Two of the premier private school programs in Central Florida tangled this past Friday when Lake Highland Prep visited Windermere Prep in a clash of district rivals.  This would be the first of possibly three meetings this season, including district and regional playoffs.  Both teams come in with stellar records and quality individual talent.

Windermere Prep got on the board first as 6’7 senior Connor Corris hit one of two free throws after being fouled inside.  Mark Dadlani, a 6’3 junior, answered with a bucket inside and then a pair of free throws from the Highlanders’ 6’3 senior R.J. Ingram gave LHP a 4-1 lead early in the first.  The teams would battle evenly up until the four-minute mark.  With the score 9-6 in their favor, Lake Highland hit back-to-back threes as part of a 10-0 run.  Corris scored on a putback for Windermere Prep prior to the end of the period, which saw Lake Highland in front, 19-8.

An 8-2 run by Lake Highland over the course of the second quarter’s first four minutes pushed the margin to seventeen at 27-10.  Windermere Prep called a timeout with 3:15 left in the period down 30-12.  The Lakers got back on track from that point forward until the end of the half which found Lake Highland up 38-21.

Windermere Prep got off to a good start in the third period, slicing the margin down to ten at 43-33 with four minutes to play in the quarter.  Lake Highland regrouped and didn’t let the Lakers get any closer.  Heading into the final period of play, the Highlanders led 49-36.

An 11-2 run over the first two-and-a-half minutes by Lake Highland pretty much put the game away for the Highlanders.  A late run by Windermere Prep cut the final margin down to fifteen, 64-49.

Ingram led Lake Highland with 18 points while Dadlani finished with 14 points.  Michael Madeaume, a 6’5 senior, contributed 10 points in the win.

For Windermere Prep, Brandon Bass, a 6’5 senior and Florida State commit, had a team-high 16 points.  Corris finished with 9 points.

Ingram of Lake Highland continues to show that he is a guy that D-I schools should have on their radar.  A high-energy player with a solid frame and good athleticism, he can play and defend a lot of positions.  Ingram is hard to guard when heading to the hoop, has a respectable perimeter shot, makes good shot vs pass reads and is an active defender both on and off the ball.

Bass of Windermere Prep had a tough shooting night but that was more because of the Highlanders’ defense than anything else.  Bass is thrust into multiple roles for the Lakers: primary ball-handler, main scorer, best wing defender…you get the picture.  To his credit, Bass has handled each of those (and other) roles well to date.  The Seminoles will no doubt be happy to have him on campus as soon as possible.