MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017
SECTION B COLLEGE HOOPS
INSIDE
Gamecock men win in Conway
Scoreboard, 2B NFL, 3B
PAGE 4B
Women’s College Basketball
Doubling up again Wilson leads as No. 4 South Carolina rolls past Wofford at home
NASCAR
OVERCOMING IT ALL
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA — Just because she’s an All-American doesn’t mean A’ja Wilson sometimes doesn’t get mad at herself. Wilson’s shaky first half let Wofford hang around way longer than anyone expected and provided the senior with a bad taste after No. 4 South Carolina’s 94NO. 4 SOUTH CAROLINA 94 60 win over the Terriers on WOFFORD 60 Sunday. In the first three games, South Carolina (4-0) had only trailed for 1:32. But the Terriers came out shooting hot and led for more than eight of the game’s first 15 minutes “I did not like the way we started the game off,” Wilson said. “It ticked me off.” Wilson finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds — she’s had a double-double every game this season — after shooting only 2-of-8 in a first half where she played just nine minutes with foul trouble. Wilson looked energized coming out of the locker room, scoring South Carolina first five points of the second half and pulling down four rebounds in a little over three minutes. “Coach gave us a little pep talk at halftime,” Wilson said, smiling. By then, South Carolina had restored order. The Terriers (1-2) led 32-28 on freshman Da’ja Green’s 3-pointer midway through the second quarter. But the Gamecocks went on a 17-2 run to end the half as Wofford missed its next nine shots.
See USC, Page 4B
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race and season championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.
Truex ends career year with 1st NASCAR Cup championship The Associated Press
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — NASCAR’s newest champion wouldn’t take his helmet off. He couldn’t. If he did, then everyone would see Martin Truex Jr. cry. Truex capped the most successful season of his journeyman career as NASCAR’s champion Sunday, then struggled to
start the celebration. He was mobbed on the frontstretch by his Furniture Row Racing team, and after his girlfriend pushed through the crowd to get to him, he finally pulled the helmet and black visor off to show his face. Truex was sobbing. “I was a mess. I couldn’t even talk,” Truex said. “I was a wreck thinking about all the tough
days, the bad days, the times where I thought my career was over with, the times when I didn’t think anyone believed in me, but the guys, the people who mattered did, my fans, my family. “Then when I got with this team ... they resurrected my career and made me a champion.” Truex won his first Cup title by
winning the finale, beating Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski for the championship. The other three were former champions. Truex was the favorite. He thrived in that role, didn’t flinch when fellow Toyota driver Busch tried to use a different pit strategy to steal the race and
See NASCAR, Page 4B
Earnhardt showered with tributes before final race The Associated Press
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson (22) drives to the hoop against Wofford’s Jamari McDavid (12) during South Carolina’s 94-60 win on Sunday in Columbia.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. embraced his pregnant wife behind his race car as fireworks crackled in the sky and fighter jets roared over the track. Earnhardt kissed Amy three times on the lips, then pulled on his helmet and slid into the No. 88 Chevrolet to kick off his farewell race as a NASCAR Cup driver. All the video tributes, gifts and heartfelt gratitude Earnhardt received in the months since he announced his retirement seemed to fade as he pulled onto pit road. Earnhardt stuck
his left arm outside the window and slapped hands with all pit crews from the entire series as he prepared to take off for a ceremonial pace lap . Earnhardt thanked everyone who had an impact on his career. “The fans that are here and home watching made this all possible,” he said over the radio. NASCAR’s most popular driver was ready to go. Driving the car must have been a relief to the 43-year-old Earnhardt. He spent Sunday morning doing his final rounds
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, gives autographs in the garage area during See EARNHARDT, Page 4B practice on Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Prep Baseball
Trinity-Byrnes outfielder Jake Swartz signs with Duke BY SCOTT CHANCEY
Morning News schancey@florencenews.com
FLORENCE — When Jake Swartz recently signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Duke University, he became accomplished on two fronts: First, this is an NCAA Division Swartz I program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Sec-
ondly, and just as important, he gets to attend an elite academic “This is honestly a dream institution. come true. My family and “This is honestly a dream come friends have really helped true,” Swartz said. “My family and friends have really helped me become the best studentme become the best student- athlete I can be. I get to play athlete I can be. I get to play in in the ACC and also attend the ACC and also attend a presti- a prestigious university like gious university like Duke.” Duke.” The aspiring political science Jake Swartz, major, who played at West FlorTrinity-Byrnes outfielder on signing with Duke ence until this school year when he transferred to Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate, said he’s glad to put Swartz, who plays center field, the signing behind him. had two doubles, a home run
and seven RBI last year for West Florence. From the time Swartz, at the age of 3, played catch with his father until now, baseball has been a love affair. And at Duke, he gets to continue that. “The main thing with Duke was that it was one of the top schools when I started the recruiting process,” said Swartz, who had been verbally committed to the Blue Devils since August 2016. “The team was great, and the coaches made me feel at home and like I could make
an impact. And, of course, the academics are outstanding. You can’t beat that baseball/academics situation at a school.” Swartz also credited his time playing for West Florence and with the Upstate Mavericks travel-ball squad for helping him prepare for this moment. First, he talked about playing for the Knights. “It’s been good. (Former West coach Bob Kleinknecht) was the first real kind of baseball guru I
See SWARTZ, Page 4B