Jim Cotter’s Vernon rink passed a huge character test in earning a berth in Thursday night’s A Final of the Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. Men’s Curling Championships.
Dinged with a hogline violation in the third end that cost them four points against Dean Joanisse of New Westminster, the defending champions clawed their way back for a 10-9 win Wednesday morning at the Vernon Curling Club.
Cotter, supported by third Ryan Kuhn and front-enders Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky, earned deuces in four and six, while only allowing singles in five and seven.
“We had to overcome a fairly large deficit early in the game,” said Sawatsky. “We really had to grind it out and battle. We knew if we kept making shots and put the pressure on them, we’d have our chance.”
Sitting one, but with a chance for three in the eighth end, Cotter gambled and delivered, carefully removing a Joanisse rock from the left of the 12-foot with a delicate tap to take their first lead.
“It’s one of those ones where you just look at Jim and if he’s got that look in his eye, he can make pretty much any shot,” said Sawatsky, who works for Corix Utilities in Kelowna. “When he’s got the confidence going you just let him do his thing.
“He just put the broom down and there was no doubt. He threw the right weight and we knew it was going to curl nice and gradual.”
Cotter met Kimberley’s Tom Buchy in the A Final Thursday night, the winner taking top seed in one of two Page playoff quarterfinals, 11 a.m. Saturday.
The semifinal goes at 7 p.m. Saturday, with the championship game set for 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The winner advances to the Tim Hortons Brier, Feb. 28-March 8, in Calgary.
Buchy, a former Vernon junior curler who has nine provincial men’s appearances to his credit, cracked a five-ender in seven to brush back New West’s Sean Geall 8-3 Wednesday to earn the other spot in the A Final.
“We played a really good game, a really good end,” said David Stephenson, another Vernon product who plays third for Buchy.
“Tom made two beauties, a double-raise on the last one. It was a good team we were playing against.”
Stephenson, who lives in Kelowna and is president of Sysco in Winfield, said his rink hasn’t had much playing time together (one cashspiel and regional playdowns), so they’re gelling on the fly in the 16-team provincials.
“We’ve played three games now and we’re just getting progressively better each game,” said the 49-year-old. “We had a bit of a lucky one (Wednesday) night against Brent Pierce (of New West). It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we came out on the right side of the scoreboard (8-6 win).”
Regardless of what happens, this week will be a memorable one for Stephenson, who has spent a lot of time at the Vernon rink.
“I’ve got such fond memories from this club. There’s a lot of familiar faces and it’s just wonderful to be back,” he said. “I’ve got my mom watching and there’s a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time, so it’s fantastic.”
Vernon’s other provincial entry, skipped by Mark Longworth, squeaked out an 8-7 extra-end win over Victoria’s Wes Craig Thursday.
Backed by his son, and third, Michael Longworth, second Jonathan Gardner and lead John Slattery, Longworth led from start to finish and a closely contested tilt.
“We took control with the three-ender (in one), but gave it back with a couple of deuces,” said Michael, 24. “We battled pretty hard and didn’t give up the lead ever, so that was nice.
“Dad made a couple of nice shots to keep us in it, and Wes Craig was on fire making everything.”
Mark has coached both his son and Gardner for the bulk of their junior careers, and Michael is happy to be playing alongside his father now.
“He’s got so much experience out there and he teaches me so much about the game,” said Michael, who took the week off from his position as assistant manager at the Vernon Wendy’s to focus on provincials.
“The chemistry out there is so much fun. If you miss a shot, they bring you right back up.”
Longworth was 1-1 heading into his B Bracket showdown with Grant Dezura of Maple Ridge Thursday afternoon. Dezura won the Prestige Hotels Curling Classic last October at the Vernon club.
