3x3 Women's Series in Eaubonne - Knockout Stage Recap

After a lively and surprising first day of the latest 3x3 Women's Series tournament in the Parisian suburbs, the second day of the Eaubonne challenger would prove to be even more unpredictable for everyone involved - including Canada.

The team - consisting of Michelle Plouffe, Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch and Catherine Traer - were yet to see defeat in Eaubonne and needed only three more wins to get back on top of the podium. To make it there they would not only have to get past some of the top 3x3 nations out there, but navigate some unexpected packages as well. First up for the Canadians would be the host nation France in the quarter finals.

Bosch gave Canada an early lead once their meeting got underway, and she and Michelle Plouffe grew that advantage to seven points in just under four minutes. France responded with a 5-0 run, making it a single-possession game, with Hortense Limouzin continuing to keep the gap close as Canada tried to break away.

With a minute and a half to go Laetitia Guapo tied the scores and Limouzin gave France a one point lead, but Plouffe kept Canada alive by sending the game to overtime. There she and Bosch were on hand once again to give Canada the points they needed to close out the game as winners by two, with eleven points and seven rebounds coming from Plouffe.

The other quarter finals were similarly close and hard to predict. Canada's semi final opponent would be the winner between China and Dusseldorf, where the lead changed hands four times and no more than two points ever stood between them.

Dusseldorf finally saw off China thanks to four points in a row from Jennifer Crowder in the last twenty seconds, winning by three. Following that an early lead for the Czech Republic was undone by a 7-0 run by France Under-24. The late efforts of Emma Peytour and Océane Monpierre left the Czechs with too much room to make up with too little time left.

Spain had the easiest time at this stage, breezing past Ulaanbaatar by ten points to set up a semi final meeting with the French U24 team, which unfolded in a very different way for the Spanish. The French were the first to score and never looked back despite Spain keeping it tight throughout. Playing cohesively as a unit and having the most success from close range, they finished off with a 5-0 run, securing their spot in the final.

Canada were hoping to meet the team in the final but first had Dusseldorf to contend with. They opened with a 5-1 lead, but Dusseldorf quickly levelled the scoreline from beyond the arc. After Crowder put the German team up one, Plouffe caught fire from deep and restored the larger Canadian advantage - though their opponents were poised to strike back.

With time ticking down Aoi Katsura and Yuka Maeda both made good from beyond the arc, leaving the scores tied in the final seconds. Plouffe tried to win the game with one from the paint but Maeda responded again from two-point territory, hitting a shot to bring the game and Canada's time in Eaubonne to an end.

That was it for Canada but there was still the final to go and would be contested by two of the less-looked at teams who started in Eaubonne. It would be either Dusseldorf or France Under-24 who would win the gold medal.

All on the floor contributed to Dusseldorf's early lead but the French followed suit, putting together an 8-1 run to lead by five midway through the final. Yuka Maeda led the German club in closing the gap and Aoi Katsura tied the scores in the final stretch. Emma Peytour returned the French lead and had seven points in the remaining time - the last of which being the game and tournament winner for her team.

It was then a home victory for the second French team in this Eaubonne tournament, in which Michelle Plouffe was once again the top scorer with an average 9.5 points per game. With 6.3 total boards in Eaubonne she was also one of the top defensive players, a consolation as the team had their eyes on the top prize and though they performed well across both days did go as far as they would have liked.

It won't be long for Canada's next chance at success in this year's Women's Series as the tour moves back to Canada the following week for the last stop before the 2022 Final, where teams will have one last chance to secure their championship spots in Montreal. Check back here for full coverage of the Montreal women's tournament and for more follow this link to head over to the official 3x3 Women's Series website.