M.C. Knoll School tipped off the Yorkton Elementary Schools Sports Association (YESSA) basketball season with the eighth annual battle of the genders at the school. YESSA president Mark Schendel explains this year's event had the M.C. Knoll Knights boys challenging the Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) Junior girls. The event, which gets bigger and better each year, says Schendel, is just a lot of fun for everyone involved with it.
The battle of the genders began eight years ago when, Schendel says, he had a a very talented group of boys which challenged the YRHS senior girls' team coached by Chad McDowell. Schendel admits that first game was really a missmatch. "The senior girls blew our doors off," he says. Subsequently McDowell took over the YRHS Junior girls' program and that's been the matchup ever since.
Playing against the junior girls has been a better matchup for the Knights, Schendel says. The teams are more evenly matched in skill level. The event, though, is about participation and having fun than a hard competition.
This year Schendel says he had about 30 youngsters shows up for basketball. The number created a good problem for him. With so much interest with basketball, he had to create two teams for both boys and girls.
Many of the youngsters participating in the battle of the genders were just cutting their teeth in the sport, he reports. It's one thing to engage in drills during practice. It's quite another matter to play against a real opponent, Schendel states.
It was a huge learning curve for the boys, he suggests. He claims he saw a lot of growth in that 40 minute game and predicts the team will continue to grow from there.
The YESSA regular basketball season officially runs from March 5 to 9. The season will wind up with the YESSA city wide tournament April 23, 24 and 25, Schendel reports. He predicts there will be a big difference in the caliber of play between the beginning of the season and the end.
The eighth annual battle of the genders had an exciting finish with the Junior Lady Raiders claiming a narrow 34-31 win, Schendel reports.
Schendel says both the M.C. Knoll boys and YRHS girls indicated they really enjoyed the game, some saying the event was the highlight of their season.
"When you hear comments like that, you know you're doing something right," he declares.
It was nice to see some former M.C. Knoll Knights playing for the YRHS junior girls, including Caliegh Grunert, Taylor Harris, and Kelsey Berriault Schendel closes.
