The Greene County boys basketball team ended a two-game slide with a 66-50 win over the 0-3 Comets of North Polk in Jefferson Dec. 7. Senior Lance Hughes took the reins as team leader and high scorer in the absence of classmate Trey Hinote, who suffered a badly sprained ankle in the Nov. 30 game against South Hamilton a week ago.
Hughes scored 30 points for the game, including two 3-point baskets and two of three free throws to lead the Rams.
The Comets looked as though they might claim their first win, leading the Rams 14-9 after one quarter and 31-27 at halftime The Comets scored several uncontested baskets as the Rams transitioned poorly to defense, and the visitors committed only five turnovers in the first half while the Rams committed eight. Both the first and second quarters ended with the Comets making a 3-point basket on the buzzer.
The second half was a different sort of ball game. The Rams were still slow setting up defense, but the Comets’ hands got cold as they committee 14 turnovers in the half. Less than stellar free throw shooting continued to plague them; they made two of seven free throws in the first half and just five of 13 in the second half, for 35 percent for the game. The Rams’ hands were warmer, as they committed only five turnovers in the second half. They had made three of three first half free throws and they finished the game at 10 of 15 for 66 percent – below their season average but better than their opponent.
Carter Morton scored 19 points, including dunking a basket in the fourth quarter. It was the first Ram dunk this season. John Rosado made 10 points, a career high. His total included a tres. Caden Lowmiller scored a 3-point basket in the second quarter, and Cael Fisher and Skylar Ripperger scored two points each.
Comet senior Braden Hoksbergen scored 24 points, nearly half his team’s total production.
The Rams are now 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference. They make their longest road trip of the season next Tuesday when they travel to Monroe to play PCM.
The twin bill started with the #1 ranked Comet girls topping the Rams 76-13. The Comets led 27-0 before the Rams got on the scoreboard and led 44-5 at halftime. Sadie Wilson scored six points for the Rams, Bailey Cunningham scored five, and Izzy Bravard added two.
The Ram girls are 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the HOIAC.
