(SANTIAGO, CHILE) – Team Canada is off to the semifinals at the Parapan American Games following an 88-31 victory over Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
Nik Goncin (Regina, Sask.) paced Canada with a game-high 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Patrick Anderson (Fergus, Ont.) added 16 points and six assists, while Reed De’Aeth (Sherwood Park, Alta.) chipped in 12 points and three rebounds.
“We put it away right away; everyone came out banging, which is good. Sometimes Puerto Rico can give us a fight, but we didn’t let them at all, so that was good,” said Goncin. “It’s nice to get into a flow – all the games after this are going to be significantly more challenging. We were trying to play at a level that we see the future games being. Hopefully, we’re getting close.”
The SMNT will play in Friday’s semifinal against Colombia at 8:30 a.m. ET.
“Colombia is a very good team,” said Bo Hedges (Wonowon, B.C.). “They’ve been competing at the highest level now for 10-plus years, going to the Paralympics in 2012, so they’ve got a good group that will push us hard.”
Team Canada led 61-24 through three quarters. Goncin had 11 of Canada’s 15 points in the third period. De’Aeth added four off the bench.
Canada out-scored Puerto Rico 22-5 in the second quarter and led 46-15 at the break. The SMNT shot 22 of 36 through two quarters and limited Puerto Rico to 32 per cent shooting.
Goncin and Colin Higgins (Rothesay, N.B.) had 10 points each at halftime. Hedges added six.
Team Canada closed the opening quarter on a 14-2 run to lead 24-10.
Anderson led the way with 10 first quarter points. Goncin, Vincent Dallaire (Quebec City, Que.) and Chad Jassman (Calgary, Alta.) added four points each.
Full stats from Wednesday’s game can be found here.
Santiago 2023 is a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – one spot is available in each of the men’s and women’s competitions, with the gold medallists on each side qualifying for next summer’s Games. At the 2019 Parapan American Games, the SWNT captured gold, while the SMNT won silver.