You’ve heard of sibling rivalries.
Here’s what happens when the siblings happen to be identical twins, excel in the classroom and play the same sports at the same school.
There’s a two-on-two basketball tournament in their driveway — 16 neighborhood kids, eight teams, everyone in for $5, winners take all. The twins lead their respective teams to the championship round. It’s the final point of a tie game. One of the twins drives on the other and dishes to an open teammate who drops a 15-footer to win the cash.
Losing twin grabs his brother’s soccer cleat from the garage and rips it in two. Winning twin jumps into losing twin’s face and takes a swing. Fists fly. Full-out fight ensues.
No neighbors are surprised. They’ve seen it before. It’s just another day in the life of Alex and Justin Lee, junior soccer standouts at Magruder.
“It’s happened a lot. We’re not like that with other people. There’s just a rivalry between us,” said Justin Lee. “When we lose to each other, it gets bad.”
Thankfully for Magruder soccer coach Scott Alexander, both are on his side. And it’s their leadership, unspoken communication, and seamless connection that makes the Colonels go.
“They read each other’s body language better than any teammates I’ve coached,” said Alexander.
Defender Justin had four goals and three assists in an injury-plagued sophomore year while midfielder Alex had 11 goals and nine assists. They combine with forward Scott Phinith (nine goals, 10 assists) and defender Cooper Tilton to give Magruder hopes for another title in the ultra-competitive 4A West Region.
For the last four years the Lees, both 5-foot-10 and 145 pounds, excelled for the Potomac Cougars club team. This summer they were backcourt mates for Montgomery County summer league basketball champion Magruder. According to the twins, improvement comes more readily when it’s Lee vs. Lee.
“By competing so hard against each other, it’s made us better,” said Alex.
