Franciscan 65, Waynesburg 62

Franciscan Starters
Josh Zimmerman, Nicholas Allienello, Colton Hage, Aidan Hickey, Garrett Lancaster  

Waynesburg Starters 
Baker, Popeck, Wilt, Ridley, Felberg

How It Happened 
    Although they are known for their aggressive and painful sting, most Yellow Jackets are workers and complete various tasks for their hives. Well, the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets couldn't quite get the job done versus the Barons on Wednesday night.
    The first half was highlighted by the never-ending superstar play of veteran Josh Zimmerman. Zimmerman led the Barons with 15 points in the first half and had 5 defensive rebounds. However, Zimmerman didn't accomplish his feats alone. Yann Yonkeu had 3 offensive rebounds that helped setup second chance points. The Barons were keeping pace with their opponent, however turnovers came back to haunt them and allowed for the Yellow Jackets to get extra possessions that resulted in points. Specifically, a 5-point lead going into halftime.
    After having some time to reset, the Barons came out of halftime with a bang. In the first 13 seconds of the half, veteran Colton Hage sunk a 3-point shot to make it a two-point game. While the Barons were feeling the momentum, the Yellow Jackets kept answering to keep it a one possession game. This however did not faze senior Aidan Hickey as he relentlessly drove to the basket time after time to help keep the Barons within striking distance. The Yellow Jackets kept swarming the court and at one point in the second half built themselves a 9-point lead, but the Barons wouldn't back down from this challenge. Led by the heroics of…yes you guessed it, Josh Zimmerman, the Barons clawed their way back and made swish after swish to get back into contention. Not only did Zimmerman take this to heart but also his teammate Aidan Hickey who was also knocking down shots. As the clock ticked down, the Barons needing a go ahead score, they looked upon another one of their playmakers to get them there. After a steal from guard Malachi-Rose-Burton, he passed it up court to superstar Colton Hage who dropped the ball in from beyond the arc to connect with the hoop for a 3-point shot to put the Barons up by one point. After some playing some gritty defense to keep their lead, Hickey sunk the dagger to end it with two clutch free throws and ultimately sealed the dub for the Barons.

Inside the Numbers 
-The Barons shot 45.5% from the field and 33.3% from 3pt
-Josh Zimmerman tied his career-high (also against Waynesburg) 24 points
-Zimmeran led the Barons in rebounding with 9
-The constant rim pressure led the 30 points in the paint
-Aidan Hickey's 18 points is a career-high for him as well

Up Next 
    Franciscan will conclude the 2022-23 season on the road at Chatham on Saturday. The Cougars have won the last two matchups that these teams have played, including one earlier this season in Steubenville. Five players scored in double-figures for Chatham, as they put up 110 points on the Barons, the most they have ever allowed at home in program history. The Barons will look to flip the script in the or last time on the floor with this team all together. 

Stay Connected 
Be sure to follow Franciscan Athletics on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage.