Canton Charge shows patience in solid win over Westchester Knicks
It was a perfect example of smart basketball as the Canton Charge (13-20), powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, defeated the Eastern Conference leading Westchester Knicks (24-13), 99-91 in front of 3,204 fans with those 18 and older receiving a fleece blanket at the Canton Memorial Civic Center on Saturday night. Rather than charge down the court to toss up a quick shot, the Canton players took their time patiently passing the ball around waiting for an opening. This combined with a powerhouse defense spelled victory for the Charge.
The game began with the Charge hitting four shots from the three point arch for an early 12-2 lead. The Knicks (on the second night of back-to-back games) struggled at first as they were only able to hit on one of seven shots. Once Canton took a 3-2 lead they never looked back as they led by as much as 11 during the first 12 minutes of play as the quarter came to a close with the Charge ahead 26-16.
Canton defense was key in the second quarter as the Knicks were held to just 39% shooting (a season best for the Charge). Three of the Charge players registered in double figures as half time was called. Cavalier assignee Ante Zizic nearly scored a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds for the half.
Isaac Hamilton fought through a crowd for a layup with 2:52 left in the third quarter setting the high water mark of an 18 point lead. The Knicks fought back hard grabbing eight Charge turnovers in the fourth quarter as they cut the lead to six with 41.7 left to play. It was a double free throw that sealed the deal at 99-91.
Zizic posted his third double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds in 38 minutes. Zizic matched a season-high with five assists. Thornton equaled Zizic with 21 points that included 5-of-8 from three point range. London Perrantes posted a balanced stat sheet, scoring nine points, while hauling in eight rebounds and handing out six assists. On assignment from the Portland Trail Blazers, forward Caleb Swanigan netted 18 points.
The Knicks were paced by reserve guard Billy Garrett’s 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting in 34 minutes of action. After leaving the game momentarily in the second quarter with a facial laceration due to a hard fall, Xavier Rathan-Mayes finished with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes. Starting forwards Nigel Hayes and Isaiah Hicks scored 15 points apiece.
The Canton Charge will be on the road for four games but will return home on February 21, 2018 for a game against the Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City Thunder) with tip-off at 7 p.m.
2018-19 Charge Nation Memberships are on sale NOW! Place your $100 per seat initial payment today and receive the rest of the 2017-18 season for FREE in addition to all the other great benefits of being a Charge Nation Member. Visit CantonCharge.comor call 866-444-1944 to sign up today.
The Canton Charge is part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and is also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Chairman 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.