Staff
Fort Frances native Tirzah Keffer, who now lives in Thunder Bay to attend school, was in a three-way tie for first place at the Northern Ontario junior women’s provincial playdowns in Sioux Lookout after winning her first three games.
Keffer, joined by third Sheree Hinz, second Paige Rubenick, and lead Rachel Camlin, dumped Danielle Ouellet (Longlac) 12-4 in the opening draw yesterday afternoon before edging out Chloe Gordon (Copper Cliff) 5-4 last night.
Keffer then improved to 3-0 this morning, after she easily defeated Megan Szajewski (Keewatin) 10-3 in seven ends, helped by a steal of three in the fifth.
The rink, representing the Port Arthur Curling Club, was back on the ice at 2:30 p.m. versus Robin Beaudry (Sudbury), then will face Karlee Jones (Port Arthur) at 7 p.m.
Keffer will conclude her round-robin schedule tomorrow with a 9 a.m. match versus Kaitlyn Poirier (Sioux Lookout), followed by a 2 p.m. tilt against Kendra Lilly (Sudbury).
Jones and Lilly were tied with Keffer at 3-0. heading into this afternoon’s draw.
Barring any tie-breakers (which, if necessary, would take place Saturday night or again Sunday morning if more than one is required), the top two teams in the round-robin will play in the final Sunday at 9 a.m.
If more than one tie-breaker is required, the final will be pushed back to 1:30 p.m.
The winner of the provincial title will represent Northern Ontario at the 2012 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors, which will take place Feb. 4-12 in Napanee, Ont.
In their opener yesterday afternoon, the Keffer rink fell behind 3-0 after Ouellet stole a pair in the second end.
But after picking up a deuce of her own in the third, Keffer blew the game open in the fourth when she stole five to jump out to a 7-3 lead.
A steal of two in the seventh end, followed by a steal of one in the eighth, put the game out of reach for the Ouellet rink, who opted to shake hands at that point.
The game last night proved to be a much tighter contest for Keffer as she and Gordon traded points throughout the first eight ends to sit tied at 4-4.
With the hammer in the ninth, Keffer was held to just one point—putting Gordon in the driver’s seat with the hammer heading into the final end.
But Gordon was unable to get any of her rocks to stick in the rings to get the win or at least force an extra end, allowing Keffer to win her second-straight game.
