Winter Park Wildcats seek tournament redemption

Winter Park launched an epic comeback to try to haul back in a Hagerty team that had just pulled off a comeback of its own at the Hoops With a Heart basketball tournament, but the Wildcats fell just short.

The Wildcats fell 70-65 in a game that took massive swings in the score in the second half, with the Wildcats at one point up by 38-31, then watching Hagerty (5-3) come back to take a 63-49 lead with less than three minutes left. From there, the Wildcats came clawing their way back again, but would fall short.

Malik Farley’s 14-point fourth quarter helped the Wildcats get close, but the ’Cats (6-3) still bowed out of the tournament short of the championship game.

The ’Cats took on Metro Conference Rival Boone, then Cypress Creek, at press time. They’ll face Cocke County from Newport, Tenn., at 5 p.m. on Dec. 27 at the Rock Holiday Classic at Windermere Prep.

Winter Park girls basketball

The Wildcats were 11-1 to start the week after bouncing back from a loss to Lake Highland Prep, beating Evans 72-39 on Dec. 8. They played Cypress Creek at press time Tuesday.

The girls will return to the court at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 hosting Oak Ridge. Then they’ll host Wekiva at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 before taking two weeks off for the holiday break.

Edgewater boys basketball

Meanwhile the Eagles fought off Heritage from Palm Bay to take an 82-79 win on Dec. 11, then spanked West Orange 75-67 to boost their record to 4-4. That win gives Edgewater two wins in 6A District 7, putting them at the top of their district for now.

They faced East River at press time Tuesday, and will host Spruce Creek at 6 p.m. Dec. 27.

Edgewater girls basketball

The Eagles have been rolling all over opponents to start the season with just one loss so far. They’ll take a big break for the holidays that started on Dec. 13, stretching all the way to a 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 showdown against Apopka (4-9), at Edgewater.