Lincoln 113

N. Utrecht 38

Lance Stephenson used to sit in the stands in the gym at Lincoln and watch Sebastian Telfair run the point for the Railsplitters, envisioning himself in a few years doing the same thing.

Yesterday, he got his first chance to play on the court that has spawned guards such as Telfair and Stephon Marbury, and the freshman got off to an impressive start.

“I used to see Bassy do this all the time,” Stephenson said after he scored 18 points in Lincoln’s 113-38 win over New Utrecht. “I’ve seen a lot of games here and always wondered what it would be like to be out there.”

Stephenson has been nursing his right ankle – which he hurt during the summer – and is still in the process of figuring out how to be a good high school player.

While he’s already found a modicum of attention and fame from his matchup last summer with one of the country’s best high school players, O.J. Mayo, to his move from Bishop Loughlin to Lincoln just before school began in September, he’s still learning how to play.

New Utrecht, however, found out just how much it needs to learn against Stephenson and the rest of the ‘Splitters, who have reached the PSAL finals for four straight years.

Despite the lopsided score, Lincoln head coach Dwayne Morton defended his decision to insert his starters in the game’s final minutes after sitting them for much of the fourth quarter.

“I had to do it,” Morton said. “We have a big tournament coming up and our starters work too hard to sit out so much. I feel sorry for the other team, but we need the work.”

The ‘Splitters likely won’t be challenged in their own division, outside of rival Grady and perhaps Sheepshead Bay. Stephenson is a part of the reason for that.

The expectations for the 6-5 Stephenson are sky-high. From his exploits on the AAU circuit to an invitation to the ABCD camp in July, Stephenson was a bigger star than most of his teammates – some of whom have already won league championships.

dan.martin@nypost.com