The Estevan Comprehensive School senior girls kept it close. The senior boys, however, struggled greatly, and as a result the Elecs are in a deep hole in the 79th annual McLeod Series.
The first leg of the yearly basketball series between the Estevan and Weyburn high school senior teams took place on Feb. 4 at ECS.
The girls kicked things off, and it was an entertaining contest, with the Eagles winning 61-56. ECS came back from a 12-point deficit with six minutes left to get within one in the last couple of minutes.
However, any hopes of ending a 29-year drought in the series came to a screeching halt in the second game of the night, as the Weyburn boys defeated ECS 102-63.
The Eagles led the series 163-119 entering last night's second and final leg in Weyburn. They lead the all-time series 41-37.
Although her team gave the crowd something to cheer about with their late rally, senior girls head coach Jessie Smoliak felt the Elecs were capable of more.
"My team has heart - there is no doubt about that. Unfortunately, we didn't come out to play in the first half, which hurt us in the end," she said.
Although the Elecs have struggled against Weyburn in recent years, they defeated the Eagles earlier this year in Caronport and Smoliak said nothing short of a win was acceptable this time around.
"I think there were a lot of nerves for this game because I know my girls wanted to beat Weyburn in their home gym," Smoliak said."I think them wanting it too much was the cause of them fouling and not finishing. It was a mental thing for them. It just wasn't a good game overall."
The Elecs led at one point early on before falling behind 13-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Eagles extended their lead to 30-20 at halftime.
"It was hard to coach when the ball wasn't going through the hoop. The team had great execution, but we weren't getting rewarded with points," Smoliak said. "My girls had a really tough time finishing. I feel that the girls' nerves and playing in front of their home crowd got to them a little."
Just when it was looking like they were out of it, the Elecs went on a 6-1 run late in the third quarter to get within six going into the fourth.
Weyburn went on a run midway through the quarter to extend their lead to 12 points. The Elecs whittled it back down, eventually making it a one-point game with less than two minutes left, but couldn't pull off the win.
Smoliak said it was a hard defeat to take.
"It is tough when you see your team want something so bad and not receive it," she said, adding that the older players "took it the hardest because they understand what the McLeod Series is, compared to the new juniors and Grade 9s on the team."
She added she was thankful for the large crowd at ECS.
In the senior boys game, ECS kept pace with the Eagles for most of the first quarter until a 7-0 run put Weyburn ahead 24-17 after the first quarter.
It was all Weyburn after that, as they led 48-28 at the half and 69-41 after the third quarter.
Although a series victory last night was virtually out of reach, Smoliak said motivation was not an issue for her team.
"My girls are looking to redeem themselves and to play to their true potential," she commented.
"The girls are looking for revenge, but in a good way. I told them that as long as they played hard and leave everything out on the court with no regrets, they should be happy. If Weyburn is the better team, so be it, just as long as my girls put up a good fight and play to their potential."
Meanwhile, the senior girls squad finished in third place at a tournament in Lumsden on the weekend. They are preparing to host the 4A conference championship Feb. 28-March 1.
