(TORONTO, ONT.) The Canadian Parapan Am Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team captured silver at the Toronto 2015 Games and earned a berth into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The Canadian Women complete the tournament with a 4-1 record. Their only loss came in a hard-fought battle against the USA in the final 80-72.
After coming out of the gates firing in the first five minutes of the game, Canada struggled to score with consistency at times. In the first quarter they went cold just long enough to let the USA clamber to a 22-14. By halftime Canada benefited from a ten-point run that to take a three point, 38-35 lead at the break.
Noticeably energized by the near capacity crowd at the Ryerson Athletic Centre, the Canadians fought back to tie the game on several occasions, and when all was said and done the lead had changed nine times. An eight point run by the Americans to end the third quarter 58-50 in their favour was enough for them to hang onto the win.
Offensive juggernaut Janet McLachlan, of Vancouver, B.C., led Canada with 27 points including three 3-pointers, the last of which brought Canada within three points with just mere seconds left on the clock. McLachlan also led her team with 10 rebounds. Fellow Canadian Cindy Ouellet had another standout effort with 18 points and seven assists.
“We played hard, and they played hard, and a few more of their buckets went in. That happens in basketball. That happens in every sport. And that’s okay. Yes we would have preferred to come away with the win, but it was a good game,” said McLachlan.
The USA countered with Rosa Hollerman, who came into the game averaging 7.8 points per game, but went away with a towering 37 points on the night. Along with Rebecca Murray and Desiree Miller with 16 and 15 points respectively, Hollerman proved to be Canada’s kryptonite in the final.
“This just tells us that we need to be better, and we need to not give up. We are still right there. It could have been a totally different ending. They are a really good team, and there are about seven teams on top of the world right now. On any given day any one of them can win,” said Ouellet.
The gold medal game between the Canadian Men and the USA will be seen live on CBC TV across the country Saturday August 15, starting at 11am ET.
While not the desired result, @WCBballCanada played their hearts out, and as always, are given a standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/sSLnwNlrn1
— Basketball at RYA (@RYA_HoopsLive) August 15, 2015
Team Canada – Schedule & Results
Day 1 – Saturday August 8
Canada (women) 78 vs. Guatemala 18
Canada (men) 102 vs. Venezuela 27
Day 2 – Sunday August 9
Canada (women) 80 vs. Mexico 39
Day 3 – Monday August 10
Canada (men) 74 vs. Mexico 55
Day 4 – Tuesday August 11
Canada (women) 82 vs. Brazil 51
Canada (men) vs. Argentina
Day 5 – Wednesday August 12
Quarterfinal – Canada (men) 73 vs. Puerto Rico 34
Day 6 – Thursday August 13
Semifinal – Canada (women) 82 vs. Argentina 28
Day 7 – Friday August 14
Semifinal – Canada (men) 70 vs. Brazil 54
Gold medal game – Canada (women) 72 vs. USA 80
Day 8 – Saturday August 15
Men’s gold medal game – Canada (men) vs USA @ 11:00 ET
Don’t Miss A Second of the Action
Get social with Wheelchair Basketball Canada (@WCBballCanada) by using the hashtags #OneTeam #OneGoal to join the conversation and follow the Canadian Parapan Am Wheelchair Basketball Team Canada as they push for the podium and the chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games!
Fans can also follow the entire Canadian Paralympic Team (@CDNParalympics) as Team Canada competes on home soil or by using the hashtag #paratough.
All wheelchair basketball games are webcast live by CBC at www.cbc.ca/sports/parapanam