Outcome vs. Opportunity The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on a North Carolina redistricting case might not have a huge practical impact. The “crossover district” at issue is not common. But the case is helpful in highlighting one of the enduring divisions in American politics. The court ruled that the Voting Rights Act does not require creating “safe” seats for minority candidates in districts where minorities make up less than half the voting populace. This, according to another newspaper, overturns a “central goal” of the Voting Rights Act—“protecting minority voting rights.“

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—James Johnson had career highs with 28 points and 18 rebounds to lead No. 13 Wake Forest past North Carolina State 85-78 Thursday night. Ishmael Smith added a season-high 18 points and Chas McFarland had 15 for the Demon Deacons (21-5, 8-5 Atlantic Coast Conference). They shot 52.5 percent and led nearly all the way, but allowed most of an early 15-point lead to slip away.

Tyler Hansbrough scored 27 points to help third-ranked North Carolina beat North Carolina State 89-80 last night in a clash of ACC rivals. Danny Green added 19 points for the Tar Heels, who pulled away in the second half to win their 10th straight game. North Carolina shot 55 percent to improve to 12-1 against its nearby rival since Roy Williams took over at his alma mater before the 2003-04 season.

RALEIGH, N.C.—Brandon Costner scored 23 points to help North Carolina State defeat No. 7 Wake Forest 82-76 tonight. Farnold Degand and Courtney Fells added 14 points apiece for the Wolfpack (13-9, 3-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), who watched a 20-point second half lead shrink to two before they picked up their first win in five games against ranked opponents this season.

He displayed remarkable timing and rhythm. He poured every ounce of his effort into helping the Virginia Tech Hokies against the N.C. State Wolfpack. Virginia Tech’s reliable, clutch-shooting forward A.D. Vassallo? Uh, no. Virginia Tech’s standout guard Malcolm Delaney? Not exactly. The Hokies’ always entertaining coach Seth Greenberg? Not at all.

CARY, N.C.—At her funeral, longtime North Carolina State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow had a message for all those who mourned her passing. “And now I say farewell,“ Yow said in a video played at the service today. “And it’s been a wonderful journey, especially since the time I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior.“ As hundreds of fans, friends and colleagues gathered at a suburban Raleigh church listened, Yow thanked the legion of supporters who guided her through a two-decade long fight with breast cancer. And she recounted with passion her deep Christian faith.

Debbie Ryan and Kay Yow fought shoulder to shoulder for more than eight years, like infantrymen sharing a muddy foxhole, in battles against cancer that were both personal and public. Now, Ryan must carry on without her friend, mentor and respected rival. Ms. Yow, the women’s basketball coach at N.C. State for the past 34 seasons, died Saturday morning at 66 after a 22-year struggle with breast cancer. Ryan, whose coaching career at Virginia has run roughly parallel to Ms. Yow’s, said she was “relieved, to be quite honest,“ that N.C. State’s hall-of-fame coach will suffer no longer.

The Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit completed more than two weeks of intense training in central Virginia yesterday. The unit will begin moving back to its home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The training was designed to sharpen skills for combat in urbanized areas for about 2,200 Marines and sailors before the amphibious outfit deploys overseas this spring.

Toney Douglas scored 21 points and Florida State reeled off 12 straight points down the stretch of its 78-65 ACC victory over North Carolina State last night. Uche Echefu and Solomon Alabi added 12 points apiece for the Seminoles. Florida State held the Wolfpack to one field goal over the final six minutes while outscoring them 19-2.

N.C. State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow is stepping away from her coaching duties for the rest of the season because of a recurrence of breast cancer. Yow and N.C. State director of athletics Lee Fowler announced jointly today in Raleigh, N.C., that that associate head coach Stephanie Glance will serve as interim head coach while Yow is away from the job.

In the end zone seats at Carter-Finley Stadium, Harrison Wilson III watched his son Russell head right toward him, one snap at a time, a football in his hand—just like those evenings when they’d pass the ball until darkness sent them home.