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B.C. bounces back at Brier with decisive win

A 10-5 win over the Northwest Territories leaves B.C. at 2-4 and on the outside looking in for a championship round berth
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Team B.C.Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Rick Sawatsky (Vernon and now living and working in Kelowna, from left), Andrew Nerpin (Kelowna), Jim Cotter (Vernon) and Steve Laycock (Saskatoon), have a 2-4 record heading into the final day of preliminary round action Thursday, March 11, at the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian menÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s curling championship in Calgary. (Black Press - file photo)

B.C. will hope to finish with a .500 record at the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian menÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s curling championships in Calgary.

Team Laycock, with Steve Laycock of Saskatoon at skip, VernonÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Jim Cotter throwing fourth rocks and the Kelowna front-end of lead Rick Sawatsky and second Andrew Nerpin improved to 2-4 in the preliminary round Wednesday, March 10, with a 10-5 win in nine ends over Gregory Skauge of the Northwest Territories (1-5).

B.C. will wrap up play Thursday, March 11, against Jason Gunnlaugson of Manitoba (5-1) and Brendan Bottcher of Alberta (4-2).

There was scoring in every end in the B.C.-NWT matchup. Skauge scored one in the first and the teams traded deuces in the second and third ends.

LaycockÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s rink racked up three points in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead they wouldnÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™t relinquish.

Skauge picked up one in the fifth, but B.C. responded with a single in six and a steal of two in the seventh for an 8-4 advantage. The Territories conceded after B.C. picked up another deuce in the ninth end.

While there was scoring in every end in the Laycock-Skauge match, Brad Edwards needed only single points in three ends to hand ManitobaÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Jason Gunnlaugson a 3-0 defeat, the first loss for the Prairie squad. Gunnlaugson is 5-1 while EdwardsÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™ Northern Ontario rink improved to 5-2 with its fourth straight win.

Wayne MiddaughÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Ontario Wild Card rink improved to 5-1 with a 7-6, 11-end victory over James Grattan of New Brunswick, who forced the extra end by scoring three with hammer in the 10th. Grattan is 4-3.

Bottcher, who has lost the last three Brier finals, needed just eight ends to beat ManitobaÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Mike McEwenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Wild Card rink 9-3. McEwen is 2-4.

In Pool B, four-time champ Kevin KoeÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Wild Card rink from Calgary is 6-0. John Epping of Ontario, Matt Dunstone of Saskatchewan and defending Brier champ Brad GushueÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Team Canada rink from Newfoundland/Labrador are all 4-2. Michael Fournier of Quebec is 4-3.

The top four rinks from both pools advance to FridayÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s championship round, carrying their round-robin records with them.

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roger@vernonmorningstar.com

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