Canada 3x3 team goes 4-3 in pool, set for play-in later Saturday

Canada capped off their pool stage with a 21-19 win over Azerbaijan, and will now head into a play-in game.

Canada’s dynamic women’s 3x3 basketball team continues their Olympic journey, finishing their pool play today and heading into the next round.

Michelle and Katherine Plouffe, Paige Crozon, and Kacie Bosch have high hopes on making the podium after working the 3x3 circuit for the past few years. They are some of the highest ranked 3x3 players, and the Plouffe sisters and Crozon came into the Olympics ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in individual 3x3 rankings.

They went 4-3 in pool play over the week, with their last game earlier today against Azerbaijan. After starting 2-0 in the first two days, Canada went 1-1 on day three, and then 0-2 on day four. Both of their games on day four went to sudden death overtime, and Canada was not able to close out in either against the USA and Spain.

In their final game against Azerbaijan, Canada clinched a spot in the play-in by scoring 8 points. After that, they continued to lead over Azerbaijan through the second half, but Azerbaijan kept close behind. A huge 2-point shot from Michelle Plouffe brought Canada to 19-16, just 2 points from a win.

Azerbaijan brought it within one again, and Tiffany Hayes of the Las Vegas Aces was able to tie it up. In the last minute of play, which feels like an eternity in 3x3, Canada had to avoid fouling — they were in the bonus.

Canada was able to get ahead in the final seconds, winning 21-19 over Azerbaijan, going into the play-in with a motivating win.

They will have to wait until the rest of pool play games are completed to know when they will be playing later tonight, and who their opponent will be.