The sixth annual Battle of the Genders, which officially tips off the annual elementary basketball season at M.C. Knoll School, took place Monday.
The event which saw the M.C. Knoll Knights boys' team coached by Mark Schendel challenge the Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) senior girls coached by Chad McDowell in its inaugural game. Despite the proficiency of the Knights, the YRHS girls proved superior on the basketball court, Schendel admits. "We were given a heavy dose of humble pie," he says.
The game Monday had the M.C. Knoll Knights, still coached by Schendel take on the YRHS junior Lady Raiders coached by McDowell.
The emphasis of the event, Schendel says, is to have a fun, competitive game. He points out that the Battle of the Gender happens to fall on Valentine's Day this year. "I think it makes it a little extra special for the kids that are involved," he says.
Schendel also points out that this year YESSA switched the basketball and badminton seasons. Consequently the Knights have only had two practices to this point while the YRHS girls have been playing basketball since November which may give them a bit of an edge, he suggests. As it turned out the YRHS Junior girls narrowly edged out the M.C.Knoll boys.
This year the YESSA basketball season will have seven schools taking part including Columbia, M.C. Knoll, St. Alphonsus, St. Mary's, St. Michaels, St. Pauls, and Yorkdale schools. The final championship tournament will take place April 17,18 and 19, Schendel closes.
