The Greene County boys varsity basketball team gave 2002 Jefferson-Scranton graduate Chris Nelson a win in his coaching debut with the Rams. The Rams topped the Ogden Bulldogs 77-61 in both teams’ season opener in the middle school gym in Jefferson Monday night.
Senior Trey Tucker paced the Rams with 33 points, including making four of seven shots from 3-point range. Tucker was one of four at the free throw line.
Senior Tommy Jacobsen scored 16 points including two 3-pointers, and sophomore Trey Hinote scored 12 points, all of them from 3-point range.
Sophomore Lance Hughes scored nine points, junior Jordan Patterson scored four, and senior Anthony Jacobsen scored two. Senior Calvin Skalla led the team in assists with six; he scored one point.
The Rams needed a big fourth quarter to claim the victory. The Bulldogs were up 16-14 after one quarter and the score was tied at 33 at the intermission. The Rams outscored the Bulldogs by four points in the third quarter for a score of 54-50. The Rams’ 23 fourth quarter points stretched the margin as the Bulldogs scored only 11 points.
The Rams were 10 of 19 from 3-point range and 30 of 50 overall for 60 percent shooting. They were seven for 12 at the free throw line for 58 percent. The Rams turned the ball over 21 times.
Ben Heeren led the Bulldogs in scoring at 14, with Nathan Kennedy at 12 and Jade Thompson and Kayden Kruse at nine each. Ogden committed 22 turnovers.
The Rams open Heart of Iowa play Tuesday night in Baxter against CMB.
