Two of the better programs in Central Florida squared off last night as Windermere hosted Orange County rival Edgewater.
Windermere got off to a fast start and led 9-2 after the first four minutes. The Eagles of Edgewater then went on an 8-0 run over the next couple of minutes to take a 10-9 lead. After a timeout, Windermere recovered and led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The teams continued to play evenly in the second quarter and midway through the period Edgewater held an 18-17 advantage. At that point, the Eagles went on a 9-1 run over the course of two-and-a-half minutes to lead 27-18. Once again, Windermere got itself back together as the Wolverines finished the half with a 5-0 run to trail by four, 27-23, at the break.
Windermere continued that run to start the third quarter, scoring five points in succession in just over a minute to retake the lead at 28-27. In all, Windermere ran off ten straight points before Edgewater could score in the period. The Eagles struggled to score the entire quarter. By the time the horn sounded to end the third period, Windermere had outscored Edgewater 17-6 to lead by the score of 40-33.
The stoppage in play between quarters seemed to switch the momentum over to Edgewater. A 9-2 run over the first three-plus minutes tied the score at 42-42. Edgewater grabbed back the lead and with 3:20 to play, lead by three, 46-43. The Eagles then took a timeout but that may have halted their momentum. Windermere cobble together a couple of stops and scores and with one minute left, 6’3 senior Sean Owens drained a three to give the lead back to Windermere at 50-48. Windermere increased their lead a few seconds later with one of two free throws. Edgewater tied the game on the ensuing possession with a three from 6’1 junior Dylan Foster. Windermere took a timeout to set up a game-winning shot, but the Edgewater defense was able to snuff it out. The game headed to overtime with the score tied at 51-51.
Windermere struck first in the OT period on a jumper from 6’2 senior A.J. Smith. Edgewater’s response was a slam dunk by 6’4 senior Darius Washington III after a back-door cut. T.J. Drain, a 6’8 senior, returned the lead back to the Wolverines with a bucket inside. A pair of free throws from Edgewater’s 6’5 junior Jacari Lofton tied the game once again. Smith made one of two free throws for Windermere but Edgewater grabbed the lead on a Myles Mayfield dunk. After an empty Wolverines possession, Mayfield hit a pair of free throws to make the score 59-56 in favor of the Eagles with just under one minute to play. Windermere was stymied on its possession and was now forced to foul. Washington hit one of two to make it a two-possession game with 36.5 seconds left. Windermere missed a three and fouled Lofton, who hit one of two free throws to make the score 61-56 in favor of Edgewater with 20.7 seconds left. Drain scored a bucket inside to close the gap to three, then Windermere forced a turnover on the inbounds pass with 10.3 second left. After a timeout, Windermere was looking for a good look at a three but the Edgewater defense was able to force a tough shot that was off target. Edgewater wins a tough one on the road 61-58.
Edgewater was led by 12 points from Lofton and both Foster and Mayfield each added 10 points.
For Windermere, Drain led all scorers with 20 points while both Owens and Smith added 13 points apiece.