The GoGo shook off the cobwebs from Friday’s loss to the Swarm and secured a 123-117 victory on Sunday evening. It was a back and forth contest early but the GoGo had a late first quarter push and carried it into the second frame to establish a 10 point lead. They went up by as many as 15 points in the first half as they improved on their lackluster defense from two days prior to take a healthy lead into the locker room.
Jalen Jones got going early, racking up 15 points and five rebounds in the first half. He was aggressive and attacked the basket with conviction as the Swarm defenders struggled to stay in front of him. Admiral Schofield also had a stellar first half adding 10 points and five rebounds of his own. The Wizards assignee continues to have solid outings for the GoGo.
The GoGo shot exceptionally well as they went 53% from the field and 55% from three point range in the first half. They tempered their attempts from distance compared to recent outings, only putting up nine shots from beyond the arc. Their efficiency and shot selection was a big factor in building the lead and it carried over into the second half for the most part.
The Swarm started to find their way in the third quarter as they opened the period with a 17-6 run, cutting the GoGo lead to four. The home team hit right back with a 9-0 run to put some separation between the teams. The starters for the Swarm handled business as each player scored 18 points or more, led by Robert Franks with a team high 24. He also added six rebounds and three assists. The bench production left much to be desired as they only contributed 17 points as a unit. Jalen McDaniels added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the contest as well. He applied pressure on the GoGo in transition and in the half court. A part of the Swarm’s undoing was their futility from three point range. They went 7-35 from deep for a season low 20%.
The GoGo cured almost all of their ills from the loss on Friday night but still struggled to take care of the basketball, tallying up 18 turnovers. Solid defense and a concerted effort on the boards helped to secure the win despite their intermittent carelessness with the ball. They out-rebounded the Swarm 47-38. The GoGo finished the game shooting 53% from the floor and a more than respectable 39% from deep. The second unit also did their part. They doubled up on the Swarm’s reserves, outscoring them 34-17. Hometown product Jerian Grant was a bright spot as well as he added 24 points and five rebounds and seven assists. It was his second outing with at least 20 points this season.
The GoGo improved to 5-4 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday against the Lakeland Magic back at ESA. Hopefully they can build on their victory on Sunday and continue to improve. They seem to be finding their way without Chris Chiozza who is currently not with the team fulfilling his two way duties with the Wizards.
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