Both Penny Barker and Skylar Ackerman were able to make things interesting in their quest for the Viterra Scotties provincial curling championship, but in the end, it just wasn’t to be for the two Moose Jaw skips.
And as a result, there will be a new provincial champion crowned on Sunday afternoon.
Barker and her defending champion Moose Jaw Curling Centre rink of third Christie Gamble, second Jenna Enge and lead Danielle Sicinski battled their way to the ‘C’ final on Saturday before dropping a 7-5 decision to Saskatoon’s Sherry Anderson.
Barker got off to a rough start in the contest, trailing 4-1 through five ends and 6-2 through seven. The two-time former provincial champ made things interesting with a three-spot in the eighth, but Anderson would pick up one in the ninth and run Barker out of rocks in the final end.
Things went far better for Ackerman and her Saskatoon Sutherland rink of third Taylor Stremick, second Kya Kennedy and lead Kaylin Skinner in their ‘C’ final bout against Regina Highland’s Brooklyn Stevenson.
High-scoring ends were the order of the day in the early going, as Ackerman took a 3-0 lead out of the second end, only to give up four the very next frame. The teams exchanged deuces the next two ends before Stevenson -- who included Sask curling legend Michelle Englot at third -- stole two in the sixth for an 8-5 lead.
That would be the last good news for the Regina foursome, though, as Ackerman put up a five-ender in the seventh to go ahead 10-8, stole two in the eighth and another three in the ninth for what turned into a comfortable 15-8 win.
That sent Ackerman into the Viterra Scotties Page playoffs for the first time in her career, and she came oh so close to reaching the semifinal.
Facing Anderson in the Page 3-4 game, Ackerman got off to a great start, building a 4-2 lead through six ends. Anderson -- the six-time former provincial champion and five-time reigning national senior champion -- put her veteran savvy to use from there, picking up a deuce in the seventh and stealing one in the eighth to go ahead 5-4.
Ackerman looked to take control of things with a big end of her own, scoring three in the ninth, but Anderson would get her deuce in the 10th and steal one in the 11th for the 8-7 win.
Martensville’s Nancy Martin defeated North Battleford’s Robyn Silvernagle in the Page 1-2 game before Silvernagle took a 12-7 win over Anderson in the semifinal.
Martin and Silvernagle do battle for the Viterra Scotties provincial title at 3 p.m., with the game streamed live on www.curlsask.com.
