Handley, AL – Talladega girls rally from 12-point halftime deficit, become first team to eliminate Anniston in area in Bullock’s 18-year tenure as head coach
Girls Class 4A, Area 8 tournament
Monday
Talladega 41, Anniston 34
Handley 58, Munford 15
Thursday
Championship
Handley vs. Talladega, 6 p.m.
By Joe Medley
Rebecca Williams and Eddie Bullock shared a bittersweet hug after her team eliminated his team’s season in Monday’s Class 4A, Area 8 tournament. Talladega, a team with a girls’ basketball history on par with Anniston’s, had dropped down from 5A before this season. The Tigers became the first team to eliminate Anniston, a 4A power, in area play in Bullock’s 18 seasons as the Bulldogs’ head coach. Talladega’s 41-34 victory at Handley was a moment for Williams … a mixed moment.
“I love Coach Bullock,” Williams said. “He’s a great coach. I’m just happy to be able to beat him, not necessarily going to the next level, because I honor him, how good a coach he is.” The victory sent Talladega to Thursday’s 6 p.m. area title game against top seed Handley, which beat Munford 58-15 later Monday.
Anniston (15-12), three years removed from its first state title and two from a runner-up finish, suffered a rare elimination in area-tourney play. The Bulldogs went most of the season without their most seasoned big-game player in Serena Hardy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fifth game. “It would’ve been nice to have a player who can control the ball and manage the situation,” Bullock said. “We mismanaged the situation.”
Beating Anniston took a comeback for Talladega (20-6). Led by Layla Tyus’ nine points, Anniston led 20-7 in the second quarter and 24-12 at halftime. Talladega held the Bulldogs to two second-half field goals, none in the fourth quarter, and 10 second-half points. Williams’ halftime changeup was all about speeding up the pace of the game. “I had to go back to basics,” Williams said. “I had put a lot of new stuff in, and the girls weren’t comfortable with it. “I started to pick back up what I’ve seen other teams do to them, and it turned the game around.” [read more…]
