Friday (12/11) SportsBreak

HS BASKETBALL (BOYS): West-Oak defeated Liberty 51-41 Thursday night. Connor Smith dropped in 22 points for the Warriors.

HS BASKETBALL (GIRLS): West-Oak girls took a 57-33 win over the Red Devils. Kennedy Burton led all scorers with 17 points.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Palmetto State was in the spotlight in Atlanta Thursday night at The college football awards show on ESPN. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson won the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s best quarterback.  Dabo Swinney was honored with the Coach of the Year Award. And Dabo’s old nemesis showed up as well. Former Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier was on hand to reminisce about his coaching career.

NFL: Dwight Freeney stripped the ball from Teddy Bridgewater with 5 seconds remaining to deprive the Vikings a chance at the tying field goal, and the Cardinals clinched a playoff berth with a 23-20 victory over Minnesota in Thursday night football.

NFL: Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has a cast on his left wrist and missed practice.  Watt broke his hand during Wednesday’s practice but will be on the field when the Texans host the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Houston.

NHL: Patrick Kane extended his franchise record point’s streak to 24 games.  The Nashville Predators also got what they wanted most, a big win over the Central Division rivals.  James Neal, Craig Smith and Flip Forsberg each scored in the first period and the Predators beat the Blackhawks 5-1 after losing 4-1 in Chicago on Tuesday night.

NBA: Pau Gasol scored 24 points and the Bulls beat the Los Angeles Clippers 83-80 to snap a three game losing streak.