The 2022 Canada Games have come to an end with Ontario leading in both Gold Medals and the overall medal count. One of the highlights of the games was the gold medal game in women’s basketball.
With the game tied 56-56 with about five minutes left Delaney Gibb, Miss Alberta Basketball took a Steph Curry-range shot that was good for three of the nine points she would score down the stretch on the way to lead her team to a 70-61 victory.
After the game, Gibb was focused on her teammates and their accomplishments.
“This feels great, we may not have been the favourites coming in here but I have some buddies in Ontario,” said Gibb, “and I told them they better watch out because this team has some hoopers.”
Gibb was also thinking about her effort on defence.
“I use my defence to sort of give me a push on offence,” Gibb said.
While Gibb led her team with 19 points, it was her all-around performance that stood out.
Gibbs and her Alberta teammates played intense defence, including periods of full-court pressure that seemed to keep the silver medalists out of Saskatchewan from getting comfortable throughout the game.
For her part, Gibbs’ relentlessness resulted in several forced turnovers.
“It’s pretty natural,” said Alberta Coach Robyn Fleckenstein of Gibbs’ outstanding defensive play. “We do discuss how to be clever on defence.”
In addition to the scoring and defensive effort, Gibbs was visibly involved in leading her squad. “I am pretty vocal,” she said.
Like Gibb, Fleckenstein focused on praising her team and staff, “I’m getting married in two weeks,” said Fleckenstein, right after the game. “They have really held me down”
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