Prokopowich ekes out win to end playdowns on a high note

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This article was published 24/01/2025 (546 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PILOT MOUND — Lane Prokopowich got one in the win column to conclude the preliminary round Friday afternoon and ended Alyssa Calvert’s championship bid in the process.

Prokopowich made a draw for five in the fifth end en route to the 10-7 win.

“It’s a long, 10-end game, so we know we have to keep the pressure even though we had that jump on the scoreboard,”said Prokopowich.

Ending on a high note is a consolation after going 1-4 in the preliminary round, but they take comfort in knowing it was the team’s first time competing together, and as one of the youngest teams in the field.

“It was a tough week. We couldn’t really get the ball rolling but now we know what we need to work on for next year. Weknow what we are as a team and how well we bond, so it’s just a matter of building on what we already have to go that extra mile further and hope for a better record next year,” said Prokopowich.

Calvert didn’t spend any time focusing on the missed opportunity, but rather was quick to give credit back to Prokopowich’srink.

“We didn’t make very many shots in the fifth end and they did,” said Calvert.

Calvert noted the tide shifted in the second end when Prokopowich tied it 2-2 before a massive draw to count five in thefifth, essentially icing Calvert’s chances of playing into the weekend.

“After that they got a whole lot of momentum and we kind of lost our weights in the middle. That’s just kinda how curling goes sometimes,” said Calvert.

“All we were worried about was what we could control. It’s been another great week. It’s fun to come and be curlers for aweek. My kids were there watching, so that’s fun, and Pilot Mound did a great job. I love small-town championships,” Calvert added.

“We don’t play every weekend, so to come away with a 2-3 record that easily could’ve been 3-2, lots to build on.”

Meanwhile, Cassidy Dundas, one of the youngest skips in the field, had her event ended by Darcy Robertson, the most experienced skip in the field.

The two teams blanked the first three ends before Dundas put up two in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.

Robertson answered back with consecutive ends of three, one, and two to take a lead she wouldn’t relinquish, sending her team through to the championship round as the top seed of the Asham Ultra Force Group at 4-1.

“My team has been playing amazing. We have had some really great games and played some really great teams, but the girlshave played really well,” said Robertson.

Robertson was also quick to praise Dundas, as the young skip who still participates in the junior ranks was competing in herfirst women’s championship.

“They’re doing really well. The youth in the province seems to be super strong. They throw such a nice rock and it’s a littlebit more experience, which takes time, but they’re definitely a strong team.”

Robertson played Kate Cameron in Friday evening’s championship round. After putting up a deuce in the sixth, Cameron stole two more in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead.

Cameron, the event’s top seed, hung on for an 8-6 win.

Third seed Kristy Watling advanced to the championship round despite dropping her final two preliminary round games to Robertson and Peterson, but stormed back Friday night with an 8-7 win over Lisa McLeod, who finished tied atop the Asham Group standings at 4-1.

Neepawa’s Hailey McFarlane won her early draw Friday to improve to 4-1.

After dropping her opening contest Wednesday, her rink of Hallie McCannell, Stacy Sime and Janelle Lach won four in a rowto finish tied atop the Asham Group standings, setting up the team’s opening championship round game against No. 2 seed Beth Peterson.

After Peterson played an angle raise to put up two in the third, McFarlane played a hit to count two in the fourth, tying it 3-3.

In the fifth end, McFarlane put four rocks around the eight-foot at which point Peterson tried to draw, but came up short, so McFarlane counted three for a 6-3 lead.

After McFarlane left her last rock in the sixth exposed for an easy hit, Peterson did exactly that, counting three to tie it 6-6.

McFarlane drew for a single in seven before Peterson missed a takeout in eight, extending McFarlane’s lead to 8-6.

Peterson had a chance to hit and count four, maybe five in the ninth but went wide to count just two, tying it 8-8.

McFarlane made a critical hit in the tenth, sending two of Petersons rocks just far enough to count one and get the 9-8 victory to a round of applause from the crowd.

“It feels really good to get that reaction from the crowd,” said McFarlane. “It feels awesome to have people cheering us onwhether they know us or not. The girls definitely deserve the recognition.”

McFarlane’s win is her fifth in a row as the team now enters today’s action in a great spot with a place in Sunday’s playoffs top of mind.

“We still just keep it loose and take it shot by shot. We have two more big games coming up to determine a playoff spot, so we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing, and hopefully make more shots along the way,” McFarlane added.

The championship continues today, with draw times of 10 a.m., 4 p.m., and a tiebreaker round only if necessary at 8 p.m.

The top three teams advance to Sunday’s playoff round, which gets underway 9:30 a.m. before the championship final at 2 p.m.

— The Brandon Sun