Canton Charge are stymied by the Greensboro Swarm
Three thousand, three hundred and forty seven Canton Charge fans collectively held their breath as the three point attempt arched its way toward the basket as the last few seconds ticked off. This time it bounced off the rim as the Canton Charge (7-8), lost to the Greensboro Swarm (8-8) 115-112 during Cavs Night at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The two teams are slated for a rematch-up on Martin Luther King Day on January 21, 2019 with a 2 p.m. tip-off in Greensboro.
As in many games this season, the Charge took an early lead of 23-13 in the first quarter as Scoochie Smith and Jaron Blossomgame combined for 17 points. The Swarm was not to be denied as they put together a 9-0 run to get within 4 points with 3:24 left in the quarter. The two teams traded points with Canton holding on to a 30-26 advantage at the first buzzer.
Smith was strong in the second quarter as well adding eight points to his game tally of 15. Charge reserve Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman was good for 3-of-4 from long range to score 9 points. Greensboro out shot Canton 51% to 48% but Canton still had a ten point lead of 62-52 at the half.
The Swarm came alive in the third quarter hitting 74% from the field in 17-of-23 shooting. Sam Thompson (an Ohio State alumnus) hit for 12 points in that quarter alone. It was his 3 pointer with 6:01 remaining that gave Greensboro a one point lead with 4:23 left on the clock. By controlling the paint and outscoring Canton 24-16 they took a three point lead of 90-87 going into the final stretch.
JaCorey Williams and Bonzie Colson scored the first eight points of the fourth for the Charge giving the team a 3 point lead with 9:35 remaining. A Colson three pointer furthered the gap but Greensboro fought back with back to back threes to tie the game at 111. With less than a minute remaining the Swarm took the lead for good as Canton tried in vain to get ahead.
Smith tied a season high 20 points with seven rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes. Blossomgame (on assignment from the Cleveland Cavaliers) was good for 18 points in 30 minutes. In all four Canton players scored in double figures including Abdur-Rahkman with 14 points.
At the Greensboro end it was Thompson hitting for 21 points on 8-of-1 in 27 minutes and Chinanu Onuaku earning his twelth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Charge now heads to Las Vegas for the 2018 NBA G League Showcase that begins this Thursday as they battle the Sioux Falls SkyForce at 6:30 p.m. local time.
The Canton Charge are part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and are 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 Monsters of the American Hockey League, who play their games at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland.