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Hometown Hero

Crozon, Team Canada shine in Saskatoon

Aug 19, 2024 | 5:31 PM

It was a homecoming weekend for the Canadian 3×3 women’s basketball team, as Olympian and Humboldt native Paige Crozon got to compete on an international level, right where it all began.

For the first time in history, the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series made a professional stop in Saskatchewan. Crozon and her team won the event in Saskatoon.

The athlete grew up in Humboldt, about an hour east of Saskatoon but fondly remembered travelling to the big city for many basketball practices, games, camps, and tournaments.

Now, instead of being that ‘little girl’ watching older female basketball players, she got to be that role model for the next generation, in front of plenty of family members.

(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

“This win was special, it was so soul-filling and uplifting. Hundreds of little girls came to watch us this weekend and said they had watched us when we were at the Olympics, so that makes me feel really proud. This one gave me goosebumps and it’s definitely one of my favourite events I’ve ever played in,” Crozon told northeastNOW.

“It was so nice just being back in Saskatchewan, just made me feel more grounded, and helped me decompress and process after the excitement and stimulus from the Olympics. To be back and be with familiar faces in an area that I literally grew up in was exactly what I needed.”

Canada was the favourite entering the stop, and for good reason.

Following their Olympic debut, which saw them get fourth place in what they believed wasn’t their best performance, the team harnessed the energy from the crowd and it led them to a perfect record in the event; they won every game in dominating fashion.

(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

“I think just to have the energy and the connection and the support from the community was really important because playing high-performance sport can be so consuming sometimes. After we lost the bronze medal game, it was a disappointing few days for us, but we came back to people who said they were proud of us and watched us every step of the way,” added Crozon.

“It was so uplifting and encouraging, and really the perfect and positive experience to get us back on track, ground us, and make us remember why we play. I was honoured to represent Saskatchewan and be a representative from a kid in a small town who was able to wear the maple leaf and compete on the highest stage.”

In five games the Canucks won by a combined 61 points (just over 12 a game on average).

Crozon set up the winning basket in the final, as Canada was able to get a bit of revenge on an American squad.

(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

All in all, a pretty perfect homecoming weekend.

“I’ve always dreamed about being here. After the Olympics, and even leading up to Paris, I just kind of reflected on my journey, and it’s surpassed kind of all the expectations that I’ve had. Part of it is just the amazing team that I have and that’s more than anything that I want for my daughter. The journey has been even more incredible than I could have imagined,” she concluded.

“I thought the venue was amazing and I thought Saskatoon did a great job. To play in front of the Saskatchewan River, to make the drive from home to Saskatoon as I would have 100 times for basketball practice growing up, it was just so nostalgic and really good.”

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8

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