Team Manitoba out of Scotties

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/02/2010 (5933 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — The run is over for Jill Thurston’s Manitoba team at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts national women’s curling championship.

In an afternoon tie-breaker, Ontario’s Krista McCarville cruised to a 10-3 victory against Manitoba in just seven ends.

McCarville’s team from Thunder Bay faces Kelly Scott of British Columbia on Saturday at 12 p.m. (CST) in the 3 vs. 4 game of the Page playoff system.

Tonight, Jennifer Jones and her Team Canada foursome meets Kathy O’Rourke of Prince Edward Island in the 1 vs. 2 game.

O’Rourke and Jones finished tied for first out of 12 teams during the round-robin with 8-3 records.

The game begins at 6:30 p.m. (CST) and is on TSN.

Earlier today, the Manitoba champions just couldn’t match Ontario’s shot execution.

Thurston, third Kristen Phillips, second Leslie Wilson and lead Raunora Westcott weren’t nearly as sharp as they needed to be, making only half-shots while Ontario made just about everything McCarville called.

The big blow came in just the second end when McCarville made a long raise-takeout for three and a 3-0 lead. Ontario also took a deuce in the fourth end and scored another three in the sixth.　

"We had opportunities to put rocks in the right places, but I just don’t think that we did that," said Thurston. "They were right on the money.

They play that beautiful quiet weight… they made everything today.

"You can get away with half shots at some cash ‘spiels but not at a Canadian championship," she added. "We made a couple of half shots and I made a couple of no shots, and that’s what happens."

The semifinal is slated for Saturday night at 6 p.m., with the final Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

The Canadian champions qualify for the Ford world women’s championship in Swifit Current, Sask., from March 20-28.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca