The Greene County basketball teams traveled to Nevada Tuesday for their second games of the season against the Cubs and lost both games, giving the Cubs a sweep.
The girls lost 40-25, a smaller point differential than in 10 of their 13 losses this season. The spread would have been wider had the Cubs fared better at the free throw line. The home team shot 15 throws but made only two, for just 13 percent, far below their season average of 49.7 percent. The Rams made four of seven free throws for 57 percent, well above their season average of 39.8 per cent.
As in most games this season, the Ram girls were plagued by turnovers, both unforced and forced. They committed 29 turnovers to the Cubs’ 17, with most of them coming in a frustrating second quarter..
Brianna Habben scored 10 points for the Rams and Sadie Wilson scored seven, including making a pair of 3-point baskets. Izzy Bravard scored five points, Brianna Osterson scored two, and Kassie Lamoureux added one point.
The Nevada Cubs are now 7-9 overall and 6-3 in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference. The Rams are 0-13 overall and 0-9 in the conference. The girls’ next game is Jan. 21 against the Carroll Tigers in Carroll.
The Ram boys came close to a win but ended up on the short end of a 68-60 score. It was their third straight loss and their sixth loss of the last seven games.
If the Rams could have a do-over for one quarter in the game, they’d pick the second quarter. The score was 13-12 for the Cubs after the first quarter, but in the second quarter the Rams had a hard time holding on to the ball and every time they turned the ball over, the Cubs capitalized with a basket. The Rams managed just 10 points while the home team put up 20. The score was 33-23 at the break.
The Cubs came out of the locker room strong, scoring 10 points in less than two minutes of playing time. Cael Fisher ended the 10-point run with a 3-point basket. The Rams hustled the next six minutes and shortened the Cubs’ 20 point lead to 12 as the quarter ended. The score then was 53-41.
Trey Hinote scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, putting his team back in the game for the home stretch. With 1:11 to play, the Rams were down by only six points, 62-56. The Cubs played the clock and forced the Rams to commit fouls, though. They scored six points at the free throw line. Ram Nick Breon scrounged a field goal and the Rams paid a pair of free throws, making the final score a disappointing 68-60.
Hinote was in good form, making six 3-point baskets, three 2-pointers, and four of four free throws for 28 points. Fisher scored 13 points with two 3-point baskets, a pair of 2-point basket and three of four free throw shooting. Carter Morton scored 11 points, Breon scored four points and Zach Goff scored two. John Rosado was the only other Ram to play; he didn’t score.
The free throw numbers are the most telling of the game. The Rams made nine of 14 free throws for 64 percent. The Cubs made only 55 percent of their free throws, but they went to the line 29 times.
The Rams are now 5-9 overall and 3-6 in the HOIAC. They’re scheduled to play Dallas Center-Grimes in a Basketball Jamboree Saturday in Gilbert. The Nevada Cubs are 7-6 overall and 4-5 in the HOIAC.
The Rams host South Hamilton for a boy/girl Mega Night Tuesday, Jan. 22.
