Canton Charge manages to hang tight for win against tough Maine Red Claws team
Today was School Day presented by McDonald’s at the Canton Memorial Civic Center as school bus after school bus lined up to unload its precious cargo. Over 3,500 cheering fans were entertained as the Canton Charge (15-11), powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, defeated the Maine Red Claws (18-10), 106-98, on this pleasant Wednesday afternoon. The theme for the game was “Stop Bullying” with various mascots taking part in skits to emphasize the point.
It was a very physical game as Canton was able to hold its own through the first quarter as the teams fought through eight ties and six lead changes. The Red Claw’s Abdel Nader scored 16 of his 31 total points with 6-of-8 shooting in the first twelve minutes but Chris Evans answered right back for the Charge with 13 of his total 27. Defense was the key as neither team could get more than a four point edge as the two battled it out to a 29-29 tie going into the second quarter.
A Jalen Jones layup began the second quarter for Canton as the team went on a
12-1 run to take a 41-32 lead. Canton’s defense got stingy as they controlled the boards at both end by forcing 9 turnovers for 11 points as they held the Red Claws to 7-of-19 shooting or 37% from the field. At one point the men in gold led by as much as 19 as Maine could only get the score difference to single digits once through the remaining minutes.
Canton’s Player of the Game, Chris Evans made good for 27 points and seven boards with a total of four outright steals in 39 minutes of play. Eric Moreland hit his tenth double-double with 17 points, fifteen rebounds and two spectacular blocks in 35 minutes. Quinn Cook was on the court for 36 minutes scoring seventeen points while teammate john Holland finished the game with fifteen points and three steals in 37 minutes of playing time.
High scorer for the Red Claws was Abdel Nader who led both teams scoring with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting with nine rebounds and two blocks in 37 minutes. Jalen Jones did a double-double of 21 points and ten boards in 42 minutes. Dallas Lauderdale scored 10 points with six rebounds and three blocked shots in 27 minutes.
The next home game will be this Saturday, January 28, 2017 as the Canton Charge hosts the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana Pacers). Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. The game will be Youth Basketball Night as area teams will come play games on the court while being honored during the game. The first 2,500 fans will receive a pair of Canton Charge basketball socks and postgame autographs will follow the contest. Tickets start at $8
The Canton Charge is part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert. The group also owns and operates the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, both of which play their games at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland.