RECREATIONAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL IS BACK IN ELMIRA AS THE CITY LEAGUE KICKS OFF SEASON (24 PHOTOS) (2023-01-08)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
ELMIRA — Recreational League basketball is back as The City League kicked off at the Chemung County Family Fitness Center on Saturday.

There are 24 teams competing, eight teams per division with three divisions (peewee (K and first), junior (2nd and third grade) and senior (fourth through sixth grade).

Right now there are 260 children taking part in the league, all comprised from the Elmira City and Elmira Heights School Districts.

It’s the first recreational basketball league since 2020 as Covid had rec league basketball not available for kids the past two years.

The league is staffed entirely by volunteers and 25 people volunteered the opening day between concessions, security, referees, scorekeepers and cleaners.

All of our referees, scorekeepers and some assistant coaches are players from the Elmira Express boys and girls teams,” said Ted Peet, who runs the league. “Coach (Ryan) Johnson and (A’Don) Allen have been great in helping us tie the future of Elmira basketball to the preset Elmira basketball.”

For Peet it was special seeing recreational league basketball back, and seeing a packed gym supporting the kids.

“Today was really special,” Peet said. “Just to hear the squeaking of little sneakers, the bouncing of the basketball, and the chatter of a crowd was amazing for me.

“Today was special because the Covid-19 pandemic almost killed recreational sports as a whole, but basketball, specifically in our area. But, since the announcement that we were going to have the league, the community engagement overall has been tremendous and I couldn’t have asked for a better first day.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES