Stony Point leans on Villanova-bound Josiah Moseley, but its run to state fueled by depth
It would be easy to look at Stony Point and simply chalk up its success to star player Josiah Moseley and future college guards Junior Goodlet and Uzziah Buntyn.
But as the Tigers (37-1) get ready for Friday’s Class 6A state tournament semifinal against Beaumont United at the Alamodome, depth has also played a substantial part in their dream season.
And never has that been more apparent than during the team’s playoff run.
More: Stony Point flexing its muscle this season as its district winning streak reaches 31
Reserve center Davaughn Hueitt hit the shot of the Austin-area basketball season when his 3-pointer as time expired gave Stony Point a 69-68 victory over San Antonio Brennan in the regional semifinals, and guards Alan Guyton Jr. and Landon Short have figured heavily into the team winning five playoff games.
Sure, Moseley — who is headed to Villanova in the fall — is the engine that drives the Tigers and is arguably the best player in the state, and Goodlet and Buntyn would probably average 20 points on rosters on which they were the first option, but a team doesn’t win 37 games or advance to state on the backs of three players alone.
“All of our starters can hoop, and our top 10 guys are really solid,” said Short, a shooting guard who has made 52 shots from behind the arc. “Even our younger guys are strong, so we’re not only good this year, but should be strong in the years to come.”
For Stony Point it's all about the attitude
Short said a selfless mentality by everyone on the team has been crucial to winning. While the offense is understandably centered on Moseley, finding the hot hand has helped the Tigers.
“Playing together and cutting off each other is what works best,” Short said. “Then we adjust to what the defense gives us. If Josiah is getting doubled, you have to cut and play out in space.”
More: Between the new baby and the state tournament, it's a busy time for Thrall baskeball
Guyton, the team’s starting point guard, has a pass-first mentality and is mostly concerned with running the offense, creating turnovers on defense and getting out on fast breaks. However, he’s developed his shot through the course of the year, and in the playoff-opening win over Bowie he hit four 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 17 points.
“We’ve got a bunch of different guys who can step up at any time, and that’s what it’s been like in the playoffs,” Guyton said. “It’s been a different guy every game.”
More: On to state! Stony Point captures regional championship with win over O'Connor
A team-first, not me-first, mentality
Another key for Stony Point is that players have bought in to their roles.
Hueitt, who would start for almost every other team in the area, comes off the bench, while Short and Guyton would score significantly more at other programs. Head coach Antoine Thompson said that mindset is a tribute to his players' being concerned with the team winning above everything else.
“A lot of our guys could be first-team district selections somewhere else,” said Thompson, who is 69-3 leading the Tigers the past two years. “But they’re embodying what success looks like and how that helps the team. They’re concerned with maximizing their role … and understand that doing those things that the team needs is a great thing for everyone within the program.”
Making the shot of the season
Thompson has emphasized throughout the course of the season to each player that his number might be called in a crucial situation, and for Hueitt, that came against Brennan.
With 3 seconds left and Stony Point trailing 68-66, Thompson designed an out-of-bounds play for him. As Brennan defenders focused on Moseley and Goodlet, Hueitt found himself open behind the 3-point line and swished the shot.
It's all part of the depth that has the Tigers at state for the first time in program history.
“This team is so deep and skilled,” Hueitt said. “All of us can play, and that makes us harder to guard. Going against each other in practice makes us better and prepares us.”
UIL state tournament
Alamodome in San Antonio
Thursday's semifinals: Class 1A — Benjamin (23-1) vs. Gordon (21-6), 8:30 a.m.; Jayton (36-3) vs. Fayetteville (32-5), 10 a.m.; Class 3A — Holliday (34-2) vs. Ponder (36-6), 1:30 p.m.; Hitchcock (32-3) vs. San Antonio Cole (32-9), 3 p.m.; Class 5A — San Antonio Veterans Memorial (40-1) vs. Killeen Ellison (34-5), 7 p.m.; Amarillo (34-4) vs. Dallas Lancaster (28-5), 8:30 p.m.
Friday's semifinals: Class 2A — Lipan (34-4) vs. New Home (31-7), 8:30 a.m.; Thrall (30-5) vs. Shelbyville (28-7), 10 a.m.; Class 4A — Canyon Randall (34-3) vs. Silsbee (28-9), 1:30 p.m.; Stafford (35-6) vs. Oak Cliff Faith Family (23-11), 3 p.m.; Class 6A — Plano East (38-0) vs. Mansfield Lake Ridge (32-6), 7 p.m.; Stony Point (37-1) vs. Beaumont United (34-3), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday's finals: Class 1A, 8:30 a.m.; Class 3A, 10 a.m.; Class 2A, 1:30 p.m.; Class 5A, 3 p.m.; Class 4A, 7 p.m.; Class 6A, 8:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Stony Point boys basketball relies on depth for state tournament run
