After an impressive start Friday in its annual basketball challenge with Washington, Baltimore saw its momentum dissipate Saturday afternoon. The Charm City regrouped in the final contest to claim bragging rights over the District for the third consecutive year.

No. 5 City boys routed Ballou (D.C.), 86-38, at Lake Clifton/REACH, for Baltimore’s only victory Saturday. No. 6 Lake Clifton, No. 8 Edmondson and Patterson each dropped decisions.

Baltimore, which got victories from Poly and Western girls Friday, split six matches over the two-day event. Baltimore retains the trophy based on point differential (plus 60).

City raced out to a 17-6 advantage and never looked back as senior forward Cam Horton posted 24 points and K’won Johnson added 17. The Knights outscored Ballou, 42-8, in the second half.

“Honestly, I would’ve liked a better game, but that’s a different conversation,” said Knights coach Omarr Smith. “I’m just trying to get my team into a rhythm.”

Senior guard Kyree Smith finished with 16 for City, which completed a 3-0 opening week. The Knights defeated Douglass (84-30) and Old Mill (78-42) the road.

Despite a fourth quarter charge, Lake Clifton fell to Coolidge, 61-53. Senior guard/forward Quinton Monroe paced the Lakers with 19 points.

Trailing 13 points early in the fourth, Lake Clifton closed to 50-47 with 3 minutes, 21 seconds left in regulation. Coolidge’s Lafayette Williams, who scored a game-high 22 points, converted a driving layup and Christian Saunders hit two free throws for a 54-47 advantage with 2:07 remaining.

Monroe’s basket got Lake Clifton to within 55-51 with 1:16 to play. The Lakers stole the ensuing inbound, but Kris Mitchell missed a dunk attempt and drew a technical foul for hanging on the rim. The Colts converted the technical free throws and Williams scored on the ensuing possession for a 59-51 advantage with about a minute left.

Mitchell had 15 points for Lake Clifton, 11 coming in the second half. McKinley Tech pulled away from Edmondson in the final quarter for a 61-52 victory.

Sophomore guard Darnell Dantzler Jr. had 16 points for the Red Storm (1-1), who trailed 38-35 after three quarters. McKinley scored 13 of the first 15 in the fourth to take control.

“This is going to be on the job training,” said Edmondson coach Darnell Dantzler Sr., who has two sophomores in the starting lineup. “I hate to say it’s a good or a bad loss, but we know we got a lot of work to do.”

Antwan Gross led all scorers with 31 points for McKinley. Theodore Roosevelt opened Saturday with a 82-48 rout of Patterson.

Celly Dobbins and Dawan Williams each had 15 points for Patterson, which trailed 60-27 at halftime. The 25th renewal of the D.C./Baltimore Basketball Classic started Friday at Poly with defending Class 4A state champ Western defeating Banneker, 52-28, and 3A champ Poly topping Dunbar (D.C.), 73-34.

D.C./BALTIMORE BASKETBALL CLASSIC

Saturday at Lake Clifton (boys)

City 86, Ballou (D.C.) 38

Coolidge (D.C.) 61, Lake Clifton 53

McKinley Tech (D.C.) 61, Edmondson 52

Theodore Roosevelt (D.C.) 82, Patterson 48

Friday at Poly (girls)

Poly 73, Dunbar (D.C.) 34

Western 52, Bannaker (D.C.) 28

Series history

2022 - Baltimore

2021 - Baltimore

2020 - canceled (COVID-19)

2019 - Baltimore

2018 - Washington

2017 - Washington

2016 - Baltimore

2015 - Baltimore (forfeit)

2014 - Baltimore

2013 - Baltimore

2012 - Washington

2011 - Baltimore

2010 - Baltimore

2009 - Baltimore

2008 - Washington

2007 - Baltimore

2006 - Washington

2005 - Baltimore

2004 - Washington

2003 - postponed (weather)

2002 - Baltimore

2001 - Baltimore

2000 - Baltimore

1999 - Washington

1998 - Baltimore

1997 - Baltimore

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