The Ram boys basketball team is 1-1 after its first two games of the 2019-20 campaign. The Rams lost Dec. 2 to the Ogden Bulldogs in Ogden, and walloped the Perry Blue Jays 65-27 at home the next night.
Against Ogden, the Rams were schooled in the importance of playing four quarters of ball. They led 12-7 at the end of the first quarter and were up 22-21 after two quarters. However, the Bulldogs outscored them by 12 points in the third quarter, leaving the Rams on the short side of a 42-31 score. Both teams scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and the Rams lost 57-46.
The Rams had balanced scoring from seniors Carter Morton and Cael Fisher, scoring 10 and nine points respectively. Sophomore Bryce Stalder scored nine points in his varsity debut. Senior Caden Lowmiller made six points, senior Nick Breon made five points, junior Zach Goff made four, sophomore Max Riley made two points and junior Jaxon Warnke made one.
Ram fans became accustomed to 3-point shots in recent years, but in the season opener this time they made 21 shots from 3-point range and sank none of them. They made 12 of 41 shots from two-point range for 29 percent, and 22 of 28 free throws for 78.5 percent. Morton was eight for eight from the line and Fisher was seven for eight.
The Rams grabbed 32 defensive rebounds, with seven each for Breon and Morton. They had nine offensive rebounds. Typical for an early season game, the Rams tallied 32 fouls for the game, with Breon, Fisher, Goff and Lowmiller all fouling out. Morton and Stalder were called for four fouls each.
The Rams dominated against the Perry Blue Jays Tuesday night and all 12 players got time on the floor.
The Blue Jays kept up with the Rams for the first quarter and were behind by only two points, 13-11. At halftime, though, the Rams were up 45-16. The Rams were ahead 57-22 at the end of three quarters and the entire fourth quarter was played with a continuous clock.
Coach Chris Nelson put reserves in the game and the Rams added another eight points during the fourth quarter. The Blue Jays scored only five points that quarter for the final 65-27 score.
Morton led in scoring with 23 points, including three 3-point baskets. Goff made 14 points, Fisher and Stalder made 10 points each, senior Skylar Ripperger made four points, Breon made three and senior Logan Kinsey made one point.
They shot at 44 percent from 3-point range, with Morton’s three, two each from Fisher and Stalder and one from Breon. From the floor they made 24 of 57 shots for 42 percent. They made nine of 13 free throws for 69 percent. Morton, Goff and Kinsey were all perfect from the line.
The Rams open Heart of Iowa play Friday against South Hamilton at the Greene County middle school gym. Game time for the boys is 7:30 pm.
