Rhyne Howard’s clutch game-winner might have simply saved USA Basketball’s 3×3 workforce — U.S. fourth in up to date standings

They are saying that basketball is a sport of runs and momentum. The U.S. girls’s 3×3 Olympic basketball workforce has embodied that unpredictability — falling behind 0-3 in pool play and getting ready to elimination, earlier than rattling off three consecutive wins to get proper again into the medal hunt.

Right now was the winningest Paris Olympics day but for this system. The workforce — led by Hailey Van Lith, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, and Cierra Burdick — squeaked out two shut wins to enhance to a 3-3 total document — first a 14-13 win towards France, then an 18-17 victory over Canada.

In opposition to France, the Sparks’ Dearica Hamby was the hero, ending a layup on the finish of regulation to present Group USA the lead, and finally, the win.

Dealing with Canada, it was the Dream’s Rhyne Howard who sealed the deal in additional time with a step-back three (a shot value two factors in 3×3 basketball).

Howard’s game-winner got here after TCU guard Hailey Van Lith sunk a deep one in all her personal from behind the arc, tying issues up with 22 seconds left in regulation.

Howard, who struggled within the first few days of 3×3 Olympic play, has discovered a much-needed rhythm and is now showcasing the scoring prowess that USA Basketball hoped for once they named her to the roster. She led the way in which with 7 factors within the win towards Canada, headlined by game-winner.

Whereas Group USA continued to endure some defensive miscommunication — and Canada picked on the undersized Van Lith’s — they managed to shut out two much-needed wins to maintain their medal hopes alive.

Right here’s the place issues at present stand

Proper now, Group USA is in fifth place total within the standings — that means they’ll transfer ahead to the play-in spherical if issues stand, although there’s extra basketball to be performed.

The highest two groups within the standings mechanically qualify for the semi-finals, and the subsequent 4 qualify for the play-in.

1. Germany: 4-2 (Germany beat China 18-15 in the present day, beat France 14-13)
2. Spain: 4-2 (Spain beat Australia 21-17 in the present day, then Canada 22-20)
3. Australia: 4-2 (Australia beat China 21-12 in the present day, after which fell to Spain 21-17)
4. United States: 3-3 (The U.S. beat France 14-13, then Canada 18-17)
5. Canada: 3-3 (Canada fell to america 18-17, then to Spain 22-20)
6. China: 2-4 (China misplaced each video games in the present day — to Germany 18-15 and to Azerbaijan 21-19)
7. Azerbaijan: 2-4 (Azerbaijan misplaced to Australia 21-12 in the present day, then beat China 21-19)
8. France: 1-5 (France misplaced to the U.S. 14-13 in the present day, and to Germany 14-13)

Subsequent Up

Tomorrow is the final day for 3×3 pool play, and the U.S. will face China at 1:05pm ET. A win would safe their spot within the subsequent spherical. The semi-finals happen on Monday, when 4 groups will compete for an opportunity at a medal. The winner of each semi-final video games will competing within the gold medal sport, whereas the losers will face off with a bronze medal on the road.