McCallum, Rouse, Stony Point all complete undefeated runs through district
McCallum, Rouse and Stony Point teams are all pictures of district perfection in boys basketball. The three completed undefeated 14-0 district seasons Tuesday to achieve the rare feat, and both Rouse and Stony Point did it for the second straight year.
Here are notes on the trio as the boys high school basketball season heads into the playoffs:
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McCallum: 'It's very emotional' to win title
The Knights’ first district title since 2011, and a perfect one at that, has been nearly a year in the making.
After getting beat by almost 30 points in the first round of the playoffs a year ago, head coach Daniel Fuentes said his team was ready to start offseason workouts the next day.
It all culminated in Tuesday’s 82-53 win over Northeast to finish District 24-5A play unbeaten.
“It’s very emotional,” Fuentes said. “This all goes back to us losing to East View in the playoffs last year. … This group of seniors is special. They’re relentless. The effort is special. It was a goal to go undefeated and they did it. And that’s something that’s very hard to do.”
George McCoy led the Knights with 12 points Tuesday while George Brode tallied 11 points and Cash Kershner, Henry Mayes and Tommy Ammerman all finished with nine.
“We have a good team, but my job is to focus on the little things,” Fuentes said. “But that’s what makes this group so special is they focus on the little things that make the difference. The guys were always engaged in the journey, and that’s what makes it fun. … I appreciate what they go through.”
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Rouse: 28 district wins and counting
Like Stony Point, the Raiders posted a 14-0 district mark for the second season in a row after beating Liberty Hill 70-56.
Rouse has now won 28 straight district games, and it’s something Raiders coach Shane Krause noted is remarkable.
“It’s a lot tougher than you think because you have to play everybody twice, and when you’re at the top you’re going to get everybody’s best effort,” Krause said. “When somebody has a streak going that’s when courts get stormed and people go nuts. … It means hell of a lot. I’m so damn proud of our guys. Everything that’s been thrown at us, and we’ve come back stronger.”
Rouse (27-7) was led by its seniors Tuesday. Jojo Moore poured in 22 points and both Amarie Haywood and Devin Brown had 17 points.
Krause said the makeup of the district with four Leander ISD schools and nearby Liberty Hil makes his team’s feat even more impressive.
“There’s a lot of schools in this district that are close and there are a lot of rivalries,” he said. “Going 14-0 is special. This group is special and the seniors are special. They’re a coach’s dream. … The focus that this group has had throughout has been unbelievable. The effort we put in during practice is the reason we’re at this point.”
Stony Point: Tigers add a third straight title
The Tigers routed Manor 91-58 after jumping out to a 21-0 lead to leave no doubt they would have a second straight perfect District 25-6A campaign.
Stony Point (32-1) has now won three straight district titles and 38 straight district games.
“It’s rewarding to know that it’s all worth it,” Tigers coach Antoine Thompson said. “A lot of people don’t know what we’re experiencing. To see the reactions from the community and the faces of the kids, that’s what motivates me and keeps me going. … Thirty-eight in a row is just a testament to the hard work the boys and coaches put in.”
Josiah Moseley recorded a double-double of 30 points and 16 rebounds to lead Stony Point, with Uzziah Buntyn scoring 19 points and making five assists and Junior Goodlet recording 12 points and six rebounds.
Thompson noted he and the team don’t focus much on what the program has done the last three seasons, but he thinks the players appreciate it.
“I think, socially, they’re excited about it,” he said. “But it’s kind of an unwritten thing we don’t talk about it. They see and read all about what they’ve accomplished. They take pride in investing and winning for each other.”
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: McCallum, Rouse, Stony Point all complete perfect district title runs
