The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs split the opening games with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles Wednesday night at the ECS gymnasium in the annual McLeod Series, but Estevan trails by 16 in point differential.
The ECS boys lost their game 96-78, while the Elecs girls won 80-78 in a McLeod Series classic. Weyburn holds a 174-158 advantage in point differential, which will be the tie-breaker if each team wins twice in the best-of-four showdown.
The Elecs and the Eagles were tied 33-33 midway through the second quarter of the senior boys games, but then Weyburn took over, outscoring Estevan 17-4 to lead 50-37 at half-time.
The Eagles continued to dominate into the third quarter to lead by 23 at one point. Estevan cut the deficit to a dozen points, but never drew closer, thanks in part to a buzzer-beating three-point shot for the Eagles at the end of the third quarter.
The senior girls game, meanwhile, had the excitement, lead changes, intensity and crowd energy one would expect from the McLeod Series. The Eagles opened with an 11-4 run, but Estevan fought back and led 22-21 after the first quarter.
The Elecs extended the lead to 27-21 in the second quarter, but Weyburn responded, and the game was tied 42-42 at half-time.
The wild momentum changes continued into the third quarter. Estevan built a 59-55 lead late in the third, but Weyburn knocked down back to back three-point shots to lead after three.
The Eagles led 76-67 late in the fourth, but Estevan went on a 13-2 run to finish the game and earn the split.
A large crowd filled the ECS gym for the game. The school’s pep band and cheerleaders performed, and athletes from the Estevan Student Basketball Association scrimmaged at half-time for both games.
The final two games in the series will be played Feb. 12 in Weyburn, with the senior girls up first and the senior boys playing second.
