The Rocky Mount Telegram

3-A STATE TITLE GAME

CHAMPIONS: Gryphons' state title ends in grand fashion

Telegram photo / Alan Campbell

Rocky Mount High’s T.J. Walker, center, celebrates with his teammates Saturday following the Gryphons 84-79 win against Concord in the NCHSAA 3-A state championship game at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

CHAPEL HILL — T.J. Walker stood on the court next to coach Mike Gainey with a massive brace running down his left leg.

Walker entered the contest even though he could barely walk. He’s been injured since late December when he tore his ACL in a holiday tournament.

ACC TOURNEY LIVE

Sports Editor Jessie H. Nunery reports on all the action from Greensboro.

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PHOTO GALLERIES

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LOCAL SPORTS COLUMNS

GRILLO: Battling Bishops coach Thompson enjoyed team's championship run
N.C. Wesleyan’s basketball season ended suddenly in defeat two and a half weeks ago in the USA South basketball tournament’s title game.

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COLLEGE HEADLINES

ACC's FINEST: Duke secures back-to-back tournament titles
GREENSBORO — The players cut down one net.

The coaches used the same pair of scissors to clip the other.

Duke repeated quite a familiar ending to their ACC season by finishing off Georgia Tech, 65-61, to claim the league’s tournament title for a record 18th time Sunday in the finals of the ACC Tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum.

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HIGH SCHOOL HEADLINES

PREP ROUNDUP: Mar. 12
BOYS’ TENNIS

Southern Nash 9

Tarboro 0

(Wednesday)

Singles: Res Bosshard def. Will Leland 6-1, 6-1; Adam Glover def. Armando Gonzalez 3-6, 6-4, 10-6; Armando Villareal def. Tyler Bennett 7-5, 6-0; Kris Amin def. Tony Ramirez 6-7(6), 6-4, 10-7; Will Matthews def. Christian Jarrell 6-0, 6-1; Kaleb Vater def. Trent Holloman 6-1, 6-3

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PROFESSIONAL HEADLINES

Peppers signs with Chicago Bears
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Julius Peppers is no longer a Carolina Panther.

The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end and top free agent prize agreed Friday to a six-year deal with the Chicago Bears, the biggest move on a day the team showed it’s intent on contending again after missing the playoffs the past three seasons.