Health & Fitness
Warriors drop worst home loss of the season
Canton Charge Dominate Heading into D-League Showcase
The Santa Cruz Warriors (10-7) fell to the visiting Canton Charge (10-5) in their worst home loss of the year, 104-85. The Warriors began the game with very little energy after playing the Reno Bighorns the previous night while Canton kept Santa Cruz scrambling on the defensive end of the floor, unable to find an answer for Canton's efficient evening.
"This is the most disappointed I've been in my team," said a deflated coach Casey Hill. "I thought we got outplayed. We played with no heart."
Canton outscored Santa Cruz in fast break points, (17-to-7) and also in second-chance points, (14-to-4) outpacing the Warriors constantly and consistently finishing just shooting under 50% from the field (35-71).
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Dewayne Dedmon contributed with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, but his numbers weren't enough as he only shot 5-of-13 from the floor a stark contrast to his game the previous evening.
Playing their second game in as many nights, the Warriors came out to a slow start, content with shooting perimeter jumpers. A lack of movement on offense along with far too much dribbling let Canton take a commanding lead early on as they pushed the tempo and shot lights-out in the first quarter going 13-of-17 from the floor. Kevin Jones found his stroke early, scoring 12 points in the first quarter alone for the Charge. He finished with 19 points for his team and snagged nine rebounds. The Warriors trailed 24-35 after the first quarter while shooting just under 29% (2-of-7) from downtown.
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"You can't let a team shoot 77% in the first quarter," said newly acquired NBA veteran Dominic McGuire who finished with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting in his Santa Cruz debut, "It let them get their confidence up and you could see it carry out throughout the game."
Kiwi Gardner entered the game near the end of the first quarter to help lift the team and bring high energy. He finished the first half with only two points but helped to ignite the offense getting Hilton Armstrong and Dewayne Dedmon good looks under the basket but both failed to convert on multiple occasions.
"We can’t afford to come out and play flat," said Gardner. "We're not a good enough team to turn it on and hit the switch in the fourth quarter like we think we can. Obviously we got to get back to the drawing board."
The Charge took advantage of the Warriors playing a back-to-back as they scored 12 fast-break points in the first half compared to just two points for Santa Cruz. Bo Spencer led the Charge in scoring in the first-half with 15 points, he finished with 17 points for the contest.
Armstrong got his looks for the Warriors and had 11 points at halftime.
It was much of the same in the third quarter as Canton forced Santa Cruz to scramble on defense as the team failed to close-out on the perimeter repeatedly. A no-call late in the third quarter resulted in a technical foul called on Hill, his second of the season.
"I clapped my hands real loud and I said 'Come on'," said Hill.
The Warriors couldn't contain the Charge, who finished shooting 50% from three-point range (9-of-18) for the game. They trailed by 18 points going into the fourth quarter. An undersized squad in comparison to the Warriors roster, the Charge surprisingly outrebounded the Sea Dubs 45-to-39.
"I don't know how to feel about being outrebounded by a team that's a little smaller than us," said the undersized Gardner, "It was an effort issue."
McGuire felt comfortable playing in his first organized game in two months after recovering from an ankle fracture, a confidence booster before the D-League Showcase next week. He isn't concerned about if and when he is called up.
"I'm not worried about (a call-up)," said McGuire, "My focus right now is on the Santa Cruz Warriors, everything else will take care of itself."
The Warriors cut the Charge's lead to nine points halfway through the fourth quarter on a 16-3 run. A timely three-pointer by Gilbert Brown brought the lead back to double-digits and the Charge never looked back.
Despite suffering the disappointing loss at home, Gardner finds something to take away from each game.
"When I'm penetrating, I'm realizing teams are having a hard time finding a matchup that can keep me out of the paint," said Gardner.
With the Showcase on the horizon, coach Hill will be looking at getting the victories first as opposed to sharing playing time between players.
"Anytime you keep score, I think you should try to win," said Hill. "I'll play the guys that are playing hard and well, especially after tonight."
The Showcase is a perfect opportunity for players to gain exposure they wouldn't otherwise obtain, playing in front of GMs and executives from across the Association. Teams can begin offering 10-day contracts starting tomorrow.
"It's a wonderful networking opportunity around the league," said Hill. "All we really need to do is stay focused on what we're trying to do."
Gardner had a simpler take on next week's adventure to Reno.
"Obviously we need two wins, that's it," said Gardner.