Great Britain, USA, Germany and Canada advance to Paris2024 Men’s Semi-Finals

The semi-final lineup for the Men’s Wheelchair Basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is now complete, with Germany, Canada, Great Britain, and the USA advancing after impressive performances in the quarter-finals.

Germany Secures Spot with Gritty Win Over Spain

Germany became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 57-49 victory over Spain in a tense, low-scoring contest. Both teams started nervously, with the first quarter ending 13-12 in Germany’s favour. As the game progressed, Germany gradually took control, leading by seven points at halftime. Despite Spain’s resilience, Germany capitalised on turnovers and missed shots, allowing them to pull away in the second half. Thomas Böhme was the star of the game, dominating with 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Ignacio Ortega led Spain with 21 points. Germany’s defense and composure under pressure proved decisive, securing their spot in the final four.

Canada Returns to Semi-Finals After 12 Years

Canada advanced to the semi-finals for the first time since their gold medal triumph at London 2012, defeating the Netherlands 79-67. After a closely contested first quarter, Canada took control with a dominant 26-10 second quarter, building a lead they maintained for the rest of the game. Patrick Anderson led the charge with a remarkable 20 points and 20 rebounds, while Nik Goncin added 16 points. The real story, however, was the balanced contribution from Canada’s lower-point players, who combined for 30 points. Despite strong performances from Mendel Op Den Orth and Robin Poggenwisch of the Netherlands, Canada’s teamwork and shooting efficiency were too much to overcome, setting the stage for their semi-final clash.

Great Britain Overpowers Australia to Stay Unbeaten

Great Britain continued their unbeaten run with a convincing 84-64 victory over Australia, securing their place in the semi-finals. The game was tightly contested through the first three quarters, with Great Britain holding a narrow 56-51 lead heading into the final period. However, the British team exploded in the fourth quarter, outscoring Australia 28-13 to seal the win. Ben Fox led the way with an impressive 26 points, shooting a remarkable 13 of 14 from the field. Gregg Warburton and Lee Manning added 22 and 21 points, respectively. For Australia, Bill Latham scored 20 points, and Tristan Knowles contributed 17. Great Britain now faces Germany in the semi-finals, while Australia will compete in the classification rounds.

USA Dominates France to Continue Semi-Final Streak

The USA cruised into the semi-finals with a confident 82-47 win over France, marking their fifth consecutive Paralympic semi-final appearance. The USA took control early, establishing a 12-point lead by the end of the first quarter. Jake Williams led all scorers with 23 points, supported by Brian Bell with 20 points. Despite France’s best efforts, led by Christophe Carlier with 11 points, the USA’s superior chair skills and defensive pressure were too much to handle. Steve Serio added 13 points as the USA continued to widen the gap in the second half, leaving France with no chance of a comeback.

With these results, the stage is set for an exciting semi-final round, where Germany will face Great Britain, and the USA will take on Canada. The quest for Paralympic gold intensifies as these top teams battle for a place in the final.

For more updates on the wheelchair basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, visit the event page or follow the action on social media using #Paris2024WBB.