ESTEVAN - The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs and Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles split the opening two games in the annual McLeod Series.
The Elecs' senior boys' basketball team defeated the Eagles 76-71 Tuesday night at the ECS gymnasium in the opening game of the best-of-four showdown. Then the Eagles' senior girls defeated their Estevan counterparts 63-57 in the second contest.
Estevan had a large lead early in the senior boys' game, including a 34-24 advantage with a few minutes to play in the second quarter, but Weyburn went on a 12-0 run to lead by two. Estevan scored the last two points of the half for a 36-36 draw at halftime.
The Elecs led 61-54 after three quarters. Weyburn fought back and briefly held the lead in the fourth, but Estevan rallied and pulled away in the final minutes.
As for the senior girls' game, the two teams battled for the lead for most of the first half, with Weyburn leading 30-27 at halftime.
The Eagles came out strong in the second half, going on a 21-9 run during the frame to lead 51-36. Estevan gained some momentum with a three-pointer in the final seconds of the third to make it a 12-point game, and another three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.
Estevan then chipped away at the lead over the course of the fourth quarter, pulling to within four late. Weyburn scored on its final possession to round out the scoring.
A large crowd filled the ECS gymnasium for the games, with lots of fans from Estevan and Weyburn in attendance.
The second half of the McLeod Series will take place Thursday night at the Weyburn Comprehensive School's gymnasium. The senior girls' game is to start at 5:30 p.m. and the senior boys' game will follow.
If each team wins twice, then point differential is the tie-breaker. Weyburn has a one-point lead, 134-133, after two games.
The McLeod Series dates back to the 1930s.
