It's quite possibly the oldest basketball event in Saskatchewan.

The annual McLeod Series between the Estevan and Weyburn high school teams is ready to tip off for another year, with both the boys and girls teams' ready to hit the court to renew the rivalry.

The tradition started way back in 1932. It's named after Norman L. McLeod, who donated the trophy that is awarded to the winning school.

According to a press release from 2009, Estevan Collegiate won the first three years and then dominated during the 1940's, 50's, 60's, and 70's. Estevan's teams were bolstered by American import players when oil was discovered in the town during the 1950's. 

The rivalry became so heated in the late 1960's and early 1970's with disturbances and vandalism that both administrations actually agreed to suspend the event from 1972 to 1975 for a "cooling off period," according to the release.

The break proved to be a turning point in the series for Weyburn. Weyburn Comprehensive School won the event every year from 1984 to 2008. Heading into the 2009 clash, the series stood at Estevan 37, Weyburn 36.

The results for the rest of the years leading up to today are unreliable, but it appears Weyburn continued to win every year right up until 2015. Our friends at Discover Weyburn also reported that Weyburn has won the last three years. Estevan won in 2017.

The overall edge favours Weyburn at 48 wins and 37 losses, unofficially.

Now, heading into the 86th installment this year, both the Estevan boys and girls' teams are excited to carry on the tradition.

"I don't know if I've ever seen two schools have that much animosity towards each other," boys' coach Tanner Kozun said. "It's a different feel for sure but I like it, it's exciting. I like to watch kids compete at a different level like that."

Girls' coach Bridget Bjorndalen said it'll be an invaluable experience for her players.

"I would say just the excitement, like it's such a huge game," she said. "Being able to play with the boys and go and support the boys, we really create that team community and that team bond, especially within our own school. So it's an unbelievable experience and I'm so happy that these girls can be able to go through that as well."

Both the boys and girls' teams will play in Weyburn on Monday before returning to Estevan to complete the series on Wednesday.

If the games are split, the winner is determined by the point spread.