PHOTOS: Windermere Prep, Windermere High square off for first time in boys hoops | Observer Preps

WINDERMERE Barely a mile separates Windermere Prep and Windermere High on Winter Garden Vineland Road, and the neighboring schools squared off in boys basketball for the first time Dec. 29 in the fifth-place game of the Lakers' annual Rock Holiday Classic.

A close game early — Windermere led 16-15 after the first quarter — saw Windermere Prep senior standouts Rahsaan Lewis and Shaquan Jules set the tone and help the Lakers (6-7) pull away from the senior-less Wolverines (6-5) for a 66-54 victory.

Lewis had a game-high 23 points to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. Jules hauled in a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds — in addition to three blocks — and Michael Gavin also had 19 points for Windermere Prep.

"We kind of go as those two (Lewis and Jules) go," Lakers head coach Ben Wilson said. "(Lewis) can make big-time plays at both ends ... Shaq slows it down a little bit, he's more methodical in his game, and he can have his way with people."

Josh Colon led three Wolverines in double-figures with 16 points on the game — 14 of which came in the first half. Trey Moss and Dakota River each chipped in 11 points for Windermere.

Both teams lost on the tournament's opening day Dec. 27, relegating them to the consolation bracket, but bounced back with wins Dec. 28. With Windermere Prep's win in the first meeting of the neighboring programs, Wilson's squad ends the holiday break on a high note after an early stumble.

"We called them out pretty hard after the first loss (in the tournament)," Wilson said. "Today we kind of backed off a little as a staff — we kind of put it in their hands and say 'it's your team, let's see how you respond.' I though they responded in a good way."