PARIS – Canada’s long-awaited Olympic basketball dream ended with a whimper, not a bang.

The much-anticipated quarter final date in Canada’s return to the Olympics was over barely after it started as France cruised to a one-sided 82-73 win.

The French never trailed as they opened up their first double-digit lead just under five minutes in, and led 23-10 after the first quarter. The Canadian team that had yet to lose a game here came up decidedly flat and ultimately futile. Worse, actually.