Tony Stockton is the Suwannee Valley Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

JASPER, Fla. — Defenders never really had a chance against Tony Stockton this season. If you played off of him, Stockton was a deadly shooter from 3-point range. Guard him too closely and he blew by opponents.

His ability to score, and get his teammates involved, helped the Trojans advance to the state playoffs for the eighth straight season. Stockton averaged 16.7 points per game and came up big in the most important moments.

He scored 27 points or more on four different occasions. Three of those games came in district play, including a 29-point effort against Jefferson County in a win-or-go home district semifinal. The other came in a Holiday Tournament when Stockton notched 33 points to lead HCHS past Baker County.

The fear he struck in opponents and his ability to shine when it mattered most earned Stockton the 2019 Suwannee Valley Player of the Year award.

“It’s an honor. I definitely didn’t expect it,” Stockton said of winning POY. “I’m glad I got it. Want to say thank you to my teammates.”

A three-year starter, Stockton improved throughout his time at Hamilton County and took on a bigger role each season. He averaged 7.2 points per game as a sophomore and then became the focal point of the Trojans’ offense the last two seasons.

Hamilton County coach Eugene Jones was impressed with Stockton’s ability to take over a game.

“That district semifinal and the Baker County game, he had the mindset he wasn’t going to let his team down. We were going to come out with a ‘W’ and he was going to do whatever it took,” said Jones.

Just how tough was Stockton to guard?

Ben Massey, one of the speediest athletes in the area and a first team All-Suwannee Valley football and basketball player, saw a lot of Stockton.

The two squared off plenty of times as Lafayette and Hamilton County were in the same district. Massey, also a senior, spoke about the difficulties of guarding Stockton.

“One minute you’re on him, then he’ll zoom past you,” Massey said. “He’s shifty and got some good handles. As a shooter, if you let him get hot, it’s goodbye because he’ll shoot the lights out.

“He got better each year and I felt like last year was his best.”

Teammates Aderias Ealy and Nick McClain spoke about the calm and encouraging demeanor Stockton displayed on the court. Being a good teammate also meant that Stockton gave his team confidence every time they took the court.

“We went into every game saying we were going to win. Tony had a big role in that,” Ealy said.