Clanregeln » ly.Blakely has been a rare shining light

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Justin Jackson buried shot after shot from behind the arc in the best performance of his career for No. 7 North Carolina. Coach Roy Williams didnt have much to feel good about otherwise.Jackson matched his career high with 27 points and hit a career-best seven 3-pointers to help the Tar Heels beat Davidson 83-74 on Wednesday night, though they struggled both to slow down high-scoring Wildcats guard Jack Gibbs and find much of a rhythm with top point guard Joel Berry II sidelined by a sprained left ankle.Well its been a lot of fun watching this basketball team at certain times this year, Williams said. It was not fun tonight.The Tar Heels (9-1) didnt get in any kind of groove offensively, with the 6-foot-8 Jackson largely carrying the offense on a night when they got little production from the front line. He had shot 30 percent from 3-point range through his first two seasons and was up to 35 percent coming in before matching his previous high of four 3s by halftime.Confidence and stepping into it -- I think thats all it was, Jackson said. I knew I had to step up more but then whenever I got my shots, I just stepped into it like it was another shot.But UNC shot just 38 percent, while only Isaiah Hicks (13 points) and reserve Luke Maye (career-high 10 points, all before halftime) reached double figures.Gibbs -- ranked seventh nationally by averaging 23.3 points -- finished with 30 points for the Wildcats (5-3), who trailed by 16 midway through the second half before making a late push to get within three in the final 2 minutes.But Kennedy Meeks answered with two free throws, then Hicks followed with two more after getting a big rebound in traffic with 52 seconds left to help UNC hang on.They made some good plays, they got some key rebounds, Gibbs said of the final minutes. Theyve got athletes and sometimes its tough to get those rebounds. Down the stretch, they made the plays and we didnt.BIG PICTUREDavidson: Gibbs is the kind of scorer that can scare any opponent when he gets hot, while Peyton Aldridge (22 points) provides his own matchup troubles. And with a veteran coach like Bob McKillop, this is the kind of team that scares big-name teams come tournament time.I loved the way they fought, McKillop said.UNC: The Tar Heels got a glimpse of life without arguably their top player in Berry. Nate Britt got the start and had six assists but missed all eight of his shots, while Seventh Woods and Stilman White (career-high six points) saw plenty of minutes at the point. But the Tar Heels missed Berrys finish-through-contact toughness, leadership and scoring ability.DEFENSIVE HELPGibbs and Aldridge combined to make 17 of 35 shots, with Gibbs hitting five 3-pointers.As teammates, we `ve got to do a better job of helping off and helping out on players like Gibbs, Meeks said. Like (Williams) probably said in the press conference, either were going to be a mediocre team or were going to be a good team. Weve got to decide before its too late.CONFETTI?The game was 5 seconds old when there was a brief stoppage due to falling confetti-like material fluttering to the court from the rafters of the Smith Center. Arena staffers swept it up and the game resumed within a minute or two.Team spokesman Matt Bowers said at halftime it was believed to be pieces of a padding used to absorb leaks near the ceiling.UP NEXTDavidson: The Wildcats get a 10-day break before playing their fifth power-conference opponent this year, facing No. 3 Kansas on Dec. 17 in Kansas City, Missouri.UNC: The Tar Heels begin a two-game set with Southeastern Conference opponents, first by hosting Tennessee on Sunday before facing No. 6 Kentucky on Dec. 17 in Las Vegas.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25Royals Jerseys 2019 . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Cheap Royals Jerseys . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Royals Jerseys 2020 . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Wholesale Royals Jerseys . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator.Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says his team cant rely on the emotion surrounding Matthew Pavlichs 350-game milestone to give them the winning edge against Sydney this weekend.Domain Stadium will be in a Pav frenzy on Sunday as the Dockers attempt to honour the club legend with a win.Pavlich will retire at the end of the AFL season, meaning fans only have a handful of games to farewell the 34-year-old.Dockers players will be desperate to put in a good effort on Pavlichs big day.But Lyon said it was unlikely the milestone would have a long-lasting effect on the game.I think theres some emotion and that initial burst of energy, but then the game finds its rhythm, Lyon said.Its unsustainable for 100 minutes, that burst of emotion.But I certainly give it (the milestone) the respect it deserves. We always talk about honouring it with really good effort.Lyon said Pavlichs farewell game - likely to be in the round 23 home clash with the Western Bulldogs - loomed as the bigger occasion.Pavlich is feeling fresh after being rested for last weeks loss to Gold Coast.And he could have a couple of old mates join him for next weeks western derby, with ruckman Aaron Sandilands and goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne closing in on returns.Sandilands hasnt played since suffering a punctured lung and broken ribs in the round-three deerby loss to West Coast.ddddddddddddBut the 33-year-old is back in full training and rated a legitimate chance by Lyon to face the Eagles next week.Ballantyne fractured his cheekbone two weeks ago, and came close to being named against Sydney.Defender Michael Johnson (hamstring/knee) faces an uphill battle to play again this year.Lyon swung a surprise on the selection front this week when he axed emerging star Connor Blakely.Blakely has been a rare shining light for the Dockers this season, with the 20-year-old averaging 20 possessions a game in a breakout campaign.But Lyon said Blakely needed a stint in the WAFL to fix up his disposal efficiency.Hes turning it over more than we would like, Lyon said.Darcy Tucker went back (to the WAFL), Ed Langdon went back, so sometimes youve got to alleviate the pressure valve on them.Hes disappointed obviously, but hell bounce back and we should see him again before the end of the year.Lyon also axed Jon Griffin following a series of underwhelming displays from the ruckman.Zac Clarke will lead the tap duties against Sydney, who are light on in the ruck department following injuries to Kurt Tippett (hamstring) and Callum Sinclair (knee). ' ' '