FIBA Flashback: Canada Battle It Out Against Australia
In the absence of both the men's and women's FIBA Under-17 World Cups, originally to be held this summer, we take a look back at some of Canada's most memorable moments from past editions of FIBAs premiere international youth tournaments.
From the 2016 men's Under-17 tournament, the Canadian team, which included players now plying their trade in the NBA and G League, faced Australia on the opening day of the tournament in Zaragoza. Determined to get their campaign off to a winning start, Canada were not going to let their first foes' reputation hold them back.
Anyone who named the Australians as the early favourites were put to shame by Canada opening the game with a 10-0 run. This early surge included an and-one from RJ Barrett and a three from Ignas Brazdeikis.
It took Australia four minutes to finally put a point on the board, but there was not let-up from Barrett and Oluwasimisola Shittu, who worked to keep the Australians at a double-digit distance.
When finally found their rhythm, they ended the opening quarter with five unanswered points, and in the second Callum Dalton kept them to within a point of Canada before Sean MacDonald tied proceedings.
Andrew Nembhard and Shittu tried to keep the Canadians in front, but they finally fell behind after a three from Tom Fullarton. Australia kept trying to build their one-point lead but were unsuccessful until they went three clear in the final minute of the second quarter. Canada's Stefan Smith made a three which would be the last shot made in the first half, tying the scores at 34 apiece.
After an uncertain start to the second half, Dragan Elkaz had five points in a row to take Australia up to a three-point lead. Shittu restored the Canadian lead with a four point run, which grew even more courtesy of Smith and Nembhard.
Shittu and Nembhard continued to impress in the third, the former making a dunk off a steal, the latter on-target with his shooting. Canada were in command with a double-digit advantage and, despite many attempts from the Australians to cut it down, still stood at the end of the third.
As the fourth quarter got underway, Elkaz caught fire from three-point territory and, with just over two minutes played, Australia had gone from ten down to level, then ahead after another three from Patrick Bines.
Elkaz was not done yet: midway through they quarter he completed a five-point run to take Australia's lead to ten. Canada, who had been sitting comfortably up to this point, were now in big trouble.
Stefan Smith began to lead the way back for Canada with two threes made within a minute of each other and a free throw from team mate Danilo Djurcic brought the gap at one with two minutes left. A foul by Froling on Barrett sent him to the line and he made both free throws.
Now behind by one, Australia went dry on offence, with a missed attempt at a three from Bines collected by Djurcic and handed off to Barrett for the highlight play of the game.
No one on Australia could get another look at basket, and with Barrett holding his nerve for Canada to the very end, where they would emerge victors 82 points to 79. Elkaz's 22 points and 15 off the bench from Froling would be the consolation for the Australians.
Canada, meanwhile, saw a team-high 22 points and 12 total rebounds from Shittu in an outstanding performance from the forward. Barrett was close behind him with 19 points in the game and Nembhard followed them with 14.
Spurred on by this win, Canada went on to top their group with convincing wins over Finland and China. The win streak continued into the round of sixteen where they dispatched the Dominican Republic by 27 points, but would go no further, falling to Turkey in the quarter finals. Two classification wins following the loss to Turkey saw them finish the tournament in fifth place, the best losing quarter finalists.
