By Angela Watts
Managing Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
** Check below each box score to find two separate video players with highlights from both Capital Classic games. Re-live the regional game in 9 minutes, and the national game in 8 minutes.**
Annandale senior Erik Etherly and T.C. Williams senior Anthony Winbush sat side-by-side chatting on the bench during Saturday’s 35th Annual Capital Classic at the University of Maryland Comcast Center.
And when Suburban teammate Austin Cooley from Bethesda Chevy-Chase went baseline midway through the fourth quarter for a nasty, alley-opp dunk that he was forced to stretch back with one hand to haul in — and then throw down — the Northern Region pair leapt to their feet in celebration.
“Slam of the month!,” Etherly shouted.
And while it was certainly the best dunk of both of Saturday’s local and national Capital Classic games, the four Northern Region representatives — Etherly, Winbush, Mount Vernon senior Marquel De Lancey and Westfield senior Maurice Hubbard — had their share of highlights, too.
Etherly, in particular, sparkled in the second half of the afternoon’s first game, helping lead the Suburban All-Stars to a near-miraculous comeback over the District All-Stars in a 131-128 loss. The Suburban All-Stars trailed by as many as 19 points, but fought their way back and pulled within 111-110 with 4 minutes, 33 seconds to play on a one of Etherly’s four dunks.
The Suburban team never tied the game, but had a chance to send it to overtime with a three-point shot by Chase Smith of Eleanor Roosevelt, but it fell short at the buzzer to seal the game’s final margin.
Etherly finished tied for the team-high with 22 points, shooting 8-for-10 from the field and 6-for-7 from the foul line, adding eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Hubbard contributed six points, six rebounds and two steals for the Suburban squad, while Winbush finished with four points, three rebounds and one block.
“It was exciting,” Hubbard said. “It’s something I’ll definitely remember, and it’s a good way to finish my high school career. And it shows us just how much faster and stronger the game will be at the next level.”
De Lancey (five rebounds, two assists) was the Northern Region’s lone representative in the second, national game, which pitted the Capital All-Stars against the U.S. All-Stars in what turned out to be a big, 123-85 victory for the U.S. squad.
This year’s U.S. roster was highlighted by Maryland-bound Sean Mosley (16 points, six assists) from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore and Duke-bound Olek Czyz (game-high 23 points) from Reno High in Nevada. Former U.S. players have included the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Ralph Sampson and Dominique Wilkins.
“I appreciate getting picked to play in the national game … it’s truly an honor,” said De Lancey, who will play next season at Old Dominion University. “I just wish I would have played better. But it shows me what I have to do, what I have to work on before next year. I have to get used to the speed of the game, and hit the weight room.”
In addition to their memories, all four area players left the game with hearty smiles and backpacks filled with free gear from Converse and the event’s title sponsor, Under Armour.
“This was a lot of fun,” Etherly said with a grin. “I’d say it probably ranks second only to the DigitalSports Showcase as far as this season’s highlights go.”
Email: awatts@digitalsports.com
GAME 1
1st 2nd 3rd 4th — FINAL
Suburban All-Stars 30 28 29 41 — 128
District All-Stars 41 29 32 29 — 131
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