ELMHURST, Ill. - Carroll men's basketball took the court for the final time in the 2024-25 campaign, defeating Elmhurst on the road by a score of 83-68. Carroll concluded their season with three victories in their final four contests but narrowly missed the CCIW Postseason Tournament. Carroll (9-16, 5-11 CCIW) had a successful offensive afternoon, shooting 50 percent from the floor and just under 36 percent from beyond the arc with 10 made longballs. Elmhurst (11-14, 7-9 CCIW) shot under 35 percent from the field and 20 percent from deep. The Bluejays bested the Pios on the boards, corralling 40 to Carroll's 33, including 15 o-boards to Carroll's six.
The games leading scorer was Pioneer senior Aaron Wafford, who scored 22 points in 28 minutes, including four more threes to bring his career total to 151. Wafford was joined in double figures by junior big-man Jacob Naber, who scored 15 points and grabbed seven boards. Kobe Simpson and Evan Bland rounded out those scoring in double-figures, as they scored 14 and 11, respectively.
Both teams were competitive and physical out the gates, as they traded baskets through the first 12 minutes of play. Carroll began firing on all cylinders, as they went on a 14-0 run over four minutes of unstoppable offense and elite defense. Over the final four minutes, the two foes earned a couple more baskets and went into the locker room with Carroll holding a 37-25 advantage.
The Pioneers continued their efficient offense, as they opened the second half with a 29-14 onslaught over the first 10 minutes of the period, capped off with back-to-back-to-back threes from Wafford, Bland and Steinike. The Pios maintained a 20-point advantage for a vast majority of the ensuing four minutes. Carroll called off the dogs and the 2024-25 seniors left the court for the final time, this time on winning terms.
Carroll loses eight graduating seniors, who have combined to log over 10,715 minutes in their career, recording 3,627 combined points, 1,627 total rebounds, 727 assists, 448 steals, and 63 blocks. In the 2023-24 season, they played a crucial role in helping the team reach Carroll's first appearance in the traditional CCIW Postseason Tournament since the 2018-19 season. Their 14 wins in 2023-24 also marked the most regular season games since rejoining the CCIW in 2015. The Class of 2025 has contibuted to two single game records, two top-10 single season individual marks, three spots on the indiviual career record boards, and one member of the 1,000-point club. The program will have a large hole to fill, but future of Pioneer basketball has much to look forward to with a great foundation to build upon.
