The first leg of a 68-year tradition tips off on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at the Weyburn Comprehensive School with the opening of the 2000 McLeod Series.

Weyburn will host the first leg of the annual series between the Weyburn and Estevan Comprehensive School basketball teams, starting with the junior boys game at 4:30 p.m. The senior girls game follows at 6:30 p.m. To conclude the evening, the boys game will tip off between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The second leg of the series will be played in Estevan on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

The historic series has been played every year since 1932 except for four years in the 1970s. From 1972-1975, the series was cancelled because the rivalry became so intense, crowd control became an issue.

From 1932 to 1948, the series was played in Estevan in the mess hall on the military base near the airport because neither school had a full-size gym. After 1948, games were moved to the schools as they had built new gymnasiums.

"History is a rare commodity in sports these days," said Weyburn Comprehensive School girls basketball coach Gary Frederickson. "There aren't many examples of a 68-year tradition. This series spans three generations."

Frederickson, who also coached the Comprehensive school boys team in the 1980s, said while the series no longer gets the same fan support that once filled gyms in Weyburn and Estevan, the McLeod Series is still a major event in both schools.

"The fan interest is still strong and will be the best crowd we have all year," said the Eagle coach.

Of the 64 times the series has been played, Weyburn has won 27 times, including the last 16 championships. In spite of this recent losing streak, Estevan has won 37 times including long winning streaks from 1937-1945 and 1957-1965.

"There has been a rivalry between Estevan and Weyburn for a very long time," said Frederickson.

The basketball teams playing in the series know from an early age the significance this series has in both communities.

"The younger members of my team have asked about when the McLeod Series is more than any other game we have played this year," Frederickson said.