The Estevan Elecs senior boys' and girls' basketball teams are off to a good start in the 76th McLeod Series. With Weyburn winning the series each of the past 26 years, Estevan is hoping this is the year they put an end to that streak.
The first two of the four-game, total-points series were played at the Estevan Comprehensive School last Tuesday, and the Elecs have built a 129-128 lead over the Eagles.
The girls took the court first, and despite falling behind 13-10 in the opening quarter, Estevan's offence picked up in the second as they started nailing their shots and took a 34-24 lead at the half.
"My girls came out flat tonight - simple as that," said ECS girls' coach Jessie Elias. "Weyburn did do some different things to read our defence and we didn't adjust to it soon enough."
The up and down play for the Elecs continued in the third quarter as Weyburn came out going on a 8-0 run. Estevan's first basket of the quarter didn't come until the 3:23 mark, allowing the Eagles to close the gap to three points heading into the final frame.
Again Estevan picked up their play in the fourth and proved to be the better team on this night, coming out on top 64-56. Despite the win, Elias was not impressed by her team's performance.
"It's tough to win games when you don't score," said Elias who added the Elecs need to be more prepared for the next McLeod Series game in Weyburn. "We definitely have to have a better mental game and come out ready to play."
In the boys' matchup, Weyburn took advantage of some poor play early on by the Elecs and led 28-15 after the first quarter. Luckily for ECS, Weyburn's offence slowed down in the second and third quarters and they were able to hang in there, only trailing by 12 heading into the fourth.
It was in that fourth quarter that Estevan really dominated; they outscored the Eagles 15-10 in the frame, but unfortunately it was too little, too late and they came out on the losing end of a 72-65 decision.
The second half of the McLeod Series is scheduled for March 2 in Weyburn, where the Elecs will look to even up the all-time score. The Eagles currently lead 38-37.
