WEDNESDAY SPORTS: Walhalla wins thriller

In high school basketball Tuesday, the Walhalla boys defeated Wren in a thrilling 62-61 game. Matt Rowland scored the winning bucket for the Razorbacks with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Walhalla girls fell to Wren 64-45.

Elsewhere, Seneca’s boys were winners over BHP 66-52. Wesley Grant led the way with 17 points. Couple that with Wren’s loss to Walhalla, and the Bobcats now have sole possession of the top spot in Region 1-AAA. Seneca girls lost to the Lady Bears 50-31.

Ware Shoals boy’s team took a 67-62 win over Tamassee-Salem, while the Lady Eagles got a 46-13 win behind 10 points from both Hannah Kennemore and Madison Pierce.

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The Clemson men’s basketball team will return to action Wednesday night at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, as they face the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.

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South Carolina travels to Texas A&M on Wednesday, continuing early season SEC action against the Aggies. The meeting marks just the second all-time between the two schools. Tip off is set for 8:00 PM at Reed Arena in College Station.

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The Furman men’s basketball team continues its three-game Southern Conference road swing at Georgia Southern on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. before concluding the trip with a 7:05 p.m. contest in Charleston versus The Citadel on Saturday. The Paladins enter Thursday’s game in Statesboro, Ga., in search of their first league victory after a heartbreaking 57-55 loss at Samford on Saturday night.

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In the NBA Tuesday, Al Jefferson scored a season-high 35 points, Kemba Walker had 12 of his 25 in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Bobcats snapped the New York Knicks’ five-game winning streak with a 108-98 victory.

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Former Clemson star defensive back Terry Kinard was arrested in Myrtle Beach last week and charged with prostitution, according to a report from WBTW. According to police Kinard paid money for a sexual act in a vehicle parked near Ocean Boulevard. Kinard was an All-American defensive back and was a member of the Tigers’ national championship team in 1981. He spent time with the Giants and Houston during his NFL career. Earlier this month, he was named to the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame.

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 A federal judge Tuesday denied preliminary approval of the proposed $765 million settlement of NFL concussion claims, questioning if there’s enough money to cover 20,000 retired players. U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody asked for more financial data before scheduling a fairness hearing this year, when objectors can question the plan. Sol Weiss, a lead lawyer for the former players, remained confident the settlement will ultimately be approved, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said league officials were, quote, “confident that the settlement is fair and adequate and look forward to demonstrating that to the court.” More than 4,500 former players have filed suit, some accusing the league of fraud for its handling of concussions.

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Serena Williams and defending champion Novak Djokovic were among the second round winners at the Australian Open on Wednesday, getting straight-set victories in continuing brutally hot weather at the tournament, with temperatures reaching 108 degrees. The heat wave is forecast to continue until Friday. Others winners included Li Na, Angelique Kerber, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych.