Duncan in Playoff Hunt at Stu Sells

Hollie Duncan (photo: Michael Burns, Curling Canada) is hoping the Stu Sells Tankard will serve as a springboard for success after some so-so - and unlucky - results so far this season. Her Woodstock, Ont.-based foursome lost in the qualification round at the Stu Sells Oakville event, fell in the quarterfinals at the KW Classic and was eliminated by a whisker at the PointsBet Invitational. Duncan has a 2-1 record at the Barrie Curling Club after dropping a 6-5 decision to Chelsea Brandwood of Niagara Falls, Ont., on Saturday night. WATCH Hollie Duncan vs. Korea's EunJung Kim: "We haven't quite achieved the results we were looking so far this year but we feel like we're really close," Duncan said. "Our team gets along really well. So often if we're not quite there performance-wise, we still just really enjoy playing with each other." Duncan, third Megan Balsdon, second Rachelle Strybosch and lead Tess Guyatt threw 88 per cent in their lone game at the single-elimination PointsBet event. They were eliminated after dropping a 6-5 decision to Clancy Grandy. "The PointsBet was tough, we lost on a draw to the button - I think it was 1.3 centimetres," Duncan said. "So I think that's just how things have gone so far. Just a little shot here or there and things would be different." Her performance so far in Barrie has been solid. She opened with a 7-2 win over China's Rui Wang and posted a 7-3 win over Katelyn Wasylkiw of Milton, Ont. "We definitely want to have a good weekend for momentum and also just for qualifying for provincials," Duncan said. "We want to make sure we're getting the byes." A two-time university champion, the 37-year-old Duncan has represented Ontario on two occasions at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. "Our main goal this (season) is to win provincials," she said. "It's kind of nice that Rachel (Homan)'s team got the CTRS spot (for the Scotties) so we know that they're not going to be at provincials. So it's kind of open now. I think there's quite a few Ontario teams that can win. "It gives us a little extra boost to know that we don't have to play one of the top three teams in the world at provincials. So we're gearing our whole season around peaking then and winning the right to represent Ontario." Duncan's foursome is planning to play events in Dundas, Ont., North Bay, Ont., and Swift Current, Sask., over the coming weeks. The Ontario playdowns will begin Jan. 21 in Dorchester, near London. Duncan said consistency over the next few months will be key. "We can have really good games where we beat the top teams," she said. "And then I think sometimes we struggle with teams that are maybe not ranked quite as high to bring our game up to play at the same level. I think we need to be more consistent in our play to stay at a higher level." Krysta Burns of Sudbury, Ont., and two Japanese teams - Sayaka Yoshimura and Ikue Kitazawa - were unbeaten after 14 draws. Play continues through Monday.