Anniston boys beat Booker T. Washington, claim first state title in 12 years

Mar. 4—BIRMINGHAM — Four schools, one twice, and two years out of basketball came through in the combination of pain and joy on Malcolm Carlisle's face Thursday.

The horn still sounding on Anniston's 54-52 victory over Booker T. Washington-Tuskegee in the 4A final, Carlisle rushed to Anniston's cheering section in Birmingham CrossPlex's Bill Harris Arena. His arms hanging down, elbows slightly bent and fists clinched, he let loose.

And Carlisle earned this moment, from the unwarranted and violent push he took at the end of Anniston's semifinal victory over Vigor to his memorable performance Thursday.

Man, he earned it.

The state tournament's most valuable player scored a game-high 28 points, including a key flurry at the end of the third quarter, and Anniston's boys won their first state title since 2009. The Bulldogs did it in their first Final Four appearance since 2011.

Carlisle, a senior, came through in the final game of his final high school career, finishing a season that saw him team with all-state Anniston guard and long-time friend Antonio Kite to form one of the state's most dynamic backcourts.

"It's like a relief now," Carlisle said. "Now, it's time to celebrate."

Carlisle's well-publicized journey took him from Saks High School, to Faith Christian, to Sacred Heart, back to Saks and then Anniston. He was ruled ineligible at Faith then sat out a transfer year at Sacred Heart, watching from the bench with Taishun Hall, who made the journey from Cleburne County, to Sacred Heart and to Anniston this season.

Sacred Heart announced last May that it would drop varsity sports in a rebranding of the school.

"I just had to keep my head up, keep going," Carlisle said. "When I sat out two years, I just had to keep working and keep going."

Carlisle and Kite shared a friendship dating back to youth ball. When Carlisle decided to enroll at Anniston and team with Kite, both players said their friendship trumped any ego that might come with being on-ball alpha stars.

Carlisle's journey came with bumps, even in a state-championship season. Anniston coach Torry Brown benched him in the third quarter of the area final against White Plains, for taking a long 3-pointer after Brown had said to work the ball inside.

The scariest bump came Friday, near the end of the 4A semifinal. Vigor's Delvin Caldwell punctuated the end of a physical game with a full-force push, sending the stunned Carlisle to the hardwood on his back.

The episode touched off tensions that drew three Birmingham Police Officers onto the court and prompted game officials to end the game on the spot, with 32.7 seconds to play. Brawling ensued in the stands.

Anniston assistant coach Robert Roberson ran to get the visibly upset Carlisle, wrapping arms around him and handing him off to fellow assistant Marrio Dobbins, who wrapped Carlisle up and walked him back to Anniston's bench. No punches were thrown on the court, and no Anniston players came from the bench to the court.

That meant that all Anniston players avoided suspension, and Carlisle would not be denied his date with destiny. Long, long-awaited destiny.

"It's special, especially in today's society, where everyone wants everything instantly," Anniston coach Torry Brown said. "For him to sit out two years and just have the mental fortitude, especially since it's hard during the season, going to watch other kids play, and knowing that you want to be out there but you're not, that's just tough.

"It's a credit to him. He was patient, and his patience paid off in full. He's been rewarded and fulfilled in a way that very few people can do."

Booker T. Washington erred on the side of stopping Kite. The Golden Eagles played a 3-2 zone in the first half, shading to Kite's side and extending out to deny him 3-pointers. He finished with two first-half points and seven for the game.

That meant that Carlisle had to be Batman on this day. He scored 13 points in the first half, keying Anniston to a 23-21 lead at the break. His 28 points for the game included three 3-pointers and three dunks, and his stat line included five steals.

Those two elements of his game merged for the game's key moment.

Kite's finger-roll drive tied the game at 38-38 with four seconds left in the third quarter, and Booker T. Washington's Andrew Johnson inbounded to Jeffrey Lewis in front of Anniston's bench.

Lewis turned up court to find Carlisle right in front of him. Carlisle stole the ball, jumped and let fly of an unbalanced shot, swishing a 3-pointer to put Anniston up 41-38 as the quarter horn sounded.

"When he threw the ball in, he wasn't looking at the clock," Carlisle said. "I was just right there and stole it. I dribbled it, and I shot it, and it went in."

Kite said he "knew it was going in."

"In practice, we drew crazy stunts like that and make shots out of bounds all the time," Kite said.

Anniston never again trailed and led by as many as eight points, 52-44, on two Carlisle free throws with 1:15 to play.

"It was a huge blow," Booker T. Washington coach Corvin Johnson said. "Anniston, it kind of gave them the spark that they needed."

The Golden Eagles rallied, however, and came within 54-52 on Joseph Phillips' putback on Lewis' missed free throw with 16 seconds left.

After a Booker T. Washington timeout, Anniston's Mark Toyer inbounded to Carlisle, and Lewis fouled him. Carlisle missed the front end of the bonus, but Phillips fouled Kite in a battle for the rebound.

Kite missed both free throws. Phillips rebounded the second miss with 12 seconds left, touching off the game's final sequence. A loose ball scramble wound up out of bounds to the Golden Eagles on their end with 2.9 seconds left.

After a timeout, Anniston inserted 6-foot-6 Christian Talib to guard the in-bounds pass, along the press-row sideline. Johnson got it in to Cameron Whitfield, who dribbled into the right side of the lane.

Toyer and Kite gave challenge, and Whitfield missed a runner at the buzzer.

Whitfield and Lewis led Booker T. Washington with 13 points apiece, but Carlisle outscored them. He also held Jalien Fluellen to 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

"He was really good," Brown said. "He was just as good defensively as he was offensively, and that's been key for us in this run that we've had during the postseason.

"We've put him on the opposing team's best player, and he played good defense."

Sports Writer Joe Medley: 256-235-3576. On Twitter: @jmedley_star.