FIBA/IWBF - Canada battle back to stun USA in men's wheelchair basketball

BEIJING (Paralympics) - Canada and Australia will go for gold in the men's wheelchair basketball event at the Paralympics after each won semi-finals on Sunday.

The Canadians needed double overtime but finally overcame the United States while Australia hammered Great Britain to reach the title game.

The USA and Britain will battle for bronze.


Canada 69 United States 62 2OT

Patrick Anderson had 33 points, 21 rebounds and six assists to fire Canada to a 69-62 win in double overtime over the United States.

The Canadians trailed 25-10 at the end of the first quarter and had to play from behind the entire game but held the free-throw shooting challenged United States to just four points over the last 10 minutes.

Behind 45-37 at the end of the third quarter, Canada leveled the scores at 49-49 to force overtime and after the first extra period ended with the game knotted at 57-57, the Canadians pulled away in the second OT.

"What I loved about today's game was that it was a total team effort," said Canadian head coach Mike Frogley.

"Veterans produced as they were required to do but they also struggled. We had rookies spelling off the veterans and they played smart basketball.

"Before the game, I asked the men to give me 40 minutes of great basketball. They did this - I just didn't know it was going to be the last 40 minutes of a 50-minute game."

"Our number one weakness came out today and caught up with us in the end," said US head coach Steve Wilson.

The US led 56-53 with 34 seconds to go in the first overtime when Canada decided to make them win it at the free throw line.

Wilson's team had made just two of seven at the line up to that point, and in the closing five and half minutes spanning the end of the first overtime and all of the second, the team sank just two of 12 from the stripe.

"No matter how you look at it, this is disappointing," Wilson said.

"We came here to win a gold medal and won't have the opportunity to do that. But, I'm so proud of these guys. They fought all the way and worked so hard. It just shows how strong our team is and how much we believe in one another."

The United States had reached the semi-final after Iran forfeited their last-eight clash in a scheduling dispute.

Joe Chambers scored 14 points and Jeff Glasbrenner 11 in a balanced USA attack.


Australia 67 Great Britain 54

Justine Eveson poured in 22 points and Shaun Norris 19 as Australia overpowered Great Britain 67-54.

Guard Jon Pollock had 18 points and was the only British player in double figures.

 The Rollers led 19-6 after the first quarter, 36-20 at halftime and 54-33 at the last break and cruised over the final 10 minutes.

 "That was awesome," said Australia's Troy Sachs. "The guys in the first half, we were unstoppable and we really put in the coach's process and nailed it.

 "For all the young boys - the first-timers - for them to be at their first Paralympic Games and to make the gold medal match, it's a huge achievement.

"The team's goal was only ever to win the gold medal - not make the gold medal game.''

 
Canada will face long-time rival Australia in the final on Tuesday, with the US team also playing Great Britain for bronze.

FIBA