The basketball games against North Polk Friday were not the typical high school games, as the Rams and Comets were the “warm-up act” for a Des Moines Timberwolves game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
The games were on the Heart of Iowa conference schedule and were moved to the afternoon when the opportunity to play at “The Well” developed.
All players suited got playing time at The Well in the boys game, a lopsided game that resulted in a 62-44 win for the Rams.
The Rams scored the first eight points and led the entire game The Comets trimmed an 11-point lead after one quarter to as short as five during the second quarter, but the lead was 30-18 at intermission. Of the Comets’ 18 points, Colten Parkins scored 16.
The Rams shot at 45 percent, very close to their season average. The Rams made six 3-point shots and were 10 for 11 from the free throw line. The made only five turnovers for the game.
Senior Joe Towers, in his first year as a Ram having played six years at a Paton-Churdan Rocket, led the Rams in scoring with 16 points. Trey Hinote scored 13, Lance Hughes scored 11 and Wade Adcock scored eight points Ben Bravard and Carter Morton added six each, and Ben Wilkins scored four points.
The Rams are now 4-1 overall and in the conference. The Comets are 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the HOIAC.
The girls game was also lopsided, but it was the 12th-rated Comets handing the Rams the loss, a decisive 62-23 loss.
The Rams were behind 18-4 after one quarter and 37-10 at halftime. Much of the second half was played with a continuous clock was the point difference was 35 points or more.
It was the varsity team’s first look at Comet freshman Maggie Phipps. Phipps scored 25 points with only about 20 minutes of playing time total for the game.
The Rams sot at 20 percent from the floor and had 15 turnovers. The Comets shot at 44 percent from the floor and had seven turnovers.
Laurin Lyons scored 11 points, Samantha Hardaway scored seven, Regan Lamoureux and Onica Delp scored two each, and Ashley Millard scored one point. Every player had playing time during the game.
The Ram girls are 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the HOIAC. The Comets are 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
The Rams host non-conference Southeast Valley Jaguars for non-conference play Monday evening.
