Perhaps the best part about the Rams’ basketball games against the Boone Toreadors in Boone Tuesday night is that the teams won’t play again this season.
The girls lost 82-20 and the boys lost 72-49 in the non-conference games.
The Boone girls, ranked 15th in Class 4A, had 19 points before the Rams scored with 2:32 to play in the first quarter. The Toreadors were taller, quicker, and better at ball handling than the Rams. For the game, the Rams had 23 turnovers to the Toreadors’ 10. The Toreadors’ height gave them the advantage in rebounding, and they had 26 rebounds to the Rams’ 12.
The Rams were just six of 27 (22 percent) from 2-point range and one of 7 (14 percent) from 3-point range. They were strongest at the charity line, shooting 62 percent at five of eight. The Toreadors were 26 of 39 from 2-point range and eight of 18 from 3-point range. They were also five of eight in free throws.
The score was 27-5 after one quarter and 38-12 at halftime. The 35-point rule, which calls for a continuous clock if, during the second half, one team has a lead of 35 points or more, went into effect with 6:40 to play in the third quarter. Boone’s lead was 42 points, 58-16, after three quarters.
The Rams were playing without Kenna Marquardt due to an ankle injury early in the game against Winterset Monday night. Hanna Promes had four points, Taylor Wessling had the team’s lone 3-pointer for three points in the game, Laurin Lyons scored three points at the free throw line, and Sunny Mobley, Nicole Rohner, Onica Delp, Cassidy Adamson and Brooke Hayes all scored two points. Rohner’s points were both fourth quarter free throws.
The Rams are 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference.
In the boys’ game the Toreadors set the tone for the game with five 3-point baskets in the first 3-1/2 minutes of play. They shot at 75 percent from 3-point range and 45 percent from 2-point range and held a 24-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Rams were cold shooting in the second quarter and managed to make just two field goals and a pair of free throws as the Toreadors scored another 20 points, including four more 3-pointers. The score at halftime was 44-17.
The Toreadors’ shooting was less sharp in the third quarter. They scored 12 points with only one 3-pointer at the end of the quarter. The Rams scored eight points on two field goals and four free throws. The score was 56-25 at the end of the quarter.
Boone was close to the 35 point lead needed for a continuous clock, putting up a three to start the quarter and stretching the lead to 34 points (59-25), but Thomas Jacobsen made two free throws to get the point differential back to 32 points at 59-27. The Rams made the next basket, too, and during the last six minutes of the game the lead didn’t exceed 28 points.
For the game, the Rams made 15 of 52 from the floor for 29 percent, below their 37 percent team average. The Toreadors made 23 of 53 for 43 percent, right at their average. The Rams committed 17 turnovers compared to the Toreadors’ 11. The Rams did win the rebounding game, with 36 to Boone’s 30.
Boone junior Ethan Lewis led all players in scoring with 27 points, more than double his average. The Rams were playing without lead scorer Trey Tucker due to an ankle injury that came during the second overtime. Tyler Beger, who averages 10 points a game, was ineligible to play.
Mitchell Gorsuch led the Rams in scoring with 11 points. Trey Hinote had nine, Wade Adcock had eight, Calvin Skalla had seven, Thomas Jacobsen and Lance Hughes had five each, and Max Neese and Anthony Cunningham had two apiece.
The Rams are 2-6 on the season and 1-4 in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference. Their next game is Jan. 5 against Saydel in Jefferson.
