Of the 48 players in the program for Thursday’s 34th annual Capital Classic at Comcast Center, Carroll’s Danny Branch had the shortest bio.
But after he led the District All-Stars past the Suburban All-Stars, 149-131, in the preliminary game, Branch had the best stat line. The 6-4 guard hit 11 of 15 shots from the floor, scored a game-high 24 points, and grabbed eight rebounds.
“I just made every shot,” said Branch who averaged 13.5 points per game this season. “I had a bad ankle most of the year. Now it’s healed up. I have more explosion.”
Thriving in the run-and-gun affair, Branch scored 12 of his points in the third period when the District Stars, made up of D.C. public school and D.C. area private school players, scored 47 points, turning a six-point deficit into a nine-point lead.
Branch, who had four dunk, had plenty of help. Guard Jamar Harrison (Dunbar) hit 11 of 16 shots from the floor on his way to 23 points and seven rebounds. Guard Isaiah Tate (DeMatha) had 21 points and eight boards. Six other District stars scored in double figures including Jay Gavin (McNamara), who hit 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
“It was fun, a lot of up and down,” said Harrison. “A lot of good players on the floor.”
The Suburban All-Stars fell behind by 10 points in the first period, but surged in the second behind Kwame Morgan (Largo) and Glenn Andrews (T.C. Williams) who scored 23 points each, mostly in transition. Maurice Pearson (B-CC) added 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the fast-paced game.
“That’s the game I like to play. Run, run, run,” said Morgan, who has committed to Hampton. “Last time here at Comcast didn’t work out [loss in state semifinals]. This one didn’t either. But it was a lot of fun.”
