The District's Jordan Goodman (left) snatches a rebound from Baltimore's Michael Cheatham during the 2011 contest at the inaugural I-95 Elite Challenge at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. Baltimore rallied to win in OT, but the District got the last laugh, winning three of four decisions.
The District's Stuart Clarke drives past Baltimore's Devon Saddler during the 2009 game. The District pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 76-68 win and a 3-1 series victory.
dtoney@digitalsports.com
The inaugural I-95 Elite Challenge didn’t get off to the best of starts Saturday. But for the District, the end result was impressive.
The nation’s Capital had its way with some of Baltimore’s best, winning three of the four contests at St. Frances Academy. The District capped the evening with a 76-68 decision in the Class of 2009 game.
Charm City had a little luck, but mostly a lot of Kevin Smith to gain its only victory, a 100-96 overtime thriller in the 2011 game. The District won the 2012 contest, 56-50, and 2010 game, 89-85.
Springbrook High’s Jamal Olasawere led the District with 20 points in the senior contest, and Wally Judge (Arlington Country Day in Florida) added 18 for game’s Most Valuable Player honors. Naji Hibbert (DeMatha Catholic) had 16 points for Baltimore, and Aberdeen’s Devon Saddler chipped in 11.
The District built a 17-point first half lead only to see Baltimore forge ahead before the District pulled away in the fourth quarter. Charm City was dealt a blow early as Isaiah Armwood went down with a knee injury in the first two minutes.
Armwood, who attends Montrose Christian and is regarded as one of the nation’s Top 30 performers, was taken by ambulance to a Baltimore hospital. Baltimore coach Richard Epps said it didn’t appear Armwood, a 6-foot-7 wing forward, injured his ACL.
“I hope it’s not a bad injury,” said Judge, a 6-9 forward originally from Prince George’s County who has given a verbal commitment to Kansas State. “I wished he could’ve played the whole game. After he went out, it took some of the fire out of me because I was looking for that matchup.”
Using a spark from Saddler, Baltimore gained the lead at 51-50 late in the third quarter on a follow up by Wyatt Smith (
John Carroll) off a miss by
Towson Catholic’s Devin Spencer. It was short-lived as Chaune Duffy (Fairmont Heights) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, and the District never trailed again.
The District All-Stars seemingly had the 2011 contest in hand, but a stirring comeback led by Smith provided Baltimore’s lone shining moment. The guard from Baltimore Freedom Academy scored 35 points including a three-pointer which banked in with two seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
Ernest Woodard (Woodlawn) gave Baltimore the lead for good at 94-93, with a steal and layup off an errant District inbounds pass. Woodard finished with 14 points, and
Old Mill’s Eric Savage contributed 10. Coolidge forward Bruce Littles scored a game-high 25 points for the District, and Jordan Goodman (Charles H. Flowers) added 14.
“I just played team ball,” said Smith, who scored 10 points in the final quarter for Baltimore which trailed by 12 points in the final quarter. “I just went hard and gave it all I got to bring it back for Baltimore.”
Originally scheduled to tip off midday, the showcase was delayed an hour as the floor had to be setup after a prior function ran over at the east Baltimore gymnasium. The District established the tenor of the event, taking over in the final period in the 2012 matchup.
Marvel Redfearn, who will attend Mount Vernon (VA) in the fall, had 17 points to lead the District.
City College-bound Charles Tapper led all scorers with 13 points for Baltimore, and John Crowder added 10.
Tied at 40 entering the fourth, the District went on an 11-4 run, capped by a three-point play by Lamont Baldwin (
Archbishop Carroll) and rebound and follow-up from David Barnes, who will attend
Bishop O’Connell (VA). Daquan Kerman, headed to
Paul VI (VA) received the game’s sportsmanship trophy for the District, and Jamal Lewis (Sidwell Friends) was honored for having the highest grade-point average.
Daryl Traynham scored 26 points to lead the District to victory in the 2010 game. Traynham, a 5-foot-8 point guard who played for Vance High in Charlotte, N.C. last winter, garnered MVP honors. Brendan McFall (
Poolesville) added 14 points and was the GPA honoree.
St. Frances’ Dante Holmes scored a game-high 28 points for Charm City, and George Jackson (
Digital Harbor) added 12. Jonathan Graham (
Calvert Hall College) and Jimmy Hamilton (St. Frances) each had 10.
Holmes was the sportsmanship award recipient. Olsawere (sportsmanship) and Spencer (GPA) were honorees from the 2009 game.
I-95 Elite Challenge
At St. Frances Academy
Class of 2012 (Freshman)
District All-Stars 56, Baltimore Elite 50
District: McNeill 1, Forney 2, Kerman 6, Baldwin 10, Redfearn 17, Barnes 4, Kamora 2, Washington 6, Lewis 8.
Baltimore: Tapper 13, Carr 4, Locke 7, Solomon-Jones 3, A. Carr 4, S. Carr 2, Jones 1, Manns 8, Epps 2, Crowder 10.
Class of 2011 (Sophomores)
Baltimore 100, District 96, OTDistrict: Littles 25, Jones 8, Whatley 8, Lundy 9, Martin 13, Ogunjobi 10, Echols 4, Savoy 5, Goodman 14.
Baltimore: Smith 35, Woodard 14, Clinton 7, Huggins 9 Cheatham 6, Jones 6, Savage 10, Brewer 4, Williams 9.
Class of 2010 (Juniors)
District 89, Baltimore 85
District: Atkins 9, Starks 8, Allen 10, Hopkins 5, Redfearn 6, McFail 14, Olabipo 11, Trayham 26.
Baltimore: Holmes 28, Latham 6, Graham 10, Hamilton 10, Jackson 12, Edwards 7, Lewis 4, Goode 8.
Class of 2009 (Seniors)
District 76, Baltimore 68District: Duffy 8, Jones 5, Clarke 6, Kalipinde 7, Judge 18, Olsawere 20, Whack 9, Zanna 3.
Baltimore: Armwood 4, Gilmore 2, Johnson 9, Saddler 11, Spencer 2, Smith 8, Grenaway 6, Austin 6, Philmore 4, Hibbert 16.