Canada’s 3×3 basketball team drops women’s semifinal in France to eventual champs Spain | CBC Sports

Canada followed heartbreak in the 3×3 basketball World Cup in early June with a semifinal loss in its Women’s Series season debut on Saturday in Orléans, France.

After a Katherine Plouffe point from under the basketball tied it 18-18, Spain scored three consecutive points to advance to the final, where it prevailed 17-14 over the United States. The Americans won their semifinal over France, which downed the Canadians three weeks ago at the World Cup in Vienna, Austria.

Spain has won all three 3×3 meetings with Canada — last year at the World Cup in pool play and in Quebec in pool action at a Women’s Series tournament.

Canada’s 21-18 defeat at the hands of the Spaniards came fewer than two hours after it received a scare from China’s Sc. Yuanda before eking out a 20-18 overtime decision in the quarterfinals in a game played in 30 C heat.

Sandra Gueravide made it 19-18 Spain with her fourth point before watching teammate Vega Gimeno sink each of her two free throws after Michelle Plouffe was assessed Canada’s 10th foul of the match.

WATCH | Full coverage of women’s 3×3 semifinal: Canada vs. Spain:

FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series Orleans: semifinal Canada vs. Spain

Watch Canada face Spain in the women’s semifinal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series in Orleans, France.

Spain held an 11-8 advantage with 4:30 left but Michelle Plouffe muscled her way inside the paint to make it a two-point contest.

Gracia Alonso had a glorious chance to extend Spain’s lead to 13-8 but missed a pair of free throws.

The Canadians soon drew even at 11-11 on a Katherine Plouffe foul shot. She topped Canada with 10 points but also had five turnovers. Her sister added seven points and three blocked shots.

Redemption

Spain again went up 13-11, only to watch its opened claw back on two Michelle Plouffe baskets.

With a little more than two minutes on the clock and Spain ahead 14-12, Paige Crozon missed twice but redeemed herself with a steal and a point to make it 16-16.

Kacie Bosch and Crozon combined for only one point, with the latter 1-for-3 from the field and 0-for-3 on two-point attempts.

Spain, meanwhile, had a balanced scoring attack, led by Gimeno’s seven points. Juana Camilion Cuccaro and Alonso added five points apiece.

Earlier Saturday, Sc. Yuanda led Canada 9-5 with 6:40 remaining but the Canadians chipped away, going on a 5-0 run that culminated in a Katherine Plouffe basket.

Neither side led by more than two points the rest of the way.

Sc Yuanda led 18-16 when Michelle Plouffe cut the lead in half after a miss. The Chinese squad missed a free throw to increase its advantage and Katherine Plouffe tied it with 35 seconds left.

In OT, Crozon missed a two-pointer but Katherine Plouffe scored to break the tie. Plouffe then was denied at the net and missed another shot while Sc. Yuanda couldn’t make good on two-point shots.

Canada put the game away when Crozon received a Katherine Plouffe pass and drove the net unguarded for a layup and the winning basket.

WATCH | Full coverage of women’s quarterfinal: Canada vs. Sc. Yuanda:

FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series Orleans: quarterfinal Canada vs. SC.Yuanda

Watch Canada face SC. Yuanda in the women’s quarterfinal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series in Orleans, France.