw with :2.3 remaining, but no one boxed out Pack on the subsequent rebound, leading Pack to score on a layup at the buzzer.

“It was a good fight for us,” said Motley. “We didn’t know what to expect because this was only our second game and they lost some players from last year.”

The final play highlighted what’s will likely be a prime concern for the Panthers: trying to find a low post presence until Haithock is set to return. After having the 6-7 Crabtree and 6-6 center Logan Vosburg the past three years, Orange hasn’t had to worry about a low post presence in a long time.

Now, it’s a prime concern.

“All of our guys are kind of lanky,” said Motley. “So no one is really a true post player.”

Joey McMullin, coming off a 37 point game against the North Carolina School of Science and Match, scored eleven points in the first half, but was held without a bucket the rest of the game.

“Right now, we have to get up and down the floor to score,” said Motley. “So we have to push it while we can. We’re trying to execute the way we need to. We’re struggling with that right now.”

”We have to do a better job in getting him open,” said Motley. “He’s a very good shooter.”

Orange (1-1) is scheduled to have two games the rest of the week. They travel to Union Pines tonight, followed by another road trip to Lee County on Friday night, weather permitting.

NORTHERN GUILFORD 57, ORANGE 52

NG-15  10  11   21-57

OR-9     14  18   11-52

Northern Guilford: Dakari Mitchell 2, Holden Lewis 3, Andy Pack 21, Kellen Nodge 4, Chris Herian 8, Lee Maynard 7, Rashawn Pleasant 7, Arbra Allen 5.

Orange: Mitch Portman 13, Morgan Paschall 4, Joey McMullin 11, Jason Franklin 4, Machai Holt 20.

There were signs of progress for the Cedar Ridge boys basketball team against Word of God Christian Academy.

Facing one of the top freelance teams in the Triangle, the Red Wolves trailed 32-28 at the half behind another strong performance by guard Mekai Collins, who finished with 21 points.

The lack of size for the Red Wolves caught up with them in the second half as the Holy Rams outscored the Red Wolves 49-18 in the second half, winning 81-46 in Raleigh. Word of God put four players in double figures, led by Zach Newkirk’s 18 points.

Collins was the only player in double figures for the Red Wolves, who suffered its third straight loss and fell to 1-5.

In the girls game, Word of God held off Cedar Ridge 44-38. Statistics were not provided from the game.

Cedar Ridge returns to action on Wednesday night at Carrboro for a tripleheader. The girls will tipoff at 6, with the boys starting at 7:30. The Red Wolves boys team have dominated the Jaguars in recent years,  winning the last seven matchups. The last Carrboro win over Cedar Ridge was on February 20, 2013 in the Mid State 2A Tournament.

WORD OF GOD 81, CEDAR RIDGE 46

CEDAR RIDGE-Eddie Altieri 7, Khalil Barnett 8, Terrence Crawford 5, Chris Tinnen 2, Mekai Collins 21, Chris Tinnen 3.

WORD OF GOD-Anthony 3, Burt 4, Newkirk 18, Cooper 10, Spencer 9, Furtrell 5, King 18, Forte 4, Cash 10.

After being led by the same head coach for 29 years, one would think a change in command would bring a change in philosophies or atmosphere.

Spenser Poteat is now the head coach of the Orange wrestling team, replacing his longtime mentor Bobby Shriner, who retired in May. Yet ask any Orange wrestler if there’s a difference in attitude around the famed Panther Wrestling room, and they’ll say the same thing: no.

So far, certainly the success hasn’t changed.

For the 3rd year in a row, Orange captured the Jim King Invitational Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at Jim King Gymnasium. The Panthers captured 259 points to win the two-day event for the eighth time in its 37-year history Cary, who has won the JKO 22 times, finished second with 239 points. Leesville Road finsihed third with 144 points. Northern Durham, which figures to be Orange’s biggest challenger in the Big 8 Conference, came in fourth with 138 points.

Cedar Ridge, behind a strong 4th place finish by Darius McLeod at 126 pounds, came in 18th with 39 points.

Four Panthers won individual championships. Senior Bailey Hawkins captured his first JKO Championship with a 4-0 decision over Cary’s Cymek Shaw. Hawkins, who finished 2nd in the JKO at 132 last year, scored two pins in route to the semifinals, where he defeated McKray Monday of Southern Alamance.

After coming in third last year, Orange senior heavyweight (and Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion) Daylan Alston scored four pins to win his first JKO Championship. In the first of what will likely be several meetings this year, Alston pinned Northern Durham’s Tyric Swennie in 5:33 for the championship. That was the only match where Alston was stretched beyond the first period. On Friday, he pinned Burlington Williams Bryce Stewart in 1:49, then finished off Bartlett Yancey’s Josh Stewart in :19. On Saturday morning. Alston pinned Person’s Noah Harris in :34 to advance to the finals.

Alston is 9-0 so far this season.

One week after capturing his 100th career victory, Josiah Ramirez won his 2nd consecutive JKO Championship, this time at 182 (last year, Ramirez wrestled at 170). Ramirez scored a major decision over Cary’s Nick Straight 14-4 in the finals. In the semifinals, Ramirez grinded out a 3-1 decision over Cedar Ridge’s Colin Davis. Ramirez started the tournament with consecutive pins over Northwood’s William Lake (in :15) and Corinth Holders Cameron Carroll (:27).

Cedar Ridge’s Davis advanced to the semifinals by pinning Middle Creek’s Jaxson Chopp in :31. He started by pinning Southern Durham’s Jamar Blank in 2:24. Davis finished 6th at 182.

Braden Homsey won his first JKO Championship at 195. Homsey, who lost in the opening round last year to Northwood’s Hunter Queen, scored a technical fall on Millbrook’s Ben Williard 20-5 in the finals. Homsey was dominant throughout the tournament, getting a major decision in the semifnals over Cary’s Dontay Turner 12-2. Homsey pinned Northwood’s Hsernay Day in :46 and opened the tournament with a pin of Person’s Zakery Lieske in :30.

Two other Panther grapplers finished 2nd. At 113, Mitchell Askew lost in the championship match to Cary’s Kobe Early 13-2. Askes, who also had a runner-up finish at 106 in 2016, defeated Bartlett Yancey’s Jacob Wright 8-6 in the semifinals.

In the 160 Championship match, Donald Cates of Northern Durham defeated Orange’s Avery Jenkins 10-3.

Gavin Wiggins finished 3rd for Orange at 126 with a 7-2 victory over McLeod. Orange’s Trey Jones came in 3rd at 170 with a pinfall of Person’s Genuine Morris in :55.

At 220, Jake McBrook came in 5th after a 4-2 decision over Southern Durham’s Xavier McGhee. Orange’s Luke Riley, in his first JKO, placed sixth at 132.

After the first two weeks of the season, there was a sense of optimism around the Cedar Ridge girls basketball team.

They started the season with three straight wins over Durham School of the Arts, Jordan-Matthews and Person. However, Coach Felton Page knew the toughest was yet to come the week after Thanksgiving, when his team would face Rockingham County, Goldsboro and Riverside in a span of four days.

Rockingham County advanced to the 3A state quarterfinals last season. Goldsboro is a stingy defensive team and Riverside is 4-1 that’s already defeated Chapel Hill, Northern Durham and Sanderson by lopsided margins.

Sure enough, the reason for concern was validated.

On Friday night, Riverside’s full-court press caused 26 Cedar Ridge turnovers in a 59-21 Pirates’ victory. The game was even 8-8 after the first quarter, but the Pirates used its pressure defense to hold the Red Wolves to only four field goals the rest of the game.

Earlier in the week, Rockingham County handed the Red Wolves a 57-26 loss. The Cougars’ Madeline Hardy, a 6-6 center who has committed to Lenoir-Rhyne, finished wth 19 points.

On Wednesday, Goldsboro held off the Red Wolves 43-49 in Hillsborough. Wardlow led Cedar Ridge with nine points while Yolanda Simpson had 8.

Against Riverside, Aijah Perry finished with 23 points to lead the Pirates. Ashauntee Nelson added twelve while Ladasia Jones had nine.

Cedar Ridge will return to action on Monday night in Hillsborough to host Raleigh Word of God at 6. They travel to Carrboro on Wednesday night at 6.

RIVERSIDE 59, CEDAR RIDGE 21

CEDAR RIDGE: Yolanda Simpson 2, Natalia Garay 2, Logan Woody 6, Madison Wardlow 4, Grace Davies 1, Tori Dalehite 4, Caitlyn Lloyd 2.

RIVERSIDE: Nakaya Crowley 4, Aijah Perry 23, Ashauntee Nelson 12, Ladasia Jones 9, Eliza Dukes 2, Allison Nichting 2, Jaela Self 3, Deborah Easley 4.

For the first time in three years, Cedar Ridge boys basketball coach Clay Jones didn’t serve as an assistant coach for football.

Instead, he helped coach girls golf, which allowed more time to focus on his basketball team.

Through summer workouts, Jones has made no bones about where his teams stands in the new look Big 8.

“We’re looking up at everyone else right now,” said Jones before Thanksgiving.

So far, that’s been prescient.

On Friday night, Riverside used a 19-4 run in the second quarter to blow past the Pirates 64-35 at Margartha Chambers Court. Treyvon Byrd paced the Pirates (2-3) with ten points. Nine Pirates scored.

Cedar Ridge’s Mekai Collins led the Red Wolves with 13, but Cedar Ridge was held to just 14 points in the 2nd quarter against the taller and faster Pirates.

“Right now, we just have a problem getting the ball in the basket,” said Jones. “It’s not just with one team, it’s a program problem. We struggle against taller teams and that’s what we ran into tonight.”

Cedar Ridge’s only lead of the game came after a pair of free throws by Collins, after Chris Tinnen opened the scoring with a 12-foot jumper on the baseline.

Riverside, coming off a win over Sanderson, got consecutive 3-pointers from Kenny Massey and Micah Jones to push the lead to 16-7 at the end of the first quarter.

“We need to find a bench and we need players who can step up for us,” said Jones. “That’s what we need right now.”

The Red Wolves (1-4) host Word of God on Monday at 7. They travel to Carrboro on Wednesday before hosting Sanderson on Friday.

RIVERSIDE 64, CEDAR RIDGE 35

CEDAR RIDGE-Khalil Barnett 5, Terrance Crawford 7, Chris Tinnen 7, Mekai Collins 13, John Vaughn, Eddie Altieri 2.

RIVERSIDE-Christian Johnson 7, Kenny Massey 9, Treyvon Barnes 10, Jevon Johnson 5, Micah Jones 5, Ben Amstead 5, Trey Goldsmith 6, Josh Alston 3, Myles Sanford 5, Jordann Baker 5.

In the endless amount of box scores that flow through a high school basketball season, Cedar Ridge’s line score against Rockingham County stands out.

The Red Wolves scored 8 in the first quarter, ten in the second…and was held to a single bucket in the third.

Then they scored 28 in the fourth.

It was almost enough for its second win of the season on Tuesday night in Wentworth, but the Cougars held on for a 52-48 victory. Rockingham County is now 3-1. Jake Miller paced all scorers with 22, the only Cougar in double figures.

Khalil Barnett triggered the run by scoring all 16 of his points in the fourth quarter. Terrence Crawford had 13.

As Coach Clay Jones searches for scorers on his young team, he may have found one with sophomore Chris Tinnen, who came off the bench to hit a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, which put Cedar Ridge within three points after trailing 33-18 at halftime.

Tinnen’s three-pointer aided a cold shooting night for the Red Wolves, who finished 3-of-18 behind the arc. Cedar Ridge was 41% from the field.

“We didn’t play well for three quarters,” said Cedar Ridge Coach Clay Jones.”

Crawford added seven rebounds for Cedar Ridge, who falls to 1-3 on the season. Cedar Ridge travels to Magratha Chambers Court in Durham on Friday night to face Riverside.