The United States, which has defeated Canada in their last three match-ups, dominated the play in the first quarter. Canada trailed by ten points, 25-10, at the end of the quarter. In the first ten minutes, the Canadian men seemed hesitant to shoot and unable to hit the net.

The second quarter of play continued the streak of missed shots in the face of intense defensive pressure by the Americans. Canada was held to eight points, five of which were scored by Patrick Anderson (Vancouver, BC) on a three-point toss and a couple of foul shots from the line.

In the second half, Canada picked up the pace in an attempt to close the gap. Outstanding offensive play by Joey Johnson (Wetzlar-Garbenheim, Germany), Anderson and Richard Peter (Vancouver, BC) brought Canada back into the game, but it was still trailing 45- 37 at the end of the third.

The intensity picked up in the fourth quarter. A basket each by Jaimie Borisoff (Vancouver, BC) and Anderson brought the
score to a closer 45-42.

When it looked like it might be the end for the Canadians, they came back and tied it right before the buzzer.
The first five-minute overtime period ended even at 57.

In the last five minutes of the second overtime period, Canada took over the game. By this point, three of the Americans had fouled out of the game and team USA had to shift its line up. Again, foul after foul dominated the play, giving Canada the opportunity to shine in sinking 54% of free throws (20/37) in 50 minutes of play. Canada took the lead with baskets by
Johnson and Anderson almost in succession.

"What I loved about today's game was that it was a total team effort," said head coach Mike Frogley. "Veterans produced as they were required to do but they also struggled. 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."

Anderson led all scorers in 48:30 minutes of play with 33 points and 21 rebounds. Of his 33 points, 12 were scored on free throws, where he hit 67% (12/18). Joey Johnson had 13 points, 13 rebounds and shot 50% from the line (7/14). Richard Peter had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Jaimie Borisoff had six points, David Durepos got three, and Chris Stoutenberg and David Eng had two each.

Athletics

It was an interesting day at the track as wheelchair racer Jeff Adams ( Toronto, ON) was disqualified from the 1500m after a crash, and Chantal Petitclerc won two more gold medals – both in new world record times.

In the T54 women’s 200m final, Petitclerc crossed the finish line in a world record time of 27.52. She also broke the world record with a time of 1:45.19 i7.

Diane Roy (Hatley, QC) was third in 1:48.0

Runner Earle Connor (Calgary, ON) also won gold in the 100m men’s final in the T42 class in a personal best 12.32.
[Please note: More athletics information will be added Monday]

Swimming

Chelsey Gotell (Hamilton, ON) established a new world record of 1:09.09 in the 100m backstroke and Anne Polinario (Montreal, QC) added a second gold for Canada at the pool in the 50m freestyle on Sunday.

“This is the event I came here for; I didn’t expect to win two nights ago. Heading into this race I was only thinking about getting a best time, I wasn’t even thinking about a world record,” said Gotell, after swimming the S13 race.

Swimming in the women’s S10, Polinario finished the 50m freestyle in 28.51.

“I had a very good race this morning despite the fact that I’m not a morning person – I wanted it,” said Polinario. I was disappointed with my first two races but now I’m really happy to win the gold and finish off these Games. I am going to have to work harder to get that world record.”

Valerie Grand’Maison (Montreal, QC) clocked in just after Gotell to take the silver in the 100m backstroke in 1:10.42.

Adding another medal to the tally was Benoit Huot (Montreal, QC), with a new Canadian record of 24.65 in the S10 men’s 50m freestyle.

“A best time – finally. Every day my strength and energy is getting better. I’ll see what I can do in the 400m freestyle tomorrow,” said Huot.

In the finals of the S13 men’s 100m backstroke, Brian Hill (Montreal, QC) finished fifth in 1:05.52, and Devin Gotell was eighth in 1:08.17.

In the S7 women’s 50m freestyle, Laura Jensen (West Vancouver, BC) was sixth in 36.10 and Brianna Nelson (Sidney, BC) was seventh in 37.96.

As well, Stephanie Dixon (Victoria, BC) was sixth with a Canadian record of 30.45 in the S9 women’s 50m freestyle, and Donovan Tildesley (Vancouver, BC) finished seventh in 27.76 in the S11 men’s 50m freestyle.

Not advancing from the preliminaries in the morning were Jacqueline Rennebohm, of Regina, SK (10th in 31.30 in the S12 women’s 50m freestyle); Drew Christensen, of New Westminster, BC (12th in 29.30 in the S8 men’s 50m freestyle); Andrea Cole, of London, ON (14th in 37.41 in the S8 women’s 50m freestyle); Amber Thomas, of Drayton Valley, AB (12th in 35.13 in the S11 women’s 50m freestyle); Darda Sales, of Sarnia, ON (12th in 31.48 in the S9 women’s 50m freestyle); Katarina Roxon, of Stephenville-Kippens, NF (14th in 31.85 in the S9 women’s 50m freestyle); Jessica Tuomela, of Waterloo, ON (ninth in 34.06 in the S11 women’s 50m freestyle); and Amber Thomas, of Drayton Valley, AB (12th in 35.13 in the S11 women’s 50m freestyle).

Wheelchair basketball

Canada downed China 53-46 to put Canada in line to fight for fifth or sixth place.

Canada had a rough start, missing its first six attempts to score. Cindy Ouellet (Quebec City, QC) banked the first two points, which were followed by another by veteran Chantal Benoit (Ottawa, ON). Janet McLachlan (West Vancouver, BC) hit one of two throws from the foul line and then hit a three pointer to tie it up at 8. Picking up the pace, Canada took the lead and finished the half up four points 26-22.

China solidified its defence in the second half, blocking shots and catching up. Early in the third quarter, China took the lead for the first time since early in the game at 38-36.

Benoit scored putting the Canadians ahead and hit two shots from the foul line to make it 44-38. A free throw by Sabrina Pettinicchi (Charters Settlement, NB) followed by baskets by Misty Thomas (Vancouver, BC), Ouellet and Thomas brought the score to 53-46 at the buzzer.

McLachlan led all scorers with 20 points, while Ouellet, Thomas and Benoit had eight each, Pettinicchi seven and Jen Krempien (Richmond, BC) two.

"Today we did an outstanding job managing the basketball – we had six turnovers and shot 43% in free throws," said head coach Tim Frick. "We’re obviously not a morning team and after Friday night's disappointment against Australia, it took us a while to get back. China played an outstanding game this morning, playing the open court and picking up the tempo in the fourth quarter.

He added, “They did a good job shooting despite our players in their faces. Tomorrow, we have one more chance to play great and as a team. To win it, we need to play together and support each other, which I'm confident the squad will do."
Wheelchair rugby

Canada's wheelchair rugby team lost 37-32 to the United States in round-robin play, but it was a game that neither team seemed to take too seriously since both will be advancing.

The first quarter ended even at 11, and first-time Paralympian Say Luangkhamdeng (Vancouver, BC) scored four goals, while co-captain David Willsie (London, Ontario) and Fabien Lavoie (Quebec, QC) had two each.

In the second quarter, Canada fumbled a pass that was intercepted by the U.S. team giving it the opportunity to take the lead. Later Trevor Hirschfield (Parksville, BC) got the ball on a breakaway, but got hooked into another chair at the line and couldn't get his two wheels over the line to score. Willsie had an outstanding quarter, scoring five goals in the second, and the half ended with Canada down 24-21.

After the half, Luangkhamdeng with the ball, hung back as the clock ticked and his Canadian team-mates scored with 3.42 left in the quarter.

"We do that to get them bored and frustrated because we know we have lots of time... I hang back away from them because if I went into the corner, they could potentially surround me in the corner and we want to make sure we score," said Luangkhamdengsaid.

Canada elevated its defence, fighting to keep the U.S. from reaching the line in the last half of third quarter. But in the last eight minutes, the Canadians struggling to penetrate the U.S. defence to reach the end line.

“Tonight, we ran 12 line-up combos and really used our depth. We're very proud of that," said co-captain David Willsie. "The next time we face the United States, we'll use our spacing a little better. When they press, they are a dominant team and we have to be patient. We know how to beat them, but there is a reason they are the No. 1 ranked team in the world. They are a great team."

Canada plays Australia tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Road cycling

Geneviève Ouellet (Amos, Quebec) and her pilot Mathilde Hupin (Bromont, Quebec) won bronze in the women’s tandem 72.6km road race – adding a second bronze medal in cycling for Canada on the last day of events.

Belarus and the United States both made solo break ways from the pack and were battling it out for gold and silver, but it was a tight race for bronze.

Ouellet and Hupin finished in 2:01.17.

The Canadian duo remained in second position until a hairpin turn about 300m from the end, then they took the side corner tight and moved into first position.

Hupin steered the tandem by hand in approaching the turn in second place, and once around the turn, they put on the gas to earn the bronze.

“After the road time trial (in which they finished last), we questioned ourselves. But we also knew that anything could happen with the road race. We played our cards well and everything worked out,” said Hupin, who cried tears of joy and jumped into her team-mates’ arms.

Ouellet is a former national swim team member who wasn’t chosen for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. She hooked
up with her pilot about a year ago.

Hupin has taken national mountain biking courses, and has completed studies in medicine, where she specializes in orthopedics.

In the men’s tandem road race, three teams – Poland, Finland and France – were a minute ahead of the other teams, eight to 12 kilometers into the race. It was clear half way through the course that these three teams would be vying for the medals.

Meanwhile, the pack at the back used the time to get organized.

The Canadian teams of Daniel Chalifour (Lac-aux-Écorces, Québec)/Alexandre Cloutier (Quebec City, Quebec) and Stéphane Côté (Québec, Québec)/Pierre-Olivier Boily (Sherbrooke, Québec) tried to reduce the gap, but it was too little, too late.

Côté and Boily finished sixth in 2:17.53, Chalifour and Cloutier placed seventh in 2:18.04 and Brian Cowie (Burnaby, BC) and Devon Smibert (Calgary, AB) were 15th in 2:29.27.

In handcycling (category B) 48.4km , Rico Morneau (Ste-Martine, Quebec) finished ninth in 1:32.09 and Mark Beggs (Montreal, Quebec) placed 11th in 1:32.37.