Canada’s 3×3 goes into overtime twice
It’s been a week of the Paris Summer Olympic Games and the Canadian women’s 3×3 team withstood another day of competition.
Canada played neck-and-neck against the United States, leading to a tied score 16-16 with 18 seconds left on the clock. Humbolt’s Paige Crozon came in on defence with a major block in the final six seconds, putting the game into overtime.
Canada made a one-point shot seven seconds into overtime play, before America’s Rhyne Howard beat the shot clock buzzer to score the two-point shot and secure the overtime 18-17 victory.
In their afternoon game, Canada went into overtime action for the second time after tying it up 20-20 against Spain to run the clock out. Seconds into overtime, Spain scored a two-pointer to beat Canada 22-20 in their second-last pool game of the Olympics.
Crozon brought Canada three points in both games, just short of Canada’s top scorers, the Plouffe twins.
The team currently sits fifth in the women’s pool with a 3-3 record. They’ll wrap up Pool play Saturday morning against Azerbaijan.
Following Pool play, the top two teams in the standings will advance directly to the semifinals, while the next four teams will compete in play-in games on Saturday afternoon. Winners of those games will advance to semifinals, while those who lose will wrap up their Olympic experience.
Canada sits top of Group A
Canada’s men’s basketball team stayed strong as an 88-85 win over Spain brought them to the top of their group play, going undefeated (3-0).
The game opened with Spain on the board with a two-point shot early in the first quarter, but it wasn’t long until Saskatoon-born Trey Lyles, turned up the heat and made his first three-pointer of the Olympics to close out the first quarter with a 19-19 tie.
Canada pulled ahead in the second quarter, taking a nine-point lead over Spain and although Spain was able to pull the score within two points in the final quarter, they never could get ahead.
The Canadian men’s basketball team sits on top of the combined rankings, qualifying them a spot in quarterfinals on Tuesday, August 6, alongside seven of the other top teams.
Women’s water polo fourth in group play
Regina’s Blaire McDowell and the Canadian women’s water polo team are 1-2 in preliminary action after a 10-7 loss to Australia.
Canada ended the first period 1-1 against the Aussies, before Australia took the lead in the second and left Canada unable to make up the difference, even after securing three goals in the fourth period.
McDowell and Team Canada will look for a win in their final preliminary game against the Netherlands on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 10:30 a.m. Saskatchewan time.
Upcoming Saskatchewan competition
Day Eight of the Olympics will feature a single Saskatchewan athlete as Paige Crozon and the Canadian women’s 3×3 team wrap up Pool play with a game against Azerbaijan at 9:30 a.m. SK time.
Following that game, the 3×3 team will look to earn a spot in the semifinals through the play-in-games, which will take place at either 1:30 p.m. or 2:05 p.m, depending on Canada’s final Pool ranking.
Olympic Notes: Day Seven of the Olympic Games saw three Canadians stand on the podium for bronze. Sophiane Methot finished third in the women’s trampoline event… Kylie Masse swam her way to bronze in the women’s 200-m backstroke with a 2:05.57 time…Another historic medal was added to Canada’s tally following Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gaby Dabrowski’s mixed doubles third-place performance. Canada’s medal count: 11 (3 Gold, 2 Silver, 6 Bronze).