Belinda Snell will forever appear in slow motion hero montages set to The Temper Trap and fan-made Youtube compilations called “The Clutch Gene” after she banked a halfcourt buzzer beater to send the Australian women’s basketball team to overtime against France this morning.
The French team, who led the world number two Opals by as much as 13, had the chance to ice the game at the free throw line, holding a 65-62 advantage with just 3.9 seconds left in regulation. The basketball gods (who covet alley-oops and drama above everything else) kept the free throw out and left the door open for a last second prayer to send it to overtime. This is what happened…
Sadly, Snell’s circus shot was in vain as The Opals eventually lost 74-70 to suffer their first preliminary round defeat at the Olympic Games since Atlanta.
“It was about time I made a shot actually,” Snell said after the game. “It was such a huge high with the crowd and the emotion, everyone jumping on top of me and celebrating…But unfortunately we couldn’t finish it off.”
The Opals were hampered by late foul trouble to key talls Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage whose absences proved costly on both ends of the court.
Their next game is against sixth ranked Brazil.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Sport
