Former Orange High women’s basketball player Bianca Richburg was named the USA South Player of the Year on Wednesday. In addition, Richburg also received First Team All-Conference recognition.

A senior at Greensboro College, Richburg led the conference in scoring and rebounding during the regular season, averaging a double-double of 22.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. She also led the USA South in minutes played, field goals made, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds, while ranking second in total blocks.

Richburg recorded 15 double-doubles this season for The Pride. She earned her fourth career all-conference honor, garnering First Team All-Conference accolades this season for the first time. Following the 2009-10 season, Richburg was named USA South Rookie of the Year.

Overall, Richburg accumulated six USA South Player of the Week honors this winter.

“I am very proud of Bianca,” said head coach Randy Tuggle. “Even though she averaged 22.0 points per game, she is a total team player. She looks out for her teammates more than herself and tries to help them out. Bianca has really grown, and I am proud of her as a player and even more of a person.”

A Waldrop record falls

Last weekend in the 106th Millrose Games, N.C. State’s Ryan Hill ran a 3:54.89 and finished sixth overall in the Wanamaker Mile at the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory in New York.

The time was the fastest ever by became the fastest collegiate miler to hail from North Carolina, surpassing Tony Waldrop’s 3:55.0 mark. It was also the fourth fastest by any collegian.

Duplantis selected for ODP soccer team

Cooper Duplantis of Chapel Hill has been named to the North Carolina Region III Boys 1996 team that will compete in the 2013 ODP Championships.

Duplantis, who plays with the N.C. Alliance Club, will take part in the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Championships that are scheduled to be played on March 1-3 at the FC Dallas Stadium Complex in Frisco, Texas.

State-level U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Boys and Girls teams in the 1996 and 1997 age groups qualified for the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Championships by winning their respective age group at the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Regional Championships.

Zirkle tallies for Quakers

Former East Chapel Hill all-state lacrosse player Chandler Zirkle recorded an assist and a ground ball in Guilford College’s 10-8 win over cross-town rival Greensboro College last Wednesday.

The Quakers were 1-1 heading into a road game Saturday and will be back home March 3 against DeSales University.

W.E. Warnock