Franciscan 70, Saint Vincent 83

Franciscan Starters
Josh Zimmerman, Aiden Townsend, Karl Yonkeu, Joseph Ciola, Alan Wood 

How It Happened 
    Saturday's game may not have meant anything for playoff seeding for either team, but it meant everything for two of the Baron starters, seniors Alan Wood and Joseph Ciola. Before tip-off Baron Basketball recognized the President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW, local union 246. The Blue Collar Basketball brand places emphasis on the characteristics and qualities that entail being a blue collar worker. This honoring was fitting for the two seniors that were celebrated. Wood and Ciola epitomize the kind of men that coach Wallace values. 
    The opponent for the night was a tough one. The highly talented St. Vincent Bearcats already had the PAC #2 seed locked. The result of the game was not the goal or what anyone wanted, but the performance the two seniors laid out was fitting and a bright spot for the evening. Both Wood and Ciola had career and season-high scoring and shooting nights. On multiple occasions, Bearcats coach was heard unleashing on his players for the way Wood and Ciola were carving them up. At one point, the Bearcat coach took his best defender off Zimmerman, who ended with 24 points, to guard Wood. His minutes were that impactful on the game.
    The Barons move into this off-season in a very different position than where they were last year. In the last month of play, a handful of freshmen have contributed quality minutes and showed extreme potential. There is a very talented core of young players that will be led by 5th year senior Josh Zimmerman, and have all benefited from the leadership this year from Alan Wood and Joseph Ciola.

Inside the Numbers 
-Wood's 13 points are a career high
-Zimmerman led the Barons in scoring with 24
-Zimmerman had a season-low 2 rebounds, but still ties him for the top of the PAC in reb/game at 9.0
-Sawyer Butler was out for this game, but finished his freshmen year with the second highest freshmen point total all-time, and his 2.91 steals/game is good for 7th in the nation


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