Wildcats look for a rebound

A 4-11 start to the season has Winter Park’s boys basketball team reeling as they enter into the depths of district play this week. But after winning just two of their last 12 games, the Wildcats got back on track with a 59-50 win over Freedom on Jan. 6.

Against Freedom, the Cats exorcised some scoring demons that had plagued them all season, nailing 59 points, including 17 by Jay Wimbley, to edge the Patriots. Michael Merlano’s 10 rebounds kept the team in the game.

That was a big turnaround from the game before against Wekiva, when the Cats lost 39-35, scoring only four points in the second quarter. That was the second game in a row that the Cats had failed to score more than 40 points in a game.

But the Wildcats’ subsequent offensive resurrection and win against Freedom may help get them in the mood for district showdowns against a slew of close rivals in the next two days.

After a Tuesday matchup against University (10-4) at press time, the Wildcats will take on a tough Colonial team (11-4) that’s only lost twice since the start of December. Those wins haven’t been against many tough teams, though, with their most recent win, a 63-25 blowout against Cornerstone Academy, coming against a team that has struggled to pick up more than one win this season. That game tips off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Against Timber Creek at 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Wildcats will have a tougher foe. The Wolves (11-5) have dominated some tough teams, and also shown an ability to hold their own in close matchups against well-traveled teams with very strong records. With a win in district play already, the Wolves would be poised to take a commanding lead in the standings if they beat Winter Park. For the Wildcats, who have already lost two district games, every win is crucial.

Edgewater

Meanwhile the Eagles are 11-5 to start the week, with district play also looming. They powered through Seabreeze for the second time this season on Jan. 5, winning 54-34. At 7 p.m. Thursday they face a Deltona team (0-17) who they blew out in the second game of the season.