PHOTOS: Windermere holds off West Orange in 81-75 rivalry win

In what has become one of the biggest rivalries in the area, Windermere edged by West Orange 81-75 as the two teams battled it out in front of a packed house at the West Orange Dome Friday, Dec. 13.

For most of the first quarter both teams exchanged baskets left and right, but things would change in the second quarter as the Wolverines (4-4) pushed their way ahead of the Warriors (3-3) thanks to hot shooting from the outside.

Trey Moss and E.J. Yorke each hit two three-pointers apiece, while Darrell Armstrong added a three in the quarter. Yorke would go on to lead the Wolverines in scoring with 34 points, while Moss would pick up 19 and Armstrong would notch 16.

West Orange would watch as the Wolverines’ lead extended to 77-61 halfway through the fourth quarter, but the Warriors wouldn’t give up. 

Instead, the Warriors cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the second quarter at 79-73, before whittling it down to 79-73 with just under a minute to go thanks to Jonas Polynice’s 16 second-half points and Mike McCalister’s 17 second-half points. Polynice would finish with 27 points, while McCalister picked up 22.

The frantic rally would fall short, however, after a few clutch free throws by Moss — handing the Wolverines the 81-75 win.

Both Windermere and West Orange will return to the court Tuesday, Dec. 17, as the Wolverines take to the road to battle Wekiva, while the Warriors travel to Apopka to face the Blue Darters.