Feb 2, 2019
Jones comes through for clutch semis win over Scheidegger
Team Jennifer Jones defeated Team Casey Scheidegger $12,000 to $9,000 to advance to the TSN Skins Game final. Jones’ rink is looking for their third straight title Sunday when they take on Team Tracy Fleury.
TSN.ca Staff
Team Jennifer Jones defeated Team Casey Scheidegger $12,000 to $9,000 to advance to the TSN Skins Game final. Jones’ rink is looking for their third straight title Sunday when they take on Team Tracy Fleury.
“[The pressure] was building up, but fortunately we had a tough shot to make the game go in our favour, and it worked out well. It's kind of why you play the game, to play in those big moments. I felt like I missed a couple earlier for the team, so I really wanted to make that one,” Jones said.
Scheidegger started strong, stealing a $1,000 skin in the first, and executing a couple of nice freezes in the second, forcing a carryover and keeping defending Skins champion Jones off the board. Jones answered quickly with a $2500 steal in the third, but wasted a chance for another steal in the fourth with a miss that raised one of Scheidegger's rocks. The Lethbridge skip took advantage of the miscue with a hit through the port that tied the game at $2500 at the half. With Jones holding the hammer in the fifth, Scheidegger executed a terrific triple takeout to force a carryover. Scheidegger's last rock of the sixth led to a measurement that confirmed she was sitting just one, and the resulting carryover put $9500 at stake in the seventh and the game on the line. With Scheidegger holding shot stone, Jones sent her team to the final with a picture-perfect finesse tap that found its way through three rocks. Scheidegger delivered a beautiful raise in the last end to make the score $12,000 to $9000, but it's Jones who advances to look for her third straight Skins Game title.
"It's always a great environment, the fans, the atmosphere, it's just a lot of fun to play here. It's always great when it comes down to a big shot, and it's nice to be on the team that makes it,” Jones said.
"It was really fun out there, a great first experience at the skins. The ice changed a bit, and we didn't catch on as fast as I would have liked. Obviously we'd like to take a couple back, but that's curling. Most curling matches come down to [the final ends], and skins games even more so. Hopefully, Rachel [Homan] will win Ontario, and we'll be in the [Scotties] wild card. We're keeping our fingers and toes crossed for Player's and Champion's Cup,” Scheidegger said.