3x3 Women's Series in Quebec - Pool Stage Recap

Last week Canada won their second straight 3x3 Women's Series tournament and were now looking to make it three in a row, aided by home advantage as this was the second stop on the 2022 tour to be played in Canada.

Familiar faces Paige Crozon and Kacie Bosch were here joined by Quebec native Rosalie Mercille and Phoenix Mercury rookie Mael Gilles. They would be one of the eight teams who touched down in the provincial capital, where the competition began with teams playing two pools of four - the winners of each advancing to the semi-finals the following day, with the second and third place teams entering into the quarter final stage for a final chance at going all the way.

It was going to be a rough ride for everyone though: the standard this 3x3 season is high and this tournament featured some of the most established sides as well as a number of challenger teams ready to cause an upset. It seemed then that it was going to be hard for anyone to tell how events would unfold over the next two days at the Old Port.

The Quebec tournament opened with an all-German match0up with the national team facing Dusseldorf. Led by Sonja Greichner with 11 points and 8 rebounds, Germany made short work of their compatriot club, winning 21-12. Following this Canada opened their Quebec campaign against the Czech Republic, where Kacie Bosch and Paige Crozon combined to scorch the opposition.

Bosch played lock down defence, grabbing ten total rebounds against the Czechs, while Crozon had eight boards along with a game-high twelve points. Together they ended the game with a 9-1 run, completing a winning start for Canada by a final score of 18-7.

Next up Lithuania upset the usually dominant force of France, despite the game being tight at times. Kamile Nacickaite and Martyna Petrenaite were on hand to regain control of proceedings and win by xis points. Then the crowds were witness to a heated encounter between the USA and Spain, where neither team left the other with any easy chances, Spain were able to find open looks from close range a five-point lead.

The Americans responded with ten points unanswered, leading by five with over a minute to go. Cecilia Muhate Peña was quick to tie the scores with seconds left, but Lauren Cox came to the rescue for the Americans, getting two late shots to drop which set the final score 18-16 in their favour.

France avenged their first loss with a subsequent 19-14 defeat of Dusseldorf, while the USA steamrolled the Czech Republic in a blowout victory where Cierra Burdick pulled down sixteen rebounds.

These were followed by Pool A's two winning sides, Germany and Lithuania, meeting up for what could be a decisive match-up in terms of the knockout picture. Once again Greinacher was the guiding light for the Germans, who held a commanding lead over the Lithuanians, reaching as high as six points, with two outside looks in the last minute sealing the win for Germany.

Canada were then back in action, this time against Spain in what was a very tight and closely contested bout. With scoring sparse at the start, Marta Canella scored five points in a row and was followed up by Paula Estebas Armas, who put Spain ahead by six with a minute-and-a-half left on the clock. Mael Gilles did all she could, scoring the last six points for Canada, but they were short on time to mount a full comeback and Spain were victorious, 13-10.

In the last games of day one, Dusseldorf tried to save their campaign but had no answer for Kamile Nacickaite once again leading the Lithuanian charge on offence; the team's leading scorer, with four two-pointers, she played a big part in guaranteeing Lithuania's place on day two after they beat Dusseldorf 20-16.

They would be joined by the winner of the Spain-Czech Republic match-up, in which Spain had the early led but the Czechs low-post play and the outside shooting of Anna Rosecká soon saw the game turn around.

Spain did not take this set back lying down, with Marta Canella closing the gap and Cecilia Muhate Peña putting them up one in the last minute. In the remaining time, Anna Rylichová tied the scores and Kateřina Galíčková got a long-arcing two to drop, which would be the game-winning shot, eliminating Spain and sending the Czech Republic through to the knockout stage.

Both France and Germany were through to the knockout stage but still had to face off in the last game of their pool In which the French turned around a four-point deficit to take control of the second half of the game, allowing Germany only three points while Laetitia Guapo and Maud Stervinou cleaned up. France roll into day two on a high following their seven-point win here over Germany.

Day one ended with a clash Canada and their eternal rivals the USA - a regular fixture in the Women's Series here coming earlier than usual. Gilles and Bosch combined to give Canada the early lead in the face of tenacious low-post offence from the Americans. Crozon joined in and the Canadian lead stood at six before Lauren Cox put up three points unanswered, the start of a 5-0 run which made it a one-point game.

Gilles gave Canada a late one-point lead and in a testy, heated final minute they prevented another shot from the USA. After fighting tooth and nail Canada prevailed with the very best possible result to close out day one, a big win over the Americans with huge repercussions for the tournament.

With this win Canada top Pool B and earned a bye to the semi finals, along with Germany as winners of Pool A. The USA, meanwhile, will face France in the quarter final, the winner or which will advance to play Germany for a place in the final. Canada's next opponent will be the winner of the Lithuania-Czech Republic tie, both of which have already pulled off big upsets in Quebec and have every chance of doing it again on day two.

Check back here to see who will capture the crown after battling it out on the business end of the Quebec tournament and for more follow this link to visit the official 3x3 Women's Series website.