slider

Orange Girls Draw West Brunswick for State Playoffs; Cedar Ridge Says “Hello, Cleveland!”

You would think that winning your first 22 games of the season and sweeping the regular season and postseason championship in the Big 8 Conference would lead to a favorable state playoff draw for the Orange girls basketball team.

Apparently, you would be wrong.

The Lady Panthers wound up with the #2 Mideast seed once the bracket was finally released on Sunday afternoon. Orange will host 10-10 West Brunswick of the Mideastern 4A/3A Conference on Tuesday night in Hillsborough. The Trojans finished fifth in the Mideastern this season with a 4-8 record. Of West Brunswick’s 10 wins, three came against teams with winning records. Their biggest win of the season was on January 9, when they defeated Topsail 34-30. Topsail would go on to finish third in the Mideastern, the highest among 3-A teams (New Hanover and Hoggard, both 4-A squads, finished first and second, respectively).

The potential 2nd round is where the rub comes in. If Orange advances, they host Havelock or Southern Guilford. Havelock is 22-3 and tied for the Coastal Conference championship with Jacksonville, the #1 seed for the East. The Rams split the season series with Jacksonville, taking the opener 66-56 on January 13. The Cardinals came back to win 60-59 on February 7, and defeated Havelock again in the Coastal Conference tournament championship game 58-53.

In other words, Havelock was one point away from earning the top seed in the east, and 2nd seed overall. Last week’s loss put them as a 12-seed.

While some projections had Orange receiving the #1 seed in the Mideast, it was Northern Guilford who took that accolade. Both Northern Guilford and the Panthers finished the season with one loss, but Northern Guilford’s loss came in a nonconference game. Orange’s only loss of the regular season was to conference rival Northwood.

The game time for Orange-West Brunswick will be announced on Monday afternoon.

The Cedar Ridge Lady Red Wolves are also headed to the state playoffs. CRHS will travel to Clayton to face the Cleveland Rams on Tuesday. Cedar Ridge (13-13) advanced to the semifinals of the Big 8 Tournament last week, beating J.F. Webb 50-43 behind 25 points from Carrie Davis. Madison Wardlow added ten.

Before Christmas, Cedar Ridge won six of seven, including conference wins over Chapel Hill and Northern Vance. A 45-43 win over Webb on February 3 proved pivotal in making the postseason.

Davis, a senior, leads the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game.

The Big 8 will be well represented when the state playoffs begin on Tuesday. Conference rivals Northwood and J.F. Webb will meet in Pittsboro. Plus, Jacksonville will host Southern Durham, which was among the final teams to make the tournament.

Campbell Scores 23 as Orange Beats Northwood 58-34 for Big 8 Tournament Title

When B.J. Condron took over the Orange girls basketball team, they went 2-24 his first season.

A conference championship within four years seemed as realistic as Zoolander 2 taking home an Academy Award next month

Many of Condron’s freshmen on that team are seniors now. Eight of them play regularly in his ten-lady rotation, and they did something on Friday night that hasn’t been accomplished at Orange since Limp Bizkit was fashionable.

Win a conference tournament.

The Panthers defeated Northwood 58-34 at Jim King Gymnasium for the Big 8 Tournament Championship. Kaylen Campbell scored 23 points to lead the Panthers, who will earn the #1 seed for the Mideast in the 3A State Tournament.

Campbell scored 12 points in the second half, eight in the fourth quarter when Orange outscored Northwood 21-6.

“She found a way to drive to the basket,” said Condron. “She found some holes in their defense and did a good job finishing.”

The Panthers are 24-1 and avenged its only loss of the season.

Two weeks ago, Northwood defeated Orange 63-60 by shooting 47% from the field. On Friday, the Chargers shot only 26% and we held to six points in the decisive fourth quarter.

Jazlyn Watson finished with 12 points, including a critical three-pointer in the third quarter. Mia Davidson registered ten points and added on to her unofficial league lead of creating 50-50 balls by deflecting them from opponents after rebounds.

“I think the odds improve to 90% in her favor,” said Condron. “She’s gonna get it. We understand softball is her sport, but she’s a good enough sport to dedicate her heart to both.”

Orange struggled out of the gates, failing to score in the first 4:06. Northwood led 6-0 before Campbell scored on an acrobatic lay-in while being knocked to the floor by Chandler Adams. Davidson scored Orange’s final four points of the stanza, but Northwood led 10-7.

Orange held Northwood to one field goal in the second quarter, while Campbell scored six points in the frame while Watson added five to give the Panthers a 19-14 halftime lead.

Orange outscored Northwood 22-6 in the fourth quarter, including seven points from Lauren Cates, who canned a key three-pointer in the early minutes of the final stanza.

“It’s only a matter of when with Lauren,” said Condron. “She’s gonna hit her shot. I was impressed with her defense. That’s an area where she struggles sometimes.”

For good measure, senior Adalyn Fleming banked in a three-pointer for the game’s final basket.

The last time Orange won a conference tournament in girls basketball is believe to have been 1997.

The Lady Panthers will return to action to host the opening round of the 3A state playoffs on Tuesday night. It will be the first game of a doubleheader, leading up to a boys state playoff game. Time and opponent will be determined on Saturday.

Wilson, Ramirez got for 3A State Championships on Saturday

For the second straight year, Payton Wilson will go for a state championship at 22o pounds. He’ll have company.

Josiah Ramirez will wrestle for the 170 pound state championship at the Greensboro Coliseum. Both Orange High wrestlers won their matches on Saturday in the 3A state championships.

Wilson scored two more pins to improve to 45-0 on Friday to advance to the state championship match. He defeated Ravon Kirkland of Anson County in the quarterfinals in 2:58. In the semifinals, Wilson scored another pin, beating Eastern Regional Champion Jason McDonald of West Craven in 2:23. Wilson now has 27 pins this season.

On Saturday evening at 5, Wilson faces Dan Louba of Hickory Ridge for the state title. Louba, who won the Midwest Regional Championship last weekend, pinned Chapel Hill’s Joseph Cannon in 4:37 to advance to the championship match.

In 2016, Wilson lost to Latham Bumgarner of North Gaston 10-4 in the state championship match.

Wilson’s state championship match may determine which team takes the individual championship. Orange goes into the final day of the state tournament with 74.5 points. Hickory Ridge is in 2nd with 69.5. North Henderson is 3rd with 56.

At 170 pounds, Ramirez edged Jacary Bethel of West Brunswick in the semfinals 3-2. In the quarterfinals, Ramirez knocked off Jonathan Hilton of North Lincoln 4-2. Ramirez, a junior, is now 53-4. He will face Midwest Regional Champion J.C. Ciaramella of Marvin Ridge for the state championship. Ciaramella is 44-3 after pinning Austin Mosly of King’s Mountian in 4:00.

At 182, junior Braden Homsey defeated Joel Kanagay of Sun Valley 8-4 to advance to the semifinals. However, Tyrie Houguton of Weddington pinned Homsey in 5:20. Homsey will start competing in the consolation rounds on Saturday morning.

Several Panthers hold out hopes of placing in the top five in their respective weight classes. At 106, Mitchell Askew is still alive in the consolation round after beating North Henderson’s Kyle Randall 9-7. After advancing to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Askew lost to Southern Guilford’s Jalen White 11-1 on Friday morning.

At heavyweight, Havelock’s Destin Flloyd defeated Orange’s Daylan Alston 13-6. Alston bounced back in the consolation rounds to beat Concord’s Isaac Cochran 8-4.

Since dropping his opener at 145, Avery Jenkins has won two straight. He pinne Andrew Capul of Marvin Ridge in 2:00, edged Josh King of Northern Guilford 6-2.

 

6 OHS Wrestlers Win on Day 1 of State Tournament; Beck Advances for CRHS

There was a bit of sadness on Wednesday when Orange wrestling held its final practice of the year inside the grappling training room. In Orange Coach Bobby Shriner’s perfect world, there would be more practices and less dual meets because then he gets a chance to teach.

However, the results on the opening day of the 3-A Indvidual State tournament in Greensboro brightened the Panthers spirits.

Along with Orange’s success, Cedar Ridge’s Devin Beck advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Dylan Porter of Gray’s Creek via pinfall in 2:52. Beck will face Southern Durham’s Matthew Darby in the quarterfinals at 182.

For starters, six Panthers captured their opening matches on day one of the 3-A State Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum. At 220, Payton Wilson maintained his undefeated season by scoring a technical fall over Tanner Klutely of Hunter Huss 20-5. Wilson, now 41-0 on the year, will face Raven Kirkland of Anson County on Friday.

Junior Heavyweight Daylan Alston advanced to the quarterfinals via injury default over James Boyd of Morganton Freedom in 1:03. Alston, now 38-8, faces undefeated Destin Flloyd of Havelock in the round of eight.

On the other end of the weight spectrum, Mitchell Askew scored Orange’s first pin of the day, finishing off David Jacob of Rocky Mount in 3:38. Southern Guilford’s Jalen White awaits Askew in the state quarterfinals. Askew, a junior, is now 41-10 on the season.

In his state championship debut, sophomore Levi Anderson notched a major decision over Ethan Workman of Central Cabarrus 12-4. Anderson, who won the 3A Mideast Regional Championship last weekend in Eden and is now 35-10, will wrestle Morgan King of North Henderson on Friday. King edged Linton Holmes of Wilson Fike 2-1 in the 1st round.

At 180, Regional runner-up Braden Homsey pinned John Kanipe of Fred T. Foard in 5:48. Next up for Homsey will be Joel Kangay of Sun Valley, who upset 3A Eastern Regional Champion Kendall Frazier of Havelock 4-2. Frazier went into the match 26-3.

Josiah Ramirez, coming off his own regional championship last weekend, started the state tournament strong by pinning Vyshaun Richardson of Southern Nash in 1:36. Ramirez improves to 49-6 and takes on Jonathan Hilton of North Lincoln in the quarterfinals.

Orange leads the 3-A team standings with 22.5 points, while North Henderson has 22.

The state championships will conclude on Saturday.

 

 

 

Orange Wrestling Wins Mideast Regional; Wilson, Ramirez, Wiggins, Anderson Take Individual Titles

There was solace for Orange wrestling in Eden on Saturday, and not a moment too soon.

Seven days after coming two points short of winning the 3-A state dual championship in Monroe, the Panthers resoundingly won the 3-A Mideast Individual Tournament at Morehead Head School. Orange finished with 220.5 points, while Union Pines finished 2nd with 174.5. Cedar Ridge finished 11th with 55 points.

Overall, Orange had four wrestlers win regional championships and will send 11 grapplers to the 3-A state championship meet next weekend in Greensboro.

Perhaps most interesting (or most concerning, depending on your perspective) was the four wrestlers who captured regional titles were all underclassmen. Two of them will compete in their first state championships next weekend.

Junior Payton Wilson, currently ranked #1 in the state at 220 by Retroranking.com who finished runner-up in the state last season, continued his dominant form by scoring a 16-1 technical fall over Morehead’s Holden Bailey in the championship match. Wilson, who received scholarship offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, Auburn and Florida State last week, pinned both of his opponents in previous matches on Saturday to improve to 42-0 on the season.

It’s Wilson’s 2nd regional championship. He defeated Morehead’s Cameron Sanders 8-3 in 2016.

The most dramatic championship match on the afternoon came at 120, where sophomore Gavin Wiggins earned his first regional championship, holding off Dallis Simmons of Terry Sanford 5-4. Wiggins earned his spot in the final by beating Josh Yeshulas of Union Pines 9-7. Wiggins is now 44-9 this season. It will be his first state championship appearance.

Also earning his first regional championship was junior Josiah Ramirez. He defeated Terry Sanford’s Ferris Allen 7-1 for the championship. In the semifinals, he decisioned Morehead’s Kyler Whicker 10-5, his 50th win of the season.

Sophomore Levi Anderson won his first regional championship at 138, beating Morehead’s Logan Howell 15-7. Anderson had a thrilling semifinal match, scoring a takedown to defeat Northern Guilford senior Hunter Elliott  6-4 in overtime. Anderson’s record is 37-10.

At 106, Orange’s Mitchell Askew is headed to the state championship after finishing runner-up at the regionals. Askew reached the finals by beating Western Alamance’s Garrett Johsnon 10-8. Northern Guilford’s Heath Gonyer defeated Askew for the championship 9-5. Askew will enter Friday’s opening round at 42-16.

Junior Bailey Hawkins finished 2nd at 132 after pinning Chapel Hill’s Wesley Kelley at 5:59 in the semifinals to improve to 34-7. Jacob Toms of Morehead defeated Hawkins in the final 10-2. It will be Hawkins’ 2nd apperance in the state tournament after finishing 2nd at 120 in the 2016 Regionals.

At heavyweight, Daylen Alston advanced to the finals with a pin of Eastern Guilford’s Tyray Vanscoy in 2:55. George Blackstock of Morehead, who defeated Alston in the 2016 Dual Team Playoffs last year in a bout that determined the entire match, knocked off Alston 12-5. It will be Alston’s first state championship appearance.

Sophomore Avery Jenkins finished 4th at 145 to punch a ticket to Greensboro. Jenkins advanced to the consolation finals by pinning Kyle Webb of Morehead in 2:28.

Senior Charlie Fitzpatrick earned fourth place at 152 after pinning Douglas Byrd’s Warren McLeod in 1:45.

Two Hillsborough wrestlers advanced to Greensboro at 182. Orange’s Braden Homsey faced Cedar Ridge’s Demarcus Smith in the semifinals, a match that Homsey won 13-3. Northwood’s Hunter Queen pinned Homsey in 1:56 for the regional championship.

Smith finished fourth at 182. Smith ensured a spot in the states by defeating Southern Durham’s Ryan Jones 4-3.

The Red Wolves’ Colin Davis captured a spot in the state tournament by finishing third at 160. He decisioned Morehead’s Charles White 7-3 in the consolation semifinals. Davis is now 34-11.

At 195, Orange’s Jamar Davis finished 3rd by pinning Gray Creek’s Dylan Porter for the 2nd time in a week. Davis also pinned Porter during last week’s 3-A Eastern Regional Dual Team final at Gray’s Creek. Davis scored four pins in the regional tournament to improve to 46-10.

 

11 Orange Wrestlers, Cedar Ridge’s Smith, Davis, McLeod in Contention for Titles at Mideast Regionals

After coming one takedown short of its sixth state championship last weekend in Monroe, the Orange Wresting team is off to a strong start at the 3-A Mideast Regionals.

On day one of the regionals at Morehead High School in Eden, eleven Orange grapplers qualified for next weekend’s state championships at the Greensboro Coliseum.

In addition, three Cedar Ridge wrestlers all also headed to the state finals.

Cedar Ridge’s Demarcus Smith also punched his ticket to Greensboro after pinning Giovon Poirer of Lee County in 3:24. Smith will face Orange’s Braden Homsey on Saturday morning. Homsey outscored Chris Kelly of Union Pines 12-10 in Friday’s 2nd round. In the first round, he pinned Eastern Guilford’s Dylan Dains in :45.

At 160, Cedar Ridge’s Colin Davis is still in contention for a regional championship. Davis started the day with a pin of Northern Vance’s Josh Florentino in 3:07. He advanced to the semifnals with a 9-5 decision over Chapel Hill’s William Hess.

At 113, Darius McLeod pinned Chapel Hill’s Zin Maung in 4:24. He faces Rockingham County’s Noah Wilson on Saturday. McLeod improved to 20-12 on the season.

After day one, Orange leads the overall team standings with 74 points. Union Pines is 2nd with 61.5. Morehead has 50.5. Chapel Hill is in 5th with 35.5, while Cedar Ridge is tenth with 26.

Orange’s Payton Wilson, ranked #1 in the state at 220, improved to 37-0 by pinning Dan Freeman of Northern Guilford in :52 He faces Big 8 rival Joseph Cannon of Chapel Hill in Saturday’s semifinal.

At heavyweight, Daylan Alston pinned Union Pines’ Jessie McLean in :57. Alston is now 37-6 with 22 pins this season.

Coming off a thrilling 3-2 victory last Saturday over Piedmont’s Mathis Strickland, Josiah Ramirez scored two pins on Friday. For the second time in eight days, he pinned Gray Creek’s Leo Walsh, this time in :27. In th second round, he pinned Eastern Guilford’s Justin Spruill in 4:56. Ramirez takes on Morehead’s Kyler Whicker (36-6) on Saturday morning. Ramirez is now 47-4 with 28 pins, tied with Charlie Fitzpatrick for the team lead.

Speaking of Fitzpatrick, he’s in the semifinals at 152 after pinning Jordan Isenour of Morehead in 4:21.

At 120, sophomore Gavin Wiggins scored an 11-3 major decision over Northern Guilford’s Max Benfield 11-3. Wiggins, now 40-9, faces Union Pines Josh Yeshulas.

A week after scoring his 100th victory, junior Bailey Hawkins shutout Northwood’s Carter Stallings 13-0. Awaiting Hawkins in the semifinals is Chapel Hill’s Wesley Kelley.

Sophomore Levi Anderson is going to his first state tournament at 138 pounds. He opened Friday by pinning Sabeon Campbell of Douglas Byrd in 2:22. Anderson advanced to the semifinals with a 18-9 major decision against Eastern Alamance’s Andrew Dawson.

The fastest pin of the day by a Panther belonged to Avery Jenkins at 145, who finished off Cedar Ridge’s Ruffin Wyrick in :17. Jenkins, a sophomore, moved on to the semifinals with a 10-1 major decision over senior Carson Amy of Northwood.

At 106, Mitchell Askew improved to 39-8 by pinning Steven Gaus of Western Alamance in 1:57. It was Askew’s 20th pin of the season. He faces Garrett Johnson of Western Alamance on Saturday morning.

After a stunning victory last weekend in the state dual championship match, Jamar Davis continued a strong sophomore season with two pins on Friday. He defeated McMichael’s Khalil Ngom in 2:40, then pinned Western Alamance’s Trevon Hart in 3:37. Davis improved to 42-8 with 26 pins.

If Orange holds on to the overall team lead, it will be its fifth victory in a individual tournament this season. They already have captured championships in the Jim King Invitational, Southwest Guilford Invitational, Eastern Alamance Invitational and Roselle Park Tournament in New Jersey.

 

Cashaw Scores 18 as Cedar Ridge Battles Past Roxboro Community 51-48

Thanks in part to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association expanding the state basketball playoffs to 64 teams in each classification, the term “bubble teams” is now coined freely in prep basketball.

HighSchoolOT.com editors now work well into the early morning hours to determine the “last four in” and “first four out,” just as Joe Lunardi does. Only for a much bigger paycheck on a network with far less integrity.

The Cedar Ridge boys squad is a bubble team which helped its cause on Friday night by beating Roxboro Community 51-48 in Person County. In among his final games in a Red Wolves uniform, center Colby Cashaw was the most steady player on the floor.

Cashaw finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds as Cedar Ridge improved to 9-15. Coincidentally, that was also Cashaw’s stat line in Thursday 66-55 loss at Burlington Cummings.

“He finished his regular season career on a good note,” said Cedar Ridge Coach Clay Jo

With the NCHSAA allowing teams to subtract four nonconference losses because of Hurricane Matthew (which caused teams in eastern North Carolina to push football season one week back, leading to basketball teams playing shorthanded to open the season because the football playoffs ran long), Cedar Ridge has a 9-11 record. Projections by HighSchoolOT.com currently have the Red Wolves as among the last four out of the state playoffs, along with Concord, North Gaston and St. Stephens (all of whom have 9-11 records).

For Cedar Ridge, that makes Monday’s Big 8 Quarterfinal matchup against Northern Vance of paramount importance.

Unfortunately, Red Wolves coach Clay Jones had had to work hard just to put a complete team on the floor. Freshman B.J. Freeman missed Friday’s game because of a disciplinary measure. Freshman Mekai Collins missed Thursday’s game against Cummings, but he made up for it by hitting possibly the biggest shot of the game on Friday.

Moments after Roxboro’s Dylan Jones put the Bulldogs ahead 45-42 with a  three-pointer, Collins tied the game with his own trey with 3:37 remaining. Cashaw drained two free throws to give Cedar Ridge the lead for good 47-45. After Khalil Hill drained a jumper to extend CRHS’ lead to 49-45, Collins sank two free throws with :19 remaining. Roxboro’s last-ditch three-pointer from C.J. Rios was an airball as time expired.

Collins finished with eleven points, seven steals and three assists.

“He’s similar to the give-and-take relationships I’ve had with other players before,” said Jones. “He makes you want to pull your hair out sometimes, but he’s a gamer.”

Dylan Jones was the only Roxboro player in double figures with 14 points.

Coach Clay Jones earned a victory in his return to his hometown. Jones grew up in Roxboro and played basketball at nearby Person High School.

“I had a lot of family, friends and classmates in the house tonight,” said Jones. “I’ve known (Roxboro Community Coach Justin) Bettendorf for a long time. We’re very good friends. He’s done a really good job with those guys.”

The winner of Northern Vance-Cedar Ridge on Monday night advances to face Orange in the Big 8 Conference semifinals on Wednesday night in Hillsborugh.

CEDAR RIDGE 51, ROXBORO COMMUNITY 48

CEDAR RIDGE–Dmonte Kinney 2, Khalil Barnett 7, Terrence Crawford 7, Khalil Hill 4, Colby Cashaw 18, Mekai Collins 11, John Vaughn 2.

ROXBORO COMMUNITY–Tajarrell Wright-Young 8, Te’Shon Clayton 7, Dylan Jones 14, Spencer Blalock 8, J.R. Paylor 4,