North Battleford’s Shania Magnusson, pictured here with Rustlers’ coach Chris King, after taking home ‘All Conference’ honours at the 2017 ACAC Athletics banquet as a member of the Lakeland Rustlers. (submitted photo/Kellsey Sinnett)

By Martin Martinson

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May 25, 2020 | 4:46 PM

For local athlete, Shania Magnusson, her love of basketball began in the high school gymnasium.

Magnusson graduated from North Battleford Comprehensive High School (NBCHS) in 2013, where she suited up all four years for both the Vikings girls’ basketball and volleyball teams. Upon graduating, she then shifted her focus solely to basketball in the college ranks, playing another five years with the Lakeland College Rustlers.

Magnusson said NBCHS is where her passion for athletics began, and truly bloomed in a way that has affected her life to this day.

“It wasn’t actually until high school that I found out I liked basketball,” she said with a laugh. “My coach Kara Wilkinson coached our junior team and she really introduced me to it and helped me develop the basic fundamentals. I then played under Bryan Cottini, and he taught me a lot of skill and the drive behind basketball.”

Before long, the sport became more than just a couple of practices a week after school.

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“We were in the gym all the time,” she said, looking back fondly on her high school years. “Lunch hours we played lunch [basket]ball every day. I think most of us skipped having lunch to just play, so [Cottini] allowed us that opportunity to continue with our passion and to play ball and just stick together. That helped me to jump into college and pursue that passion further.”

But the transition to the collegiate level was not without its adversity.

In addition to the usual challenges that come with moving away from home for the first time, as a generally shy teenager, Magnusson was also faced with some injury setbacks including a broken hand.

However, she said the hurtles were made much more bearable by her teammates, who were there to help her through. She said it goes to show the tightknit camaraderie achieved uniquely through the bond of team sports.

“Going into college I didn’t know anybody, so having that team, you have those people around you that you know right away which helps with homesickness as you have friends and teammates around,” Magnusson said. “My strongest friendships to this day definitely came from playing basketball in college. My teammates throughout the years are the people I see now in my adult life.”

Sports may be put on hold for the time being due to the COVID-19 pandemic; but as Magnusson’s story suggests, even without games going on right now, sports continue to bring people together in a way the scorecard just can’t quantify.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1