The Kootenay Savings Super League wrapped up its regular season play Thursday, and is pumped for a three-week playoff run.
Desiree Schmidt’s rink, fresh off a win at the Beaver Valley ladies bonspiel, faced off in an evenly played match against Team Fines.
Skip Ken Fines manufactured deuces in the second and fourth end to grab an early 4-2 lead. But skip Desiree made a nice come around tap for two in the fifth, then got one behind a wall of granite that Fines couldn’t get to for a steal of one.
With the score tied at six, and Schmidt with last rock coming home, Fines executed a ridiculous triple raise to the four foot, giving them a steal of one for a 7-6 win.
Team Nichol and Team Maglio Ladies both won berths to the senior provincials last weekend in Zone 1-2 playdowns in Cranbrook, and played each other to prepare. Skip Nichol set the tone of the game with a critical hit and roll behind cover against three Ladies stones in the first for an early game-changing play and a steal of one en route to a 7-2 win that was a lot closer than the score indicated.
Some big ends highlighted the 5N Plus and Team Albo’s game. 5N Plus’ skip Deane Horning had an open takeout with his last rock, converting three of his own biters into a four ender.
Team Albo shook that off, holding its own against the top team for the next four ends.
Darrin Albo threw a straight back double take-out to lay three in the second, blanked the fourth, then took two in the fifth to tie the game at five. But things started to unravel for Albo in the sixth, as 5N Plus counted four, and Horning made a short raise take-out to lay three in the eighth on its way to a 12-6 victory.
The last game of the night featured Team Ferguson and Team Maglio Mens.
In what was an unusually clean game, with not a lot of rocks in play, Bedard made a perfect come around tap on the four foot with his last rock in the 10th, for one and a 5-5 tie.
Playoffs start tonight at the Trail Curling Arena at 7 p.m.