B.C. sitting all alone in first place at Brier

SPORTS — B.C.’s John Morris was all alone in first place with a 6-1 record after this afternoon’s Brier play at Interior Savings Centre.

Morris downed New Brunswick’s James Gratton 9-3 in eight ends, scoring three in the eighth to shake hands.

Morris moved out of a first-place tie with Manitoba after the morning draw, beating Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories/Yukon 7-2 while Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton was losing 9-7 to Quebec.

In his game against Koe, Morris, who had become used to having four-enders scored against him in previous games, got things moving the other way with a four of his own in the eighth and final end.

Stoughton missed a last rock tap back to give Quebec a steal of two in an extra end this morning, knocking him out of a first-pace tie with Morris.

“I just had to hit it a little high on the nose side . . . tap it to the button,” Stoughton told Brier reporter John Korobanick. “I slide a little wide and poked it back too much.”

Morris’ team was happy with its win this morning and will be even happier with the afternoon results. Kamloops native Jim Cotter, who throws last rock, said the team is “feeling a little more comfortable. You want to build on (the wins) and that’s how it feels right now.”

Cotter got the good news before the morning game that he has been elected into the Kamloops Hall of Fame to join his father there.

Several teams are still on the ice but with his eight-end win Morris won’t be bumped out of first place. He and Cotter have the evening off before taking on Newfoundland tomorrow morning.