And she’ll be facing a rink she’s very familiar with -- Regina’s Chelsea Carey.
Barker and her Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre foursome of third Christie Gamble, second Jenna Enge and lead Danielle Sicinski booked their spot in the title game with a 4-3 extra-end win over fellow Moose Jaw product Amber Holland in the semifinal Sunday in Assiniboia.
The meeting between Barker and Carey will be their third of the tournament after Carey defeated Barker 6-4 in the A-final on Friday and 10-9 in the Page Playoff 1-2 game on Saturday.
“We just have to find a way to make a couple more shots in key situations,” Barker said on CurlSask.ca’s webcast after the semifinal win. ”I think we’re playing strong, we just have to pick it up a little bit more. Now it’s just staying positive, stay in the moment and make eight shots an end.”
The contest against Holland and her Kronau foursome of third Kim Schneider, second Karlee Korchinski and lead Deb Lozinski was a low-scoring battle from the start. Barker stole one in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead before Holland tied things up in the sixth, and the two rinks then exchanged single points in the eighth and ninth to set up a dramatic 10th.
Holland drew to the top of the four-foot behind a long guard with her final shot, giving Barker a hack-weight take-out and stick for the win. She’d make the hit but would be unable to hold the rings, sending the contest to an extra end tied 3-3.
There, Barker was left with a hit-and-stick for two behind another long guard, and this time was money, settling in the eight-foot to take the 5-3 win.
The championship final is set for 3 p.m. at the Prince of Wale Cultural Centre in Assiniboia, and fans can check out the action on the CurlSask Youtube page, on SaskTel Max or follow along with the score at curlsask.ca.
