Canadians in Europe: November 16th - 26th

Canada's best exports were getting it done in a very eventful fortnight in Europe, where the top leagues once again produced plenty of highlight basketball:

Euroleague

After managing only four points in a heavy loss to Zalgris Kaunas, Marial Shayok had a statement night, leading Fenerbahce with 18 points and perfect from beyond the arc against hometown rivals Efes Istanbul. Hosts Fenerbahce went in front with greater success in the low post and Pierra Henry catching fire from the three-point line, but despite beginning the fourth quarter ahead by nine, Efes erupted in the final quarter, outscoring Fenerbahce 33-17 and snatching the win away from the home team.

FIBA Europe Cup

Avtodor Saratov put together a nine-point run which led to them leading Hapoel Gilboa Galil by double digits by the end of the first quarter. Their lead grew to twenty points in the second and through fourteen three-pointers and greater defence maintained that for the remainder of the game. Philip Scrubb had nine points and Kenny Cherry eight in Saratov's 100-71 win which, after fellow Group D team Reggio Emilia lost 82-77 to Zaragoza, finish the first phase of competition as group winners.

EuroCup

With fourteen points, Melvin Ejim was the top scorer for Cedevita Olimpija, the only good news on the night for them on their visit to Montenegro for a match-up with Buducnost Podgorica. After keeping it close from within the key early on, Justin Cobbs caught fire for Buducnost, leading them to build a twenty-point lead going into the fourth quarter. A 28-15 fourth quarter was the dagger

Tyler Ennis had ten points off the bench for PTT Ankara, who surged in front from the field early on, but then had to maintain their lead when Lokomotiv Kuban started to strike back in the second half.

Ankara saw their nine point lead levelled off in the final stretch, it came down to Alex Perez and Aaron Harrison, who both put up threes and crucial last second free-throws to put the Turkish team up by three. When Stanton Kidd missed a three on the other end, Ankara prevailed after handing Lokomotiv Kuban their first loss of the season.

Connor Morgan was Andorra's best bench player with nine points against Joventut. Better inside shooting from the Andorrans put them in front at the start but Joventut stepped up their play in the paint, quickly building a double digit advantage. Andorra fought to try and come back from twenty points in the final period but this late burst only reduced their arrears to 90-80 at the final buzzer.

Euroleague Women

Katherine Plouffe scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds for BLMA, who fell behind to Reyer Venezia by double digits early on in Venice. They tried to catch up from the low post, twice making it a single-possession game before Reyer re-affirmed their advantage.

Bintou Dieme brought BLMA to within six points midway through the fourth quarter, unfortunately it would be the last points scored by the French team in this game. With a fourteen-point run to end the game, Venezia ran home to a blowout twenty-point win, reducing BLMA to a 3-3 record in the still-young Euroleague Women season.

EuroCup Women

In her debut for Olympiacos, Michelle Plouffe scored 13 points and grabbed seven total assists against Crvena Zvezda. The Serbian team built an early lead from beyond the arc before flatlining in the second quarter, allowing the Greek club to go in front after fourteen points unanswered. After Crvena Zvezda attempted a comeback in the second half, Olympiacos stamped their authority in the paint and ran home winners 78 points to 70.

It was a disappointing night for Abigail Fogg, who scored just five points, and her team Elfic Fribourg, who were outplayed from start to finish by the visting Bourges Basket. With ten three pointers, more pressure in the paint and led by Elin Eldebrink's 22 points, Bourges remain perfect at the top of Group G following the 82-59 defeat of Fribourg, whose chances at qualification will now come down to game six.

Once again Canadians clashed in Group K, when the Stars Keltern hosted Catsors Braine. The German team gained an early advantage shooting from further out before the Belgian visitors second half comeback. Making 70% of their two-point attempts and outscoring Keltern by fourteen points in the final quarter Castors coasted home to a blowout win.

Alex Kiss-Rusk had eight points for the home team while Castors' Canadian duo were once again getting it done: Quinn Dornstauder had 14 points and 7 rebounds off the bench and Aislinn Konig was the top scorer with 23 points, a huge asset to her team in their 86-68 victory.