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Resurgent Padgett a playoff run key for Railsplitters
By Joseph Staszewski March 19, 2009
“I was always like, ‘James your ankle is only temporary.
It’s not broke,’” Ellis said.
The chats kept the Maryland-bound forward positive as his
ankle improved.
Lincoln’s season went through plenty of ups and downs. The
Railsplitters have 10 losses – only one to a PSAL opponent, Boys & Girls –
but as Padgett’s ankles had improved, so has Lincoln’s fortunes.
The big man is again making athletic plays, controlling the
boards and looks to have better lift off the floor. His game has improved just
as the contests have grown more important for the three-time defending
champions.
“It helped keep me stable and not lose my confidence,”
Padgett said.
“I think he got his strength back,” star guard Lance
Stephenson said. “He’s tomahawking on people.”
“James looks like the old James from last year,” Ellis said.
“I’m loving him. … He’s been playing like a Maryland player.”
The 6-foot-7 Padgett scored 13 points in a win against
Transit Tech in the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals and dropped in 18 points and
grabbed 12 rebounds in a 76-64 victory over rival Boys & Girls in the
semifinals at Carnesecca Arena on March 15.
As Padgett’s confidence grows, so does his teammates belief
in him.
“He’s been keeping it consistent, scoring big points,” Ellis
said. “When we need a basket we will feed it to him down low. We are not scared
to throw it down there.”
Padgett’s resurgence over the last few weeks and also the
improved play of Ellis is good news for the Railsplitters (21-10). It gives
them the supporting scoring options to Stephenson, the leading scorer in New
York State history, that he has seemingly been searching for all season. It is
not a pretty sight for opposing teams.
“Everyone has been looking forward to the big three, to see
that the big three are going to do,” Ellis said. “The big three is playing like
the big three. We’re unstoppable.”
Next up for top-seeded Lincoln is No. 2 John F. Kennedy, a
winner of 18 straight, in the final at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m.
Saturday. Knights coach Johnny Mathis has beaten the Brooklyn school in their
last two meetings in the championship game.
“It’s a great feeling to get back to the Garden,” Padgett
said. “Our whole goal was to get here and hopefully we will get another
championship.
He later added,
“Coach [Dwayne (Tiny) Morton] wants to break
the losing streak to them at the Garden. We are looking forward to playing
these guys.”