Franciscan 104, Bethany 98   

Franciscan Starters 

Justin Mack, Tristan McDannell, Josh Zimmerman, Sean Hickey & Joe Vernau

Bethany Starters 

Brendan Riggs, Dalton Hamrick, Julian McGee, Asa Klimchock & Dylan Furlong

How It Happened 

The Franciscan Men's Basketball team would host Bethany in their first ever PAC Tournament Game, and they wouldn't disappoint the home faithful. After trailing by six at half, the Barons would heat it up in the second half to win by six and send themselves to the quarterfinals. Sean Hickey would go off for a career high 36 points, and Justin Mack added 24 in the win.

Sean Hickey would open this one up with a made three pointer, his first first of three made on the night, to give the Barons the early edge. Hickey would add a tough and one shortly after to stretch the Baron lead up to six points. The Bison would get it going, as they would go on a 10-0 run to retake the lead. Nicholas Allienello would give the Barons the lead back, as he connect on his first three pointer of the night. The Bison would tie it back up at 18-18, before Justin Mack would add his first deep three of the night. Another 10-0 Bethany run would ensue to give the Bison a commanding seven point lead. Bethany would stretch their lead up to a high of 12 points with a little over three minutes to play in the half. A Franciscan 8-0 run would bring this one back to a single digit deficit, as Noah Griffin, Christian Nguyen and Josh Zimmerman would register their first points. Barons trailed 46-40 at the break. 

Big man Joe Vernau, would come out of the half on fire, as he scored six points in the first two minutes of action, to tie this one back up at 49-49. With the game knotted up at 55-55, Vernau would have a second wind, as he added five points in a minute to give the Barons the lead back. Tristan McDannell would add his first three pointer shortly after, to stretch the Baron lead into double digits. Sean Hickey would go to work in the second half. After scoring 17 points in the first half, he would continue to make a timely bucket for the Barons, and sacrifice his body on countless hard takes to the bucket. It seemed like every time Bethany would cut the lead to single digits, Hickey was there to right the ship and keep the Barons sailing smoothly. 

Bethany would make a run to cut it to a five point game with four minutes to play. Joe Vernau would answer the call again with a strong layup. Sean Hickey and Justin Mack would each connect from deep, and just like that, the Baron lead was back up to 11 points with two minutes to play. Bethany would have to foul and hope for Franciscan free throw misses, but the Barons would go not give in. The would not miss a single free throw down the stretch to put this one on ice and win 104-98.

Inside the Numbers 

-Sean Hickey's 36 points is the second most scored by a Baron in a game all-time, and the second most points scored in a PAC game all season
-Mack added 24 points, his 5th 20+ point game this season. 
-Joe Vernau would score 13 points on the night, a career high.
-104 points is the most points scored in a game all-time by Franciscan.
-Sean Hickey passed Paul Kerns (1953-57) and Tim Kirten (1971-75) on the all-time scoring list. Father Tim Kirten passed away last year, but will always be remembered highly at Franciscan. A member of the Washington Generals, Air Force Chaplain and years of service as a priest in Brooklyn. Hickey now stands at 8th place all-time with 1,162 points.
-Dalton Hamrick led the way for the Bison with 29 points.
-Sean Hickey went 13-13 from the free throw line, the most ever made by a Franciscan player in a game without a miss.
-The Barons shot 32-35 from the line including a perfect 22-22 in the second half.
-Josh Zimmerman had a career high 7 assists.

Comments from Coach Joe Wallace

I am so happy for this group to earn the first playoff win in program's history. It was great to see these seniors go out on top in their last home game. Sean Hickey and Joe Vernau had career nights, and I am really proud of them and all the seniors. We played with a ton of passion, and it showed in the second half with our full court pressure and energy in the second half. Justin Mack really showed his toughness and leadership down the stretch, that he has showed time and time again. Josh Zimmerman showed all his intangibles tonight and filled up the box score once again. 

Up Next 

With the win the Barons will travel to #1 seeded Westminster for a 7pm on Tuesday. Earlier this season in Franciscan's trip to New Wilmington, the Titans came out on top by a score of 99-77. Sean Hickey led the way for the Barons with 18 points. Westminster's Daniel Ritter went off for a career high 31 points to lead the Titans to victory. 

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