Roughriders foursome singled out as league’s finest
Defensive back Ed Gainey and defensive end Willie Jefferson were both named CFL all-stars for the first time in their careers on Tuesday.
Gainey and Jefferson were joined on the CFL’s 2017 dream team by two other members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders — receiver Duron Carter and guard Brendon LaBatte.
The CFL all-stars were selected by representatives of the Football Reporters of Canada along with CFL head coaches.
In 2017, Gainey led the CFL with 10 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He set a Riders single-game record with four interceptions in a 41-8 win over the B.C. Lions on Aug. 13.
Gainey, 27, has spent seven seasons in the CFL, including the past two with the Riders.
Jefferson, 26, led the league with 37 quarterback pressures in his second season with the Riders. He was the team’s leader in sacks with eight, and posted a career-high 47 defensive tackles.
Carter was Saskatchewan’s leader in receiving yards (1,043) and shared the team lead in touchdown catches (eight) with Naaman Roosevelt. Carter, 26, was named a 2014 CFL all-star while with the Montreal Alouettes.
LaBatte, 31, earned his fifth CFL all-star nod after starting 18 regular season games, spending time at left guard and centre.
He was first named a CFL all-star in 2011 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Weyburn native is a four-time all-star as a Roughrider (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017).
Regina’s Michelle Englot dropped to 0-4 on Tuesday at Roar of the Rings — the Canadian Olympic curling trials — in Ottawa.
Val Sweeting of Edmonton defeated Englot and her Winnipegbased teammates — third Kate Cameron, second Leslie Wilson and lead Raunora Westcott — 8-5 in the afternoon draw.
Ottawa’s Rachel Homan had defeated Englot 11-7 on Monday night in a rematch of the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts final. Homan, who won the Scotties final 8-6 in 11 ends, went on to capture the world women’s championship.
Englot plays Julie Tippin of Owen Sound, Ont., in Wednesday’s afternoon draw.
In men’s action Tuesday afternoon, Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock improved his record to 2-3 with an 8-6 victory over Brad Jacobs of Prince, Ont. Laycock will face Winnipeg ’s Mike McEwen (3-1) on Wednesday morning.
Hannah Wilkinson scored 34 points to lead the Thom Trojans to a 51-36 victory over the Johnson Wildcats in Regina Intercollegiate Basketball League senior girls’ action Monday.
Dylan Carnier-Henry led Johnson with 15 points.
In junior girls’ action Monday, Abigal Bussiere scored 32 points to help the Luther Lions defeat the O’Neill Titans 51-38. Samantha Liamson had 13 points for O’Neill.
In another junior girls’ game, Brooke Linner scored 26 points for the Miller Marauders in their 6859 victory over the Riffel Royals. Riffel’s Skyla Kosick had 19 points.
The University of Regina Cougars remain at third in the weekly U Sports women’s basketball rankings.
The Cougars’ swimming teams are ranked sixth (women) and eighth (men).