Saskatchewan's JanBetker advanced to Sunday's final at the Canadian women's curling championship and will face either defending champion Kelly Scott or Manitoba's Jennifer Jones.
Betker defeated Scott 8-5 in the playoff game between the top two seeds in the round robin to earn a bye to Sunday's championship game at the Tournament of Hearts in Lethbridge (CBC, 1:30 p.m.
Betker has appeared in three Canadian finals as third for Sandra Schmirler and won every time.
There were times it sounded as if she'd rather have all her teeth pulled than face another last-rock draw to the four-foot, with a game hanging in the balance.
For years, she was the best third in the world, for crying out loud, the perfect right hand to one of the best skips the game has ever seen.
And Betker paid the price here this week, tossing and turning every night, as she replayed every missed shot and second-guessed each failed call.
Team Canada's Kelly Scott, Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter and Renee Simons took advantage of early misses by Team Sask's JanBetker, roaring out to a 4-0 lead after two ends of play.
But Betker's squad, which features Lana Vey, Nancy Inglis and Marcia Gudereit, kept the game from getting out of hand early.
However, Scott hung onto the lead, not allowing Betker to get her team's offense going, and held onto an 8-5 victory, and the Scotties crown.
