Charge cruise into All-Star break with another win
The Canton Charge (18-13), presented by SecureData 365 and powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, defeated the Grand Rapids Drive (14-14), 106-89, Tuesday night at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The Charge are now winners of 13 of their last 15 games.
Trailing 21-17, Canton opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 24-21 lead with 10:36 remaining. After exchanging the lead five times in the second period, a Jorge Gutierrez free throw gave the Charge a 38-37 lead with 3:52 remaining in the half. A late 6-0 run in the Charge's favor led to a 50-41 advantage at the break.
The Charge maintained the lead during the entire second half, pushing the diff to as many as 26. In his sixth start of the season, Canton's Sir'Dominic Pointer scored a season-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting in 33 minutes. Charge guard Quinn Cook posted 13 points, eight assists, and a career-high 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. Jorge Gutierrez had an all-around effort of 12 points, six rebounds, eight assists, and a season-high five steals in 29 minutes. Nick Minnerath poured in 17 points off the bench to help pace the seven Canton players in double figures.
Grand Rapids was led by forward Devin Ebanks' 24 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Forward Dahntay Jones chipped in 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting in 41 minutes. Kelsey Barlow added 16 points, six boards, five assists, and two steals in 43 minutes for Grand Rapids.
The Drive return to Canton twice more this season, February 24th and in the Charge's regular season home finale on March 25th.
The Charge return home after the All-Star break on Tuesday, February 16th at 7:00 p.m. against the Iowa Energy (Memphis Grizzlies affiliate).
(Canton Charge press release)
