The Greene County Rams boys basketball team took its eighth consecutive loss Friday night, losing to the PCM Mustangs in Monroe 66-49. The win guaranteed the Mustangs at least a piece of the Heart of Iowa conference title.
The Rams’ first half was very competitive. Once the score went past 2-2, the Mustangs led the entire game, but the Rams were within three points at halftime, 31-28. The Rams had only one turnover in the first quarter and only four in the second quarter. The Rams made six 3-point shots, with five of them in the first half.
The third quarter was a different story. The Rams committed seven turnovers and scored only 10 points, while the Mustangs took advantage of the turnovers and scored 19 points. Lead scorer sophomore Trey Tucker did not score in the third quarter, nor did senior Landon Braun, who is often the Rams’ Number Two scorer. With 1:30 left in the third quarter the Mustangs were up by nine points, a lead that can evaporate quickly should 3-point shots start falling, but that didn’t happen. The score at the end of the quarter was 50-38.
The Rams were still within nine until midway into the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs pulled farther out in the last two minutes to build the final 17 point margin.
For the game, the rams had 13 turnovers to the Mustangs’ three. Unofficially, the Rams were 20 of 46 in 2-point shots for 43 percent and six of 20 in 3-point shots for 30 percent. PCM was 28 of 55 in 2-point shots for 51 percent but 0 for 7 in 3-point shots.
It was the last game of the regular season for the Rams, but there could have been a tag at the end… “To be continued, next season.” Freshman Wade Adcock scored his first varsity points last Tuesday against Roland-Story. He started against PCM and was part of the rotation in every quarter. He led all Rams in scoring with 14 points.
Senior Riah Nelsen scored eight points, Braun scored eight, junior Tyler Beger scored six, Tucker and junior Mitchell Gorsuch scored five points each, and sophomore Reid Lamoureux scored three points. Braun and Beger each made the 3-point shots, Tucker made one and Gorsuch made one.
The Rams finished the season at 6-12 in the HOIAC and 6-14 overall. They start district play Feb. 23 in Carroll against Carroll. The Carroll Tigers are 14-4 on the season.
