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.

The Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team pulled off a huge victory over crosstown rival Orange on Tuesday night. Senior Madison Wardlow scored 23 points to push the Red Wolves past the Lady Panthers 43-36. It was Cedar Ridge’s first home win over Orange since 2016. Just as important were Natalia Garay’s six points, all in the first half. Cedar Ridge freshman Takia Nichols added six points. The Red Wolves didn’t trail after the first quarter, though Orange had several possessions to tie in the second half. Cedar Ridge is now 2-3 in the Big 8 Conference and host Apex Friendship on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium. It was a gratifying win for Cedar Ridge, who will return to Big 8 Conference action on Friday at Northern Durham.

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.

The Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team returned to action on Friday night. Northwood defeated the Red Wolves 61-35 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. It was Cedar Ridge’s first game since December 18, when they faced Chapel Hill. It’s a young Red Wolves team that has no seniors on the roster. The good news is some young players are getting playing time. Freshman Derrick Smith is averaging 9.2 points per game. Cedar Ridge will return to action on Tuesday night facing crosstown rival Orange at 7:30. You can hear the game on Hillsboroughsports.com.

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