Canton Charge prove their mettle in overtime victory over league leading Wisconsin Herd
It was a loud and exuberant crowd as 3,832 students, teachers of the Canton Metropolitan School District as well as regular fans came to Canton Memorial Civic Center during School Day and an early game tip-off of 11 a.m., and what a game they witnessed! The Canton Charge (28-13), powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, defeated the league leading Wisconsin Herd (31-10) 108-106 in double overtime. This was the Charge’s tenth home victory in a row and seventh overall with the season series between the two teams tied at 2-2.
Canton took an early lead with a season high 41 points in the first quarter and pulling ahead by as many as twenty points before the half. Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman hit 3-for-4 from three point land scoring 11 points in the first quarter. After the mid-game break the Herd began chipping away at the lead until mid-fourth quarter when they took the lead with six minutes remaining. It was back and forth right to the end of regulation as Two-Way player Matt Mooney forced the first overtime with back to back baskets leading to the teams being tied at 102 all as time ran out.
Each team managed only 2 points in the first two minute overtime period as they tied 104-104. In the second overtime, Canton scored first with Wisconsin answering but the Charge rallied to hit for another two holding on for the victory as Alan Hemdon hit big for five points in overtime to clench the victory.
The Canton Charge player of the game was Levi Randolph leading the rest of the team with 22 points hitting 9-for-17 from the floor in 37 minutes. Sheldon Mac was second with 18 points combined with a team high nine rebounds off the bench. Hemdon scored a career high 17 points in 27 minutes. On defense it was Sir ‘Dominic Pointer who came up with four steals and four blocked shots.
Wisconsin’s Assignee D.J. Wilson was high scorer for the Herd with 21 points and 11 boards in 38 minutes. D.J. Hogg and Jaylen Adams tied at 19 points each and Jemerrio Jones earned a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
Canton hits the road for the next three games that begins with a visit to the Erie BayHawks this Saturday, March 7, 2020 with tip-off at 7 p.m. The next home game for the Charge will be Saturday, March 14, 2020 as the team celebrates Fan Appreciation Night at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The final home game of the season will be on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 on St. Patrick’s Day. Both games tip-offs are scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Canton Charge is part of the Cleveland Cavaliers 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 Monsters of the American Hockey League, who play their games at Rocket Mortgage Field House in downtown Cleveland.