Game summaries from Marco!

Game summaries: 09-20-2005 @ 09:30:

Game 1 vs USA Stripes:

Nerves and rustiness best describe this game for our National Squad as we committed 17 turnovers. We held our own in the second and 3rd quarters but for the rest, we encountered some problems. The US was led by standout 2.5 Justin Patterson and defensive monster class 2.0 Nick Springer along with a solid cast of developmental players. The US started with Summer, Patterson, Springer and Regier (3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 0.5) while we countered with Whitehead, Luangkhamdeng, Robinson and Publicover.

After a strong first 2:30 minutes, the wheels fell off and we proceeded to turn the ball over 4 times in that quarter and found ourselves down 5 (14-9). For the second and third quarters the US didnot put the dynamic duo of Patterson and Springer together playing different line ups and our different line ups matched up well against anything they put on the court. In the fourth, the US came back with the starters and they pounced on us yet again outscoring us 9-5 and winning by a score of 41-32.

Other US players: Nelson 3.0, Nanayakkara 1.0, Muniz a newly classed as a 2.0 from a 2.5, McBride 2.0.

CANADA: 3.0 #7 Nording and # 8 Whitehead, 2.0 #9 Luangkhamdeng and #12 Robinson, 1.5 #4 Schmütz, 1.0 #10 Hirschfield and #3 Publicover, 0.5 #2 Mainguy.

1st Q = 9-14, 2nd Q = 8-8, 3rd Q 10-10, 4th Q = 5-9, Total 32-41


09-20-2005 @ 12:30: Game 2 vs Brazil:

Let’s just say, it was a learning experience for the Brazilians; this was their first ever international game and hopefully they will stick to our sport and be able to dig out a few quads along the way as there wasconfusion as to the workings of the classification system prior to the tournament, but I think they were set straight as 7 of their 11 players were deemed ineligible including a T11 para. It wasn’t a pretty sight but hopefully we will hear more from the Brazilians in the future. The final score was 41-14 as players 2.0+ got lots of rest for our side while the Brazilians were allowed to use some of their para’s for this tournament only.

But the story of this day was the sub par performance against the Americans and a day of rest and relaxation on our day off (09-23) gave way to a painful two hour video session reliving the first quarter versus the Americans and a full two hours later, players were more than keen to prove that the past days mistakes would not be repeated.

CANADA: 3.0 #7 Nording and # 8 Whitehead, 2.0 #9 Luangkhamdeng and #12 Robinson, 1.5 #4 Schmütz, 1.0 #10 Hirschfield and #3 Publicover, 0.5 #2 Mainguy.


09-22-2005 @ 09:30: Game 3 vs South Africa:

A much improved South African team awaited us for our third game. The last time we had seen the South Africans was in September of 2003. This time their equipment was top notch, they had great support staff including their own chair builder, who had just finished building their brand new chairs (a cross between a Vesco and a Rhino). They also had new players to go along with the best players from 2003 including the very large Luan Degenaar that legends estimate the man’s weight to be between 300-400 pounds with full abs. Let’s just say he’s an impact player. Just before the start of the game, South Africa did their interpretation of their war chant, led by class 2.5 Diamini with the obligatory throat slashing at the end of the chant.

South Africa started with Dimiani, Degenaar, Buitendag and Fitzgerald (2.5, 2.5, 2.0,1.0) and through the first 5 minutes matched us goal for goal but with Degenaar experiencing chair problems, they subbed in Truter (3.0) and Dorfleing (0.5) for Degenaar and Fitzgerald and we quickly wenton a 4-0 run to end the quarter in the lead 12-8. For the rest of the game South Africa played weaker line ups and we ran up the score ending with a 50-31 final. But beware of South Africa as they are developing fast with the help of former Wheelback New Zealand player Peter Martin teaching them the finer points.

Some of the players to watch in future years: Dimiani, a walking 2.5 sitting tall with greatmobility. Buitendag a class 2.0 player with world class potential once he gets more high level experience. For the rest of the new crew, it looks promising and coach Martin is looking to recruit many more players, beware!

CANADA: 3.0 #7 Nording and # 8 Whitehead, 2.0 #9 Luangkhamdeng and #12 Robinson, 1.5 #4 Schmütz, 1.0 #10 Hirschfield and #3 Publicover, 0.5 #2 Mainguy.

1st Q = 12-8, 2nd Q = 14-9, 3rd Q 12-8, 4th Q = 12-6, Total 50-31

SOUTH AFRICA: 3.0: (9) Truter2.5: (8) Degenaar, (7) Dimiani, (11) Benny2.0: (2) Buitendag, (10) Mthethwa1.5: (12) Adams1.0: (3) Du Preez, (6) Fitzgerald0.5: (5) Dorfleing


09-22-2005 @ 14:00: Game 4 vs USA Stars: This was the game, how would the team play, the answer came early as the players were focused and primed to put the performance against the Stripes behind them. In the first couple of minutes we created 2 quickturnovers jumping to an early lead of 5-3 with the jump ball favouring us but as quickly as we got the lead, we gave it up with the US coming back after a couple of long inbounds gone awry and the first quarter ended in a 11-11 tie.

For most of the first half we ran Whitehead, Luangkhamdeng, Robinson and Publicover with the US running O’Connor, Jenkins, Burger and Fonner (3.0, 2.0, 1.5, 1.5), the Americans also played from 1:34 in the first quarter to 5:41 in the second quarter Bunnell, Brooks, Jenkins and De Young (3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 0.5), then throwing in the high/low. For the 3rd quarter they ran O’Conner,Brooks, Jenkins and De Young and in the fourth finished with a couple of different line ups. For our side, we mostly ran the 3.0, 2.0, 2.0 line with Publicover and Hirschfield sharing the load. The high/low was also employed with either the two 1.0’s or with Schmütz and Mainguy. With any line up out there we played well and gave the Americans all they could handle and we won pulling away 35-29.

Other US players: 1.5 Schrammel

CANADA: 3.0 #7 Nording and # 8 Whitehead, 2.0 #9 Luangkhamdeng and #12 Robinson, 1.5 #4 Schmütz, 1.0 #10 Hirschfield and #3 Publicover, 0.5 #2 Mainguy.

1st Q = 11-11, 2nd Q = 11-9, 3rd Q 6-4, 4th Q = 7-5, Total 35-29


09-24-2005 @ 11:00: Game 5, cross over game between teams that finished 2nd and 3rd in the round robin vs USA Stars. In the other crossover game South Africa will meet undefeated USA Stripes. Bronze and goldmedal games are scheduled for 13:00 and 14:30 respectively. For the rest of the story check us out later today.