Cap Classic Rundown
Ron Bailey, Publisher
April 14, 2008 – The 35th annual Capital Classic officially brought high school basketball to a close for 2007-2008 around the Potomac River. For Washington, DC-area hoops partisans on Sunday at the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center, the results were mixed, as one game showed some of the best of that area’s hoops, while another didn’t reflect well.
First off, the good, which came in the form of a 131-128 District All-Star victory over the Suburban All-Stars, in the event’s first contest; the teams enjoyed seven and five players in double figures respectively, in addition to spirited play and exciting runs.
During the half, the game’s leading scorer, future UT-Chattanooga guard Jasper Williams (23 points), and i95Ballerz.com MVP, David Diakite (18 points, 8 rebounds), thrilled those in attendance, as the District duo consistently attacked the bucket and played with a high level of overall aggression. Diakite, a forward, in particular was a virtual human highlight reel, pounding the rims in a form reminiscent of Dominique Wilkins, a 1979 Capital Classic alum.
David Diakite pounds the rim.
Adding to their performance was Zach Webb’s (six points, six assists) nifty passing, a point in which he noted afterward “I was a three (small forward) in high school, but need to be a point guard in college, so that’s what I wanted to do here”.
After their teammate, guard Garvey Young’s (18 points, 8 rebounds, and headed to Vermont) flourish, producing eight of 11 District points, the District All-Stars found themselves comfortably up 102-87 late in the third quarter. Then the contest became more of a game.
Two dunks, by soon to be Northeastern student athlete Erik Etheridge (21 points, 8 rebounds) and Austin Cooley (16 points, 6 rebounds) respectively – got the ball rolling so to speak for the Suburban All-Stars, and were soon followed by Chase Smith’s (11 points) baseline shot and another Cooley dunk.
Their team’s assault on the rims continues, with Terrance Burke (17 points, 5 rebounds) and Maurice Hubbard (6 points, 6 rebounds) joining the parade, along with Matthew Graves (16 points), whose put-back left the team down only 111-108. A subsequent Burke layup, produced by greater fast break opportunities as did many of their previous shots, pulled the Suburban team to within one. Momentum had swung in their direction.
Smith, though happy, lamented the Suburban team’s late push, saying “If we would have turned it on earlier, we would have come away with the win”, since despite his Suburban teammate Harold Washington’s (22 points, four rebounds) steal and fast break – an athletic play Quinnipiac can expect next year – their District foes held on for the win, with Jasper Williams, David Diakite, and Young all played key roles in holding on for the win.
Garvey Young, finishing smoothly.
Of his play during that stretch, including a pretty and-one drive with 1:15 to play, Young was pleased: “I didn’t want my team to lose, and knew we needed some points…I saw I was being guarded a little closely for the shot, so I stutter stepped and drove”.
“It was a good game, we just came up short at the end” summed Suburban’s Hubbard, who will attend and play for Ball State next year. Hubbard finished the game in an ice strap, having popped his shoulder out of place, the first time he has suffered such an injury.
His District counterpart, Diakite agreed opining the contest “was fun”, and commenting “I was just trying to bring some excitement” when asked about his awe-inspiring aerial attack.