Eventful Under-19 World Cup Start for Canada

Twelve of the best players under the age of nineteen, gathered from top NCAA teams and native school programs, were brought together last month to represent Canada in the 2021 FIBA Women's Under-19 World Cup in Hungary.

En route to bettering their record of two years ago, a quarter-final finish, they would be facing formidable group foes in the first two days of the tournament in the first city of Hungarian sport, Debrecen.

Canada looked to get their campaign off to flying start but Japan were the first to get on the score sheet - and their lead quickly grew to eight points and stood at double-digits by the end of the first. Holding back their opponents' three-point shooters and picking up plenty of low-post points, Canada started to claw their way back into the game.

In the second quarter Japan were still on fire from three-point territory, but the Canadians kept it close and two threes by Shayeann Day-Wilson put Canada in front at half-time. When play resumed they endured a devastating ten minutes, held to just eight points in the third quarter while Japan continued to dominate from beyond the arc, reaching a game-high fifteen-point advantage by the quarter's end.

Canada had to come out fighting in the fourth and got to within one before a long cold streak which ended when Wilson made it a one-point game ahead of the last two minutes. Aicha Dia put Canada in the lead with a layup, Japan's Yua Emura responded in kind and with seconds left and neither team able to get a shot off, the first shock result of the tournament was complete.

Putting up fifteen three-pointers and deeper bench scoring, Japan won out over Canada 83 points to 82. Wilson led all with 29 points in the loss, while Yvonne Ejim finished with 21 points and 9 total rebounds. The next day they looked to rebound against the Czech Republic who, led on offence early on by Katerina Zeithammerova, took an eight-point lead after four minutes of play.

Jessica Clarke was able to get it down to a single-possession game but the Czechs were quick to respond, building a lead of seven points by the end of the opening period of play. Midway through the second Day-Wilson got Canada to within a point, later tied the scores, then put her team up by two, but the lead was short-lived and a layup on the other end by Dominika Paurova tied the scores at half time.

After an uncertain first half, Canada put together a 16-2 run when play resumed, putting themselves up by double-digits. The Czech team cut their deficit to five points by the start of the final period, after which Yvonne Ejim began to increase the Canadian advantage, followed by Day and Isaline Alexander combindin to create the highest lead of the game.

With Canada ahead by sixteen points in the final stretch, the Czechs short on time to turn it around were resigned to the loss. Paurova finished with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in the loss, while Ejim scored a double-double of her own - 20 points and 10 total boards - while Day-Wilson had a game-high 31 points as Canada got their first win, 79-71.

With all four Group D teams sitting on a 1-1 record after two games, it makes for a precarious end to the first stage of the tournament with any outcome possible. Mali (who forfeited their first game against the Czech Republic) are the only confirmed opponents left for Canada, a win there would put them in an advantageous position going into the knockout round.

Check back here for more on Canada's progress in the Under-19 World Cup as it happens and for all the results and full details on every game, follow this link to the official FIBA wesbite.