Railsplitters End Knights Season
The defending champs started strong and never looked back. The Lincoln Railsplitters began their quarterfinal match up with the Knights of J.F.K. with a 10-0 run and outscored JFK 19 to nine in the first quarter on their way to a 70 to 53 win.
With a balanced scoring attack led by James Padgett's 17 points, the Lincoln Railsplitters easily advanced to the semi-finals of the PSAL playoffs. "We just came out and played hard,"said,"Lincoln head coach Dwayne Morton. Lincoln dominated in the paint early scoring easy baskets and put backs by Padgett and Justin Greene.
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The Railsplitters dominance inside along with their ability to capitalize off turnovers allowed them to easily balloon to over 20 points in the first half. They took a 17-point lead into the half with their star Lance Stephenson scoring only six points.
The Knights would make a run in the second half as they slowed down the game. However, numerous missed free throws hurt their ability to make a comeback. J.F.K. would cut the deficit to ten with six and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter. However that was as close as they would get. Key jumpers by Stephenson (16 points) and Darwin Ellis (10 points) helped to put the game away.
The Railsplitters handled business as usual, as they took yet another step towards defending their title. Next up will be their fourth match up this season with division rival Thomas Jefferson. Lincoln has defeated the Orange Wave all three times this season. However, the Railsplitters expect Jefferson to be prepared but they know what they have to do. "We played them three times this year and won all three," said Khalif Staten. "We just have to do what we did all other three times and come out with a win." Another win would send the Railsplitters one step closer to defending their title at Madison Square Garden.
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