BRIEFS

Softball team

has spots open

The CAROLINATHUNDER CATS girls' fastpitch organization has openings for the following positions for the 2008 season: 14U pitcher, 16U pitcher and outfielder. Contact Donnie Moore at 864 505-1588 or Dan Hughes 864 706-0810.

Knights of Columbus

to sponsor FT contest

All boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2008 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. The local competition will be held Saturday, Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. at Limestone Central Elementary School on Pacolet Hwy. in Gaffney.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, and state competitions. International champions are announced by the K of C international headquarters based on scores from the state-level competitions. Boys and girls 10 to 14 years old are eligible to participate and will compete in their respective age divisions. Last year more than 179,000 sharpshooters participated in over 3,000 local competitions.

Tar Heels nip

Clemson in OT

No. 1 North Carolina passed its first true test - barely.

Wayne Ellington's 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in overtime lifted the top-ranked Tar Heels to a 90-88 victory over 19th-ranked Clemson on Sunday night.

After weeks of routing nonconference competition - they had won their previous four games by an average of 33 points, North Carolina (15- 0) found itself locked in a classic to start the Atlantic Coast Conference season and came out on top.

''It shows our maturity, it shows we can stick it out and get the win when we have to,'' Ellington said.

Ellington was the main reason that the Tar Heels managed to do that as he scored a career-high 36 points.

None were bigger than his final 3- pointer from the left side of the key after taking a pass from Ty Lawson on North Carolina's final possession.

Right from the moment it rolled off Ellington's fingertips, he knew the Tar Heels would head home happy and with the No. 1 ranking intact.

Giants top

Tampa Bay

The New York Giants' rousing road show powered through Tampa Bay. Now it heads to the only place where it flopped: Dallas.

The Giants moved to 8-1 away from home with a dominating 24-14 NFC-wild-card playoff victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. New York has won every road game since falling in its season opener against the Cowboys, and it gets a chance to diminish that blemish in a much bigger matchup next Sunday, with the winner going to the conference title game.

''We love playing there, we love going down to Dallas,'' Eli Manning said. ''There are no secrets.''

As for concerns the Giants (11-6) left too much of themselves on the field in futilely trying to stop New England's perfect season on Dec. 29, well, forget it. After a lackluster first quarter, New York bullied the NFC South champions, who lost three of their last four regular-season games, including the final two when coach Jon Gruden rested many starters.

Chargers oust

Titans 17-6

Well, wouldn't you know it, the San Diego Chargers can win in the playoffs.

Thirteen long years after their last postseason victory, the Chargers finally came to life late in the second half Sunday to beat the Tennessee Titans 17-6 in an AFC wild-card game.

Agloomy, rainy afternoon never looked so good in normally sunny San Diego. Star running back LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 42 yards, but got to celebrate the first playoff victory in three tries in his brilliant seven-year career.