WEYBURN – The Weyburn Comprehensive School has announced a break from the historic McLeod Series basketball event with the Estevan Comprehensive School this year, due to "high emotions" and "threatening behaviour" during and after games.
In a statement released on the Weyburn school’s Facebook page and social media, they said, “The McLeod Basketball Series is a four-game total point basketball series between basketball teams from Weyburn Comprehensive School and Estevan Comprehensive School. The event started in 1932 and since then, the games have been played with a few breaks over the years.
“The McLeod Basketball Series has been very competitive throughout the years as basketball has evolved with the growth of our province and its schools. Due to the highly competitive nature of sport in our country, province and schools, fan expectations and codes of conduct have been put in place to ensure that players, coaches, and fans have a positive and safe competitive experience at all school athletic events.
“In some situations, emotions have run high and harassment and threatening behaviour directed to both players and coaches during the game and after the game, both in the school and extending beyond the school grounds has occurred.
“As such, the decision has been made to take a break from the McLeod Series play this year to allow fans, players, and coaches to review and reflect on participant expectations and codes of conduct. We hope that this series break will support all participants in being active and positive spectators at future school series events.”