1998 Moscow, Russia – U17 women
| FINAL STANDINGS 1. Soviet Union 2. Lithuania 3. United States 4. Belarus | CANADIANS Katy Paterson (Calgary, Alta.) Christine Shewchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) Shona Thorburn (Hamilton, Ont.) Leah Anderson (Regina, Sask.) Letah Beck (Cowichan, B.C.) Cymone Bouchard (Regina, Sask.) Laura Chuba (Oakville, Ont.) Phoebe DiCiman (Regina, Sask.) Anna Drewniak (Winnipeg, Man.) Melissa Edwards (Victoria, B.C.) Chantal Forest (Cap-Rouge, Que.) Tierney Hoo (Huntsville, Ala.) Melissa Langelier (Ste. Rosalie, Que.) Joanne Wells (Bedford, N.S.) Hutashi Wilson (North York, Ont.) Allison McNeill – coach Christine Stapleton – coach |
| POOL A | RUS | EST | CAN | EGY | Record | ||
| Russia | —– | 88-43 | |||||
| Estonia | —– | 53-45 | |||||
| Canada | 43-88 | 45-53 | —– | 73-38 | (1-2) | ||
| Egypt | 38-73 | —– | |||||
| POOL B | USA | LITH | FRA | JPN | Record | ||
| United States | —– | 80-64 | 126-29 | 91-67 | |||
| Lithuania | 64-80 | —– | |||||
| France | 29-126 | —– | |||||
| Japan | 67-91 | —– | |||||
| POOL C | BEL | ||||||
| QF | Belarus 82 Canada 55 | |
| QF | ||
| QF | ||
| QF | ||
| 5-8th | Brazil 66 Canada 49 | |
| 5-8th | ||
| Semi | Soviet Union 89 United States 75 | |
| semi | Lithuania d’d Belarus | |
| 9th | ||
| 7th | Hungary 74 Canada 66 | |
| 5th | ||
| Bronze | United States 80 Belarus 53 | |
| Final | Soviet Union d’d Lithuania | |
Canada opens by pounding Egypt as Shona Thorburn scores 16, Katy Paterson 12 and Phoebe DiCiman 12.
Canada drops an eight-point decision to Estonia despite 16 from Thorburn, 8 from Tierney Hoo and 7 from Hutashi Wilson.
Canada gets pounded by Russia. Letah Beck and Chantal Forest each score 7 for Canada. Canada turns the ball over four times in 30 seconds at start in the face of a Russian full-court press. The Russians mercifully call off the press and still win by 45. “It would have been the worst defeat in my coaching career,” says coach Allison McNeill. “The Russian coach obviously liked us as he pressed other teams for the full game. … The Russians use a motion offence and nobody posts up. They develop all the players.”
In the quarterfinals, Canada fell 82-55 to Belarus despite 16 apiece from Thorburn and Paterson. Drop to classification bracket (5-8)
In classifications, Canada loses to Brazil 66-49. Katy Paterson paced Canada with 12. Christine Shewchuk added 10.
In 7th place game, Katy Paterson scores 16 points. Shona Thorburn of Hamilton adds 11 points and 8 rebounds.
It was an eye-opening experience for the young Canadians, who included five kids who were 15 years of age, said McNeill. “The kids had no idea that basketball in the rest of the world was like this. We are a long way behind these countries. Belarus crushed us. …We cannot expect to win if we turn over the ball 34 times.”
“It was great to work with those kids,” McNeill added. “Just the idea that there was a program was a huge step for Canada. …Our kids competed very well, both mentally and physically. They were unfit, although they thought they were fit. Teams like the Russians are training at a higher level for longer periods. Personally, I learned we have to train the players more as athletes, and we have to teach them all the skills.”