(Adana, Turkey) Canada completes the 2013 World Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championship in sixth place with a 3-5 record following a 67- 38 loss to Iran on Saturday.
Canada, who also lost to Iran in their final preliminary round game (83-48), did not match up well against the offensive depth of the Iranian side who for second game in a row had four players reach double digits in scoring, three of which also reached double digits in rebounds. Iran held Canada to a tournament low 25.8% shooting from the field and outrebounded them 52-34.
“Canada gave a tremendous team effort and can be proud of the way they battled hard all tournament including today against a tough opponent.”
“Nik [Goncin] led the team for seven games and carried the rest of the guys. Today the other guys carried him with everyone playing and nine of the guys hitting the scoresheet,” said Team Canada Head Coach Steve Bialowas.
All twelve Canadian players saw at least five minutes of court time with Vincent Dallaire, of Quebec, Que., Liam Hickey, of Saint John’s, NL, and Jack Kosterman, of Fort Langley, B.C., matching a team high six points for Canada, while Nik Goncin, of Regina, Sask., had five points and a team high 12 rebounds and six assists. Jonathan Vermette, of Sherbrooke, Que., and Mitch Bossaer, of Saskatoon, Sask. contributed four points each. Wakeling, of Cambridge, Ont., potted three points in the loss and Philippe Vermette, of Sherbrooke, Que., and Reid Richard, of Tyvan, Sask., rounded out the scoring with two points apiece.
The World Junior Championship is held every four years and Canada is one of twelve countries competing for the world title in Adana, Turkey, September 7-14, 2013.
About Team Canada
The Canadian Junior Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team consists of the top male athletes under 23-years-of-age from across the Country. They are assembled with the ultimate goal of competing in, and winning the U23 Men’s World Championships, which are held every four years. Canada hosted the inaugural tournament in 1997 and won back-to-back World Championships in 1997 and 2001.