It was not the way the Gangurrus thought their Olympic campaign would end, a back injury to Lauren Mansfield impacting a crucial day for the team in Paris.

“That game isn’t a reflection of how good we are or how much we have done,” 25-year-old Anneli Maley said.

“I’m really proud of the group. We’re going to get back up and we’re going to go to the next tournament and we’re going to be great. But this is going to hurt for a little bit.”

Canada started fast, making seven of their first 10 shots to build an 11-4 lead in the first five minutes, while the Gangurrus struggled with low percentage shooting and turnovers.

South Australian Lauren had half a game off the bench and minimal court-time in the Gangurrus earlier game against France. 

“We talked about it before the game,” said team-mate Marena Whittle.

“She was pretty stiff out there and for her to come out and prepare to die on the court. What character. That’s what the Gangurrus do.”

The Gangurrus started matching it with Canada and Marena got Australia into a good position when she knocked down a two-pointer with a hand in her face, to make the score 18-10.

However the strong Canadians pushed ahead and the Aussies couldn’t score again, the game ending in an 11-point final margin.

Reflecting on their Olympic campaign through the raw emotions of the loss, Anneli hopes her team has impressed the fans.

“I think we showed everyone in Australia the heart and the fight that we have. I’m really proud of the way we played,” Anneli said.

“We’re in the Olympics, how many people get to say that?”

Marena can’t wait to return home after the support she’s seen for them back in Australia.

“It’s been awesome getting all the messages and I think people know about 3x3 back home now, so I can’t wait to get back there,” she said.

Earlier in the day the Gangurrus had a chance to become one of the top two teams to automatically advance to the semi-finals. Playing their final pool game against France, the home crowd’s support gave their team a major boost in an 18-16 overtime victory.

In a physical and foul-heavy match, Australia led twice and played France tight. The host nation’s biggest lead was three, which they held with 1:11 to go in regulation time. Anneli Maley cut the lead to two on a free throw and Alex ‘Ally’ Wilson tied the game at 16-16.

With 48 seconds on the clock in regulation time, neither team could find a basket. That forced overtime, with 3x3 Basketball requiring play to continue until one team leads by two points. 

France started the period with possession and only needed three seconds for Marie Eve Paget to hoist up a two-pointer that went in, to the roaring approval of the heaving crowd, the home team taking the game 18-16.

Jeff Dickinson-Fox