By Simon Chen
Coming off a bitter 19-day layoff, the Lincoln Railsplitters last played their game on December 14 against the Boys & Girls Kangaroos and lost. It wasn’t the fact that they lost, but they suffered their first defeat in early December, a feat that hasn’t been done since 2004. That was a 69-57 defeat to the Sheepshead Bay Sharks on December 18, 2004. But that season they went on to lose only two games and won the PSAL Boys’ Varsity basketball championship. In the past three seasons, the Railsplitters are a perfect 3-0 coming off the Christmas/New Year’s break and they would be a perfect 4-0 as they destroyed the South Shore Vikings, 79-57 at Lincoln last Tuesday. The Railsplitters’ guard/forward Lance Stephenson has averaged 26.75 points per game this season and he would notch a season high 27 on this afternoon. Stephenson would finish his stat line by contributing 13 rebounds and four assists. Another impressive performance was by Railsplitters’ forward Justin Greene, who scored 16 points and snagged down 9 rebounds. The Railsplitters dominated the game from the beginning by scoring 24 first quarter points but only allowed 9-second quarter points en route to thumping of the Vikings. Coach Dwayne Morton’s squad has faired really well coming off the break, since they are 24-2 in the past three seasons. But this January, the Railsplitters would have an upcoming game against the Canarsie Chiefs on the 18th at home and a game on the 30th against the Boys & Girls Kangaroos on the road. Two equally tough match-ups that may decide the division crown, so these two game are definite nail biters for this January as we head to the homestretch of the season. The Vikings last played their game prior to the break was on December 21, a three point victory against Grady, 60-57 at home. With the loss, the Vikings even up their record to 4-4, while with the win, the Railsplitters (6-1) sit one game below the Boys & Girls (7-0) and are tied with the Canarsie Chiefs, also at 6-1. Since last Thursday’s game against the Robeson was forfeited by the Eagles, the Railsplitters automatically are handed a victory.
