Kyle Habkirk is proof it's not necessarily how you start a game but, rather, how you finish one.
The skip Habkirk overcame an early 2-0 deficit to score four in the second end as his Centennial Centaurs foursome sailed to a convincing 10-4 triumph over Clearbrook's MEI Eagles in the recent Zone 4 (Fraser Valley) boys curling final.
The victory qualified Habkirk's rink, including third Nicholas Umbach, second Zachary Umbach and lead Kento Sato, for the B.C. high school provincial championships March 8-10 in Dawson Creek.
"It takes me a while to get used to the ice... we play on so many rinks," explained Habkirk, a notorious slow starter but great finisher who lost to MEI in round-robin play but turned around and beat them in both the semifinal and final.
Defending Valley-champion MEI finished fourth at last year's provincials.
"Given how they did last year, I'm pretty confident we'll do well," Habkirk said.
The Umbachs have a chance to win double curling gold within a short span as their Zone 3 Valley rink is competing in the B.C. Winter Games running Friday through Sunday in Vernon.
