Jones Storms Back To Beat P.E.I. In Tie-Breaker

28/02/2009 03:44

Jones beats MacPhee sisters in tie-breaker

VICTORIA - P.E.I.'s quest to reach the Page playoffs at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts came up short.

Less than a centimetre short.

Canada's Jennifer Jones earned steals in the 10th and 11th ends to rally for a thrilling 6-5 win over P.E.I.'s Rebecca Jean MacPhee in Friday's tiebreaker. The defending champions advance to Saturday's 3-versus-4 Page playoff game (TSN, 2:30 p.m.), where they'll face Saskatchewan's Stefanie Lawton.

The loss was as heartbreaking as it gets for MacPhee and her sister, Robyn, who throws P.E.I.'s final stones. Facing a well-guarded Canada stone at the edge of the button in the extra end, Robyn threw what everyone thought was a perfect shot.

The P.E.I. rock nudged the Canadian stone, then spun sideways, as both stones came to rest in the four-foot.

After eyeing up both shots twice, P.E.I. conceded that Jones had shot rock, keeping the defending champions alive by the slimmest of margins.

"I really thought we had it," said Rebecca Jean MacPhee, who beat Jones in the round robin. "I actually said to Robin afterwards that she had exactly the weight we wanted, we had the line we wanted, and I'm surprised that with (that) weight it rolled off that much.

"I thought it was going to stick right there."

Jones also thought P.E.I. might have pulled out the victory as she watched MacPhee's final shot head towards the house.

"I thought she threw it pretty well," said Jones. "We knew she was going to be close, it was just a question of whether it was going to curl enough, and lucky enough for us, it didn't.

"They played outstanding ... a shot here or there, it could have gone either way."

More from Canadian Press.

UPDATE: SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS

B.C.'s Marla Mallett beat Marie-France Larouche of Quebec 7-5 last night in the Page 1 vs. 2 playoff game, and advances directly to Sunday's championship final.

Team Canada's Jennifer Jones of Manitoba takes on Saskatchewan's Stefanie Lawton this afternoon at 12:30 p.m. local time in the Page 3 vs. 4 playoff game on TSN. The winner then takes on Larouche in Saturday's semi-final to determine who will advance to Sunday's championship final against Mallett.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

Well, I see Team Canada is still alive and into the playoffs at the Scotties. Don’t bet against them just yet.