Garrido Near Triple-Double Carries Orange Boys; Lady Panthers Dominate

Hector Garrido nearly produced a triple-double and Orange High’s boys team turned in a decisive performance in the consolation round of the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoopla Tournament on December 30, 2025. Orange defeated Carrboro 78-51, shooting a season-best 49 percent from the field, connecting on 11 three-pointers and recording 22 assists on 28 made field goals.

Garrido finished with 25 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds, controlling the pace and creating for teammates throughout. Senior J.T. Gray had a career-high 21 points, hitting six triples and pouring in 12 points during a dominant second quarter when Orange went 13-of-18 from the floor. The Panthers opened separation early and never trailed against their new Big 7 Conference opponent, building a 47-27 lead at halftime on the back of Gray’s long buzzer-beater at the end of the second quarter.

Orange capitalized on defensive pressure and transition opportunities, opening a 12-0 run in the first quarter that pushed the game out of reach. Jalen Crayton supplied a strong all-around effort with 16 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals. Carrboro’s Jake McGrath scored 21 points for the visitors, but Carrboro struggled to contain Orange’s perimeter shooting and ball movement. Orange forced numerous turnovers and stretched the lead to 59-33 in the third quarter before closing out the victory.

The win followed Garrido’s dramatic weekend, when he drained a three at the end of regulation to force overtime against Apex before that earlier game ended in a 67-66 loss on a buzzer three. Orange (2-8) was scheduled to face East Chapel Hill in the tournament’s fifth place game at 2:00 p.m. on Monday.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Panthers rolled past Southern Alamance 56-10 in the consolation bracket. Sophomore forward Kassidy Tolliver led Orange with 16 points and seven rebounds, extending strong tournament play that included a 17-point outing against Green Level. Maura McMurtry provided early scoring, and freshman guard Mia Albright dished a career-high six assists as Orange built a commanding lead with long scoring runs in the first half. Kyla Mehl and Kaylee Allen also contributed key baskets as Orange pushed the advantage to 52-6 late in the third quarter.

The Lady Panthers improved to 5-4 and were scheduled to meet Green Hope in the fifth place game on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., marking Orange’s third straight year in the Southeast Alamance Tournament and its first-ever meeting with Green Hope. Both programs will aim to convert tournament momentum into wins as conference play continues, with local pride and senior leadership shaping the teams’ paths forward this season.