The Ram girls basketball team can take heart in perfect shooting from the free throw line in their loss to the South Hamilton Hawks Friday in Jewell. They can also be proud of themselves that they didn’t give up, but did their best shooting in the fourth quarter. The Rams scored 21 points for the game; 11 of them came in the fourth quarter.
The Rams were scoreless until Sadie Wilson made a 3-point basket with 38 seconds to play in the first quarter. The host Hawks had scored 11 points. The only points for the Rams in the second quarter were a free throw by Bailey Cunningham and field goal from Wilson. The score at intermission was 24-6.
The Rams scored only four points in the third quarter and were down 37-10 at the buzzer. In the fourth quarter Cunningham made two 3-pointersand Makala Kafer made one. Madison Hayes added a pair of free throws. The final score was 40-21.
Unofficially the Rams made seven of 47 shots for 15 percent. The Rams made four 3-point baskets, three 2-point baskets and three free throws. They committed 24 turnovers.
The Hawks made 15 of 46 shots for 33 percent and committed 12 turnovers.
The Hawks are 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the HOIAC. The Rams are 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Boys’ unable to regroup after Hinote leaves due to injury
The boys went into the game knowing it wouldn’t be easy to top the #5-rated Hawks. The Rams started well, making four 3-point baskets in the first three minutes of play. As Trey Hinote landed from making the fourth of the 3-pointers he injured his left ankle and left the game. That basket put the Rams up 14-6. Lance Hughes was the next player to score, but after that, the game was all about the Hawks.
The Rams’ defense was AWOL and their shooting chilled. Carter Morton scored a tres with one minute to play in the quarter. The first quarter ended with the Rams on the short end of a 22-19 score.
The Rams didn’t score in the first 1:45 of the second quarter as the Hawks put up seven unanswered points. The Rams were unable to contain South Hamilton senior Conner Hill, his classmate Logan Peters, or junior Cade Balvanz. Hill scored 29 points for the game, with Peters and Balvanz scoring 17 each.
The Hawks led 45-28 at halftime. Even after the intermission, the Rams were unable to regroup. They scored just six points in the next frame and the Hawks led 67-34 after three quarters. The game clock was continuous the last 5:38 of the game as the Hawks had a 35-point advantage, 71-35. The final score was 79-47.
Hughes led the Rams in scoring with 14 points including 3-point baskets. Morton was right behind with 13 points and a pair of 3-pointers. Nick Breon made seven points with one tres, and Hinote had six points on two 3-pointers before he left the game. Caden Lowmiller made one 3-point basket and Skylar Ripperger and Cole Betts added two points each.
Hinote led the Rams in scoring in the Score Fest against Ogden, scoring 33 points. Against Perry, Morton was the high scorer with 24 points and Hinote scored 21. The extent of
The seriousness of Hinote’s injury was still unknown when the game ended.
Ram fans are accustomed to the Rams scoring more points, but even with Hinote playing, they’ve had similar game totals. Last season the second meeting between Greene County and South Hamilton resulted in a 70-47 loss for the Rams. The Rams lost 70-45 to the PCM Mustangs in their second meeting, too.
During the 2016-17 season the Rams topped North Polk with a score of 47-43. They lost their first post-season game to Dallas Center-Grimes 66-36.
The Rams are now 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the HOIAC. The Hawks are 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
The Rams host the Gilbert Tigers for a Mega Night Tuesday, Dec. 4.
