A pair of Moose Jaw’s own have advanced to the final day of competition at the Viterra Scotties provincial women’s curling championship in Assiniboia.
And as luck would have it, Penny Barker and Amber Holland will be playing for a spot in the championship final on Sunday morning.
Barker and her Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre rink of third Christie Gamble, second Jenna Enge and lead Danielle Sicinski had booked their spot in at least the Page playoff semifinal with an 8-7 win over Holland in the B-final earlier in the day.
That sent Barker into the Page 1-2 game against Regina’s Chelsea Carey, and the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion would emerge victorious out of a back-and-forth battle. Carey led 9-6 heading into the ninth end, but Barker would score three to tie things up heading home. Barker ended up forcing Carey to draw the button for the win, which she would do.
Holland and her Kronau rink of third Kim Schneider, second Karlee Korchinski and lead Deb Lozinski had a bit of a longer road to the semifinal.
After falling to Barker, Holland needed a 7-6 win over Sherry Anderson in the C-final, and she did so in spectacular fashion. Trailing 6-3 after seven, Holland scored one in the eighth and stole the next two ends to tie things up before adding on another steal in the 11th to take the win.
Next up was a match with 2020 Viterra Scotties champion Robyn Silvernagle in the Page 3-4 game, where it was Holland’s turn to get off to a solid start. Deuces in the second and fifth ends and a steal in the sixth gave Holland a 5-1 lead, but Silvernagle rallied with two in the seventh to go along with singles in the eighth and ninth to tie things up.
That set up a dramatic 10th end, where Holland would be left with a multiple-raise take-out to secure the win. She ended up with one of the best shots of the night, driving one of her own stones into the eight foot for the 6-5 victory.
Barker and Holland are now back on the ice in Assiniboia at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the winner advancing to face Carey in the provincial final at 3 p.m.
You can watch both games through the CurlSask Youtube site and follow along with the score at www.curlsask.ca.
