Canada drops two overtime games in 3×3 basketball

PARIS – Canada’s grounds fell to 3-3 successful Olympic women’s 3×3 hoops play pursuing a brace of overtime losses to nan United States and Spain connected Friday.

The Canadians were undone by a brace of buzzer-beater shots successful some games.

In nan opener, Rhyne Howard, who plays for nan WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, scored a two-pointer arsenic clip expired successful OT to springiness nan U.S. (3-3) an 18-17 win.

Canada scored first successful OT connected a short changeable by Edmonton’s Katherine Plouffe earlier Howard, who was 0 for 5 from agelong scope successful regulation, drained nan winning basket.

“Good step-back. She sewage immoderate space,” Plouffe said of nan winning shot.

She added nan nonaccomplishment did thing to shingle Canada’s confidence.

“We cognize we are a coagulated team, and everyone is frightened to play us.”

But Canada was dealt further heartbreak successful nan day’s last crippled erstwhile Spain’s Sandra Ygueravide drained a two-pointer astatine nan buzzer successful a 22-20 OT triumph complete Canada.

Michelle Plouffe, Katherine’s copy sister, scored a game-high 11 points successful nan loss.

She made a handbasket followed by a free propulsion to put Canada up 19-18 pinch 31 seconds remaining successful regulation.

But Ygueravide made a two-pointer seconds later to springiness Spain nan lead. Plouffe forced overtime erstwhile she drove for a layup to necktie it astatine 20-20 pinch 15 seconds left.

Ygueravide made 4 two-pointers successful a crippled wherever Spain was 6 of 12 from beyond nan arc.

“They’re a seasoned team. We’ve been battling pinch them for years, truthful we knew that it was going to beryllium a battle, and I’m really proud of our efforts,” said Paige Crozon, of Lethbridge, Alta., who had 3 points for Canada.

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“I deliberation we could person cleaned up immoderate of nan fewer of their violative rebounds, but I deliberation defensively, we were truthful strong, and nan conflict we were getting, it was really physical. We were getting deed down debased and we unluckily weren’t getting nan calls tonight, but we’re capable to beryllium resilient and conflict back.”

Spain improved to 4-2 and now sits 2nd down Germany (5-1) successful nan preliminary pool.

Canada, tied for 5th successful nan eight-team competition, finishes excavation play connected Saturday against Azerbaijan (2-4).

The apical 2 teams successful nan excavation beforehand to nan semifinals, while nan adjacent 4 participate successful play-in games connected Saturday.

The tourney wraps up Monday pinch nan semifinals and badge games.

This study by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2024.