Adam Prudhomme
Editor
NDSS’ girls curling team reached the quarter-finals of the OFSAA championship on Friday afternoon in Kingston, battling the top-seed South Carleton to an extra end before coming up short.
Napanee’s team was skipped by Reese Hutchison, vice Hailey Bruce, second Katie Buchan and lead Julia MacDermaid.
NDSS built a 4-1 lead early, stealing four in the first end. South Carleton showed why they were a top seed however rallying back to tie it at 5-5 after four.
“Girls were positive and playing great,” said Hawks coach Mark Dunham. “With South Carleton up three in the last end, we needed two great draws from our skipper to score three and tie the game.”
Hutchison was able to deliver, sending the game to an extra end.
“We set up the extra end to steal with lots of guards out front to come around,” said Dunham. “We just couldn’t get that one rock in there and they did. What a game.”
South Carleton would advance with an 11-9 win.
Napanee entered the playoffs as the eight seed after going 3-2 in the qualifying round. That meant for a tough draw against top-seeded South Carleton, which rolled into the playoffs undefeated.
Napanee opened the tournament with two wins, defeating Bishop Allen Academy 11-3 and Eastview SS 10-3. After a 9-1 loss to Marymount Academy and a 8-6 defeat to Iroquois Falls SS, the Hawks rallied for an 8-1 win over West Niagara to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
After initially missing out on OFSAA qualifying, the Hawks were granted a last minute entry when a team from Northern Ontario was unable to attend. Napanee proved they belonged with the best teams in Ontario, finishing eighth in the province.