B.C.’s Scott back in winning form

For Kelly Scott and her B.C. squad, it was an opportunity to overcome a disappointing loss Tuesday night to Team Canada – partly due to a picked rock in the tenth end – and climb closer to the leaders in the standings. For PEI’s Suzanne Birt, it was an opportunity to extend the winning streak that started in Draw 5 after three losses to start the round robin. In this meeting of two teams trying to fight their way out of the middle of the pack, it was Kelly Scott and her team of Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter and Diane Gushulak (filling in for ailing Sarah Wazney) who patiently chipped away, stealing the 9-8 win in the tenth end.

Team B.C.’s third Jeanna Schraeder watches sweepers (l) Diane Gushulak and (r) Sasha Carter (Photo CCA/Andrew Klaver)

“It was good to come away with a win because I felt we were chasing a lot throughout the game,” said a relieved Scott. “To come out with a chance in ten by tying it up in nine, that was big. Even in ten (it) wasn’t going our way, so (it was) a game of patience.” “Every time you get through to playoffs in a tournament like this, you have one game through the round robin that you look back at and say that was maybe a turning point, or that was the game that got us into this position in playoffs,” she said. With the win, B.C. moves into a tie with Saskatchewan, both with 4-3 records. PEI now sits at 4-4, tied with Andrea Crawford of New Brunswick, who won 8-4 in eight ends against Quebec’s Allison Ross. In other action, Nova Scotia’s Mary-Anne Arsenault needed an extra end – and a perfect draw to the four foot – to defeat Stacie Devereaux of Newfoundland and Labrador, 7-6. In the only other game of the evening, Alberta’s Kristie Moore looked like a completely different team, cruising comfortably to a 9-3 win over Kerry Galusha of Northwest Territories/Yukon, her first win of the tournament. “That’s what happens when you make all your shots and you have confidence,” said Moore. “They didn’t challenge us as much as we’ve been challenged before, so that never hurts, of course, with confidence.” Moore sat out Tuesday evening’s game, leaving alternate Renee Sonnenberg to handle the skipping duties for one game, a break that Moore said was very beneficial. “It was just a mental break, that’s all it was,” she said. “I was mentally exhausted. I was trying to do too much out there. I was trying to do it all, and you can’t do it all by yourself.” httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T7l9Emg8TQ The Scotties continues on Thursday with draws at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (all times EST). All draws are being broadcast by TSN/RDS, the official broadcast partner of the Season of Champions. Live scoring, statistics and updated standings are available at https://www.curling.ca/championships/scotties/draw-schedule/scores-and-standings/