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Improved Lewis looks to MSG again

By Marc Raimondi

The Patriots played the Vikings Jan. 4, falling 53-47 at Francis Lewis. “We're trying to score seven more points,” the 14th-year coach said. “So we could win by one instead of losing by six.”But all kidding aside, Francis Lewis is a vastly different team now than it was last month. With the loss of four Division-I caliber players from last year's city runner-up team, only one returnee – junior Sylvia Davis – got major playing time before this season. That led to growing pains early, including a 53-22 shellacking at rival Cardozo Dec. 6. The 10th-seeded Judges play at McKee/Staten Island Friday in the first round.”When we played them the first time, we were becoming a good team,” said Eisenberg, who is a graduate of South Shore.Now the Patriots are one. Their 9-5 record was good enough for a division title. But this year is still unlike any other in recent memory. Francis Lewis has gone to the city finals at Madison Square Garden each of the last three seasons.The 2006-2007 Patriots are peaking at the right time. Sophomore Andree De Leon has stepped up and the leadership of senior Michele Runko has made a difference. And, of course, Davis makes Francis Lewis go.It certainly hasn't been as easy as past years, but the Patriots are adamant about defending their legacy.