Illness-ridden B.C. rink plays solid games
Kelly Scott’s crew manages to hang on to a share of second spot
RED DEER, Alta. —In a week full of uncertainty, B.C.’S Kelly Scott hasn’t lost her focus at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Quite the opposite, in fact, as the two-time Canadian women’s curling champion will head into the final day of the round-robin schedule at the Enmax Centrium in position for a playoff spot, despite not knowing when she went to bed Wednesday whether one of her longtime teammates will be available to play.
Third Sasha Carter, who has struggled all week with the stomach illness that has felled various players in the Scotties, was taken to a local hospital Wednesday morning to receive an IV to restore fluids in her body, and sat out both B.C. games.
But without her, Scott, second Dailene Sivertson, lead Jacquie Armstrong and alternate Sherry Fraser still managed to salvage a split of their Wednesday games to stay tied for second with Team Canada’s Amber Holland and Quebec’s Marie-france Larouche with a 6-3 record, behind only Jennifer Jones of Manitoba (7-2).
“It’s funny; it’s tough and it could be draining, but I don’t think we’re allowing it to take a toll on us and feel like pressure on our shoulders,” said Scott, 34, who also was feeling effects of the stomach bug earlier in the week.
“If anything, it takes the pressure off. Everything is getting thrown at us this week, and we’re just trying to bounce with it all, and in a way, that just frees us up to go play.”
B.C. opened the day by pushing Manitoba to the limit, only to lose 8-6 in an extra end when Jones stole two after Scott’s runback double takeout for the win just overcurled to cap a well-curled game.
Later though, the B.C. contingent curled 88 per cent as a team to beat Kerry Galusha of the Territories 11-6, outscoring the northerners 9-1 over the final five ends of the game.
“A good day,” said Scott. “We had a great game this morning, and this game, we were behind for a few ends there, but the girls played great to set up so many ends there.
“Today was the first day I felt like we played really solid games, not sloppy games, so I’m very pleased with today.”
After hospital treatment, Carter was able to eat something later in the day, and there’s a good bet she’ll be available to play today.
“She feels like she’s close to normal and that she can play,” said Scott.
“Her position is that the team was on a roll without her today and she doesn’t want to step in and ruin the flow, but all of us, Sherry included, feel that if she’s ready to play, she’s stepping in.”