STAC BOYS' BASKETBALL: ELMIRA HAPPY TO BE BACK ON THE COURT PREPARING FOR SEASON WITH SCRIMMAGES (24 PHOTOS) (2021-11-28)

Southern Tier Sports Report
ELMIRA — For the Elmira boys’ basketball team it was a busy week as they prepare for the start of the season.

On Saturday the Express scrimmaged Williamsport, to cap off a busy week of preparation for the season.

“We were in Syracuse on Wednesday, Syracuse again yesterday and brining a great program like Williamsport,” Elmira coach Ryan Johnson said. “We are excited about getting these in and seeing what they will lead to. It’s all about down the road and making them ready for playoff time.”

After a year in which the team played a shortened season against Section 4 teams, it’s nice to start seeing teams from outside the area again.

“It is (nice),” Johnson said. “Any kind of normalcy we can give these kids is great and it’s nice to get back to routine and the people you are accustomed to working with and getting people back not he floor.”

Having a normal start to the season this time of year is special for the team.

“It’s good, I’m excited for the kids,” Johnson said. “We finally got to have an offseason to and that was huge. Going through our normal routine in the summer and everything. We are excited to get back in the gym, do our thing and get these kids back to some sort of normalcy.

“We dod a good job of running things from the ground up so by the time the kids get to me they know what they are supposed to be doing. So, it’s kind of just picking up where we left off, it’s just getting that mind and body back into a routine. Structurally and fundamentally we should be fine, but like any other sport you need that daily routine.”

With a younger roster the Express are working hard as they prepare for the season.

“We’ve been working hard, there are some hiccups, we are young,” Johnson said. “We lost four seniors starters last year on a team that went 8-1 in an abbreviated season. They will work hard for us, we’ve had a few scrimmages already and we are just working out the kinks.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES