Paul W. Bryant Advances to Class 6A Boys Title Game With Narrow Victory Over Gadsden City
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Paul W. Bryant Stampede edged the Gadsden City Titans 50-49 in a dramatic Class 6A semifinal matchup on Wednesday at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena in the Magic City..
Key Moment Seals the Game
With less than a minute to go and trailing 49-48, Paul W. Bryant head coach Shon Peck-Love called a timeout to strategize. He turned to his team’s size advantage, centering the final play on 6-foot-5 senior standout King Larkin. Larkin delivered, scoring a baseline layup to secure the win with 11.4 ticks left on the clock.
Larkin admitted to feeling the pressure during the moment but trusted his abilities. “I knew it was going in,” he said confidently.
Dominant Performances
Larkin led the Stampede with 21 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing his ability to dominate in the paint. Sophomore Ty’Javian Byrd supported the effort with eight points and four game-changing blocks. Team captain Javian Williams contributed eight points, three assists, and a pair of steals.
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Resilient Titans Come Up Short
Gadsden City (22-12) fought fiercely, erasing an 11-point deficit in the final six minutes with a barrage of five 3-pointers. Guard Devin Barksdale led the Titans with 13 points, including a clutch three that briefly gave Gadsden City a one-point lead with 1:19 left. Keshawn Curry added 11 points and four rebounds.
On the final possession, Paul W. Bryant double-teamed Barksdale, forcing him to pass to sophomore Jedidiah Wynn, whose 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out. “If he was in the same spot again, I’d tell him to take the shot,” Gadsden City coach Raphael Graves said.
Key Stats and the Turning Point
Paul W. Bryant’s zone defense limited Gadsden City to perimeter shots and proved effective in the first half. Despite hitting 8-of-19 from 3-point range in the second half, Gadsden City struggled to capitalize in other areas.
One deciding factor was free throws. Paul W. Bryant sank 15-of-20 from the line, while Gadsden City attempted only one shot from the charity stripe. “The difference in the game was the free throws,” Graves acknowledged.
Paul W. Bryant also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Gadsden City 29-14, with Byrd controlling the paint early by blocking multiple shots.
Road to the Blue Map
The win advances Paul W. Bryant (26-7) to Saturday’s Class 6A state championship game, where they will face Pinson Valley, who defeated McGill-Toolen Catholic 56-37 in the other semifinal. This marks the Stampede’s first return to the finals since their back-to-back title-game appearances in 2017 and 2018, which included a championship win in 2017.
“We’ve fought hard all season,” Peck-Love said. “These kids have started to really believe in themselves, and now all the hard work is paying off.”
Looking Ahead
The Stampede will rely on Larkin and their strong defensive presence as they aim for their second state basketball championship in school history. Pinson Valley enters Saturday’s matchup with a 19-point semifinal victory, setting the stage for a thrilling battle.
FEATURED IMAGE: Paul Bryant guard Javian Williams (25) speeds up court with Gadsden City’s Devin Barksdale (4) in the Class 6A boys’ state semifinals. (AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford)
