Marena Whittle of Australia, front, and Michelle Plouffe of Canada clash in the women's 3x3 basketball pool round match between Australia and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo: Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press

Two Lethbridge competitors

Plouffe twins lead the way as Canada downs Australia 22-14 in 3×3 basketball

Jul 30, 2024 | 1:38 PM

Twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe combined for 18 points as Canada opened its run at the Olympic women’s 3×3 basketball tournament with a 22-14 win over Australia.

Katherine Plouffe had a game-high 10 points and added three rebounds while Michelle Plouffe led Canada with five rebounds to go with eight points.

Canada jumped out to 15-2 lead and then coasted to the win.

“It is about defence. It was important for us to get stops and rebounds and just come out locked in on defence and that was the game plan there. A lead like that is huge. It was a testament to all the work we have done,” said Michelle Plouffe.

The Plouffes, from Edmonton, were joined on the floor by Paige Crozon of Lethbridge (four points, four rebounds) and Kacie Bosch of Lethbridge (two rebounds).

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Alex Wilson had six points and a game-high six rebounds for Australia.

Canada’s win was a measure of revenge after being eliminated by Australia at an Olympic qualifier in Japan earlier in May. The loss forced Canada to secure its Paris spot through a last-chance qualifier in Hungary.

“We had a (tournament) a few weeks ago, and they beat us twice. We had a really strong game plan. We watched those games to make sure we were prepared. They are such a strong team, and we knew we had to be prepared,” said Crozon.

“The most important thing now is recovery, to keep our bodies fresh for the duration.”

Canada shot 8-of-13 from the field and 4-for-11 from two-point range, while Australia struggled at 5-of-16 from the floor and 1-of-6 from two. In 3×3 basketball, a field goal from beyond the arc is worth two points, while a field goal from inside the arc is worth one point.

Canada next faces China on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2024.

READ MORE: Lethbridge’s Christa Deguchi wins Canada’s first gold medal in Judo

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