Local Regina basketball rivalry turns into partnership: ‘It felt really special’

The rivalry between the senior girls basketball teams at Sheldon Williams Collegiate and Thom Collegiate -- on either side of Dewdney Avenue -- has been set aside.

In Regina, the rivalry between anything and everything south of Dewdney Avenue versus north of Dewdney Avenue has been going for ages.

But in the case of the senior girls basketball teams at Sheldon Williams Collegiate and Thom Collegiate, that rivalry has been set aside.

The reason being that Thom did not have enough players this season to field a team.

But thanks to the joint efforts of Thom’s athletic director, Scott Bridgeman, and Sheldon’s Senior Girls basketball assistant coach, Mackenzie Williams, the two teams merged into one.

“He contacted me and let me know that these couple girls wouldn’t have a team and he really wanted to find a place for them, so we decided to bring them over and co-op them and it’s been really great,” said Williams.

Grade 11 Jessica Malowany and Grade 12 Patience Benjoe made the switch from Trojans black and white to Spartans red and gold, and they were made to feel right at home from the get-go.

“As soon as we got here everyone was saying hi and introducing themselves, and it just made all of us feel very welcome, especially me. And it was a very happy feeling that they were able to let us in and be a part of their team,” said Benjoe.

The team participated in the Moose Jaw Crosstown Classic in early January, and the Spartans captains surprised the Trojans duo by bringing out their Thom jerseys for the whole team to wear.