| FINAL STANDINGS 1. Brazil 2. United States 3. Cuba 4. Argentina 5. CANADA 6. Colombia | CANADIANS Sue Stewart (Toronto, Ont.) Dianne Norman (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Shawna Molcak (Cardston, Alta.) Martina Jerant (Windsor, Ont.) Cal Bouchard (Richmond, B.C.) Nikki Johnson (Niagara Falls, Ont.) Claudia Brassard (Kuala Lampur, Malaysia) Terri-Lee Johannsson (Winnipeg, Man.) Lisa Koop (Leamington, Ont.) Cynthia Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) Christine Rigby (Victoria, B.C.) Karalyn Church (Guelph, Ont.) Marjorie Kelly – alternate Stacey Dales (Brockville, Ont.) – alternate Bev Smith – Coach Trix Baker – Assistant Sandy Pothier – Apprentice |
| POOL A | BRZ | CUB | COL | PUR | Record | ||
| Brazil | —– | 115-106 | 114-55 | 136-72 | (3-0) | ||
| Cuba | 106-115 | —– | 98-69 | 103-66 | (2-1) | ||
| Colombia | 55-114 | 69-98 | —– | 74-65 | (1-2) | ||
| Puerto Rico | 72-136 | 66-103 | 65-74 | —– | (0-3) | ||
| POOL B | USA | CAN | ARG | DOM | Record | ||
| United States | —– | 85-66 | 88-53 | 20-0 | (3-0) | ||
| Canada | 66-85 | —– | 66-70 | 126-84 | (1-2) | ||
| Argentina | 53-88 | 70-66 | —– | 90-68 | (2-1) | ||
| Dominican Republic | 0-20 | 84-126 | 68-90 | —– | (0-3) | ||
| SEMI FINAL POOL | BRZ | USA | CUB | ARG | Record | ||
| Brazil | —– | 87-83 | 115-106 | 109-61 | (3-0) | ||
| United States | 83-87 | —– | 94-90 | 88-53 | (2-1) | ||
| Cuba | 106-115 | 90-94 | —– | 90-82 | (1-2) | ||
| Argentina | 61-109 | 53-88 | 82-90 | —– | (0-3) | ||
| 7th | Puerto Rico 107 Dominican Republic 95 | |
| 5th | Canada 87 Colombia 80 | |
| Bronze | Cuba 81 Argentina 77 | |
| Final | Brazil 101 United States 95 | |
In the qualifier for the 1998 Worlds, the Canadians forayed to the tournament without coach Peter Ennis, who died of leukemia in Jan-97. Four teams to qualify for worlds. Heading into the tourney, Christine Rigby is injured and replaced by Karalyn Church. Canada entered the tournament having lost 13 straight in international exhibition play.
In a critical opening match against Argentina, Canada drops a 70-66 decision, despite leading by 10 with four minutes to play. Argentina switched to a full-court press and Canada collapsed. “The timing was off,” veteran forward Cynthia Johnston told CAGE. “We hadn’t been in that pressure situation all summer. We played a guy’s team that played press and we played well against it. But that wasn’t in a game where it really counted.” Guard Shawna Molcak added that “in the last minute we had some key turnovers and we missed a few baskets and they came down and hit some. There was a little bit of inexperience when it gets down to a tight game situation. … When we played Argentina, we tightened up a little bit in terms of nervous energy and knowing it was the most important game of the season. For a couple of minutes, we didn’t make the proper decisions and they took advantage of some of our errors. I don’t think they were a better team than us. But they were in those two minutes.” Argentina moved ahead by three and Molcak missed a three that would have tied it in the dying seconds. Argentina added a free throw to ice it. Coach Bev Smith said “we played outstanding defence but just couldn’t execute offensively. Unfortunately, we’ve lost control of our destiny and my only hope now is for a victory by the Dominican Republic over Argentina on Thursday by far greater than four points.”
Canada then cruised past Dominican Republic 128-84. “Today we played the way we needed to play yesterday,” coach Bev Smith said. “Now we play a very good team and we’ll have to be at our very best to have an opportunity to upset them.” Cynthia Johnston and Shawna Molcak each scored 18 to pace Canada. Terri-Lee Johannesson added 15, Dianne Norman 12, Martina Jerant 12 and Nikki Johnson 12.
In a must-win situation against the US, Canada gets walloped 85-66. “It’s tough enough beating the Americans, but it is tougher knowing that you have to beat them to qualify,” said Molcak. Canada kept it close early with tight defence. “We structured a little bit of a zone that we hoped would give them trouble and it kept us in the game,” coach Bev Smith told CAGE. “The only problem is we played very tentatively on offensive.” The US, led by 15 points by Sheri Sam, led by 16 at the half and romped. Canada was paced by Dianne Norman, who scored 16 and grabbed nine boards. Terri-Lee Johannesson scored 11 and Shawna Molcak 10. Smith said the Americans “controlled the game from the start and they never let us into it. We couldn’t execute our offence.” The United States shot 61 per cent from the floor. Canada could shoot only 47 per cent and the Americans picked up 22 offensive rebounds on the way to a 33-20 rebound advantage over Canada.
Canada finishes (1-2) in pool and dropped to the consolation round.
In fifth place match, Canada defeats Columbia 87-80 in overtime. Canada trailed 40-25 at the half. With 3.8 seconds to play and Canada down by three, Cynthia Johnston drove to the hoop for a layup, as fouled. She hit the free throw to force overtime, tying the game at 75.
It marks the first time since 1967 that Canada has not qualified for the Worlds. “I thought going into the tournament that we were playing quite well,” said coach Bev Smith. “I was very optimistic based on our three exhibition games against the Brazilians. I thought we played really well, really loose. I was disappointed because I felt our team was ready. I think we learned some valuable lessons as athletes and a coaching staff. We are going to miss one major international tournament. It is just going to give us more time to develop.”