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

An outstanding day of some of the highest-level 3x3 basketball seen in 2022 all led to this: the day when the title in Montreal would be decided. For all eight teams who had survived the rigours of the pool stage, Canada among them, the title was just three wins away, but with an exceptionally strong bracket it was not going to be an easy task for anyone.

In the first quarter final, France had an early 4-1 run to lead by a point, Canada responded with six unanswered and were leading by five before another unbroken streak from the French tied the scores. Katherine and Michelle Plouffe kept adding to the Canadian total and and played shut-out defence, ensuring there would be no victors other than themselves, winning by seven points.

The following game was a low-scoring affair between the USA and Dusseldorf: Yuka Maeda gave Dusseldorf the lead midway through and the team were able to maintain that, with Amy Degbeon keeping the Americans at bay and preventing them from making a comeback. Dusseldorf rolled into the final four with an 11-8 win over the Americans.

Elsewhere, after four lead changes between Spain and Lithuania, Spain overwhelmed the Lithuanians in the low post, going on a 10-1 run to close out the game and sweep into the semi-finals. Following that, France Under-24's lead over Hungary grew slowly until suddenly Klaudia Papp and Petra Farkas levelled the score line. The French kept their cool and stayed the course, 5-1 run in the last two minutes to see off Hungary and secure their semi-final spot.

The tournament moved on to the semi finals, where Canada had a 7-0 start against Dusseldorf and continued to overwhelm the German team from all spots on the floor. Playing as a team and sharing the ball between everyone in action was a big factor in this dominant performance, earning the first finals place with their biggest win in Montreal.

The other semi final between Spain and France Under-24 was far tighter, a single possession game early on with the French holding the edge. They soon built a six-point lead with Spain trying to reduce their deficit as the game entered its final stretch. Ahead of the final minute a point stood between the teams, Emma Peytor and Océane Monpierre made the game-winning plays that sent the Under-24s to the final.

When the two victors met in the final they began by exchanging baskets, with a two from Coline Franchelin putting the French in front. Katherine Plouffe gave Canada their first lead in the final, only for Franchelin to take it back for the French from beyond the arc.

Michelle put Canada up one and, after play was temporarily halted due to rain, she and her twin hustled heavily in the paint to protect that lead in the face of relentless offence from the Under-24s. Katherine added to their lead with the last of her twelve points, then led the team in shutting out the opposition in the final minute. In the end all their hard graft paid off: Canada had won on home soil for the second time this year.

Three Canadian players finished in the top five for scoring, with Katherine Plouffe's scoring average of 6.8 the best overall. She was also the top defensive player with 7.6 total boards per game. Victory here not only meant the third title for Canada in 2022, but their place in the series final in Romania was secure. That tournament is due to tip off in two weeks, a full report of Canada's exploits in eastern Europe will follow here.