ELE Finish in Elite 8 at Tough Albany  Rat Challenge

Last weekend the Elmira Lady Express 16/17 National team went to Albany New York for the prestigious Gym Rat Challenge. Some of the strongest AAU teams from ten states and Canada showed up to crown a Champion over three days of highly competitive games in gyms that reached 100 degrees. The tournament is a pool play tournament that brings all pool champions into a Championship bracket that goes until one team is standing.

The Lady Express played The Next Level Elite out of Burlington, VT in their first game and prevailed 55-32 with some very hot shooting again by the Lady Express.

The second game pitted the Lady Express against the Rockland Rockets. Rockland starting line up consisted of 6'5" center, 6'3" forward. and a 6'1" forward. Unfazed the Lady Express won the game 44-28, controlling the backboards on both sides of the floor and again some very solid shooting from the field.

The third game was against another 2-0, Team Freckles out of New Jersey for the pool Championship. Defensively the Lady Express were smothering Team Freckles from the very beginning. At halftime the Lady Express was leading 24-6. Never looking back the Lady Express won 49-36 and won their pool and waited until Sunday to be seeded for the Championship round.

Sunday found the Lady Express seeded 7th out of 156 teams. Their first game was against Loumanati All Stars out of Providence, RI. The Lady Express got the transition game going in high gear and won 47-25.

The quarter finals saw the Lady Express playing 2nd seeded New York City Gauchos. Last years 15 yr old Gym Rat Champions having a squad of at least 10 Division I bound players. Unfazed with the opposing Gauchos from New York City; the Lady Express played fantastic and inspired basketball. Trading basket for basket saw the Lady Express behind 23-18 at halftime. Unable to get the shooting going in the second half, the Lady Express fell 40-28.

A remarkable weekend for the girls to say the least. They continue to beat AAU team after AAU team from all over the East Coast.  Next tournament for the National Team will be the Blue Chip Penn State Invitational July 5th-9th.

Congratulations girls!