Basketball: Hinote's record-setting encore

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

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A not-so-subtle push from the school’s all-time leading scorer was all it took. 

Already one of the best shooters in Greene County history, Trey Hinote saved his best for last Friday night. 

The sharp-shooting senior torched Saydel for a Greene County single-game record 44 points Feb. 1 on senior night of all games, helping guide the Rams to a monumental victory. 

Hinote’s eight threes not only aided his elite performance, but tied one of his own school records as well, a mark he set back during his sophomore year. 

Hinote, who has separated himself significantly as the best three-point shooter in Greene County history, was ecstatic following the conference win, his final game on the hardwood of Jefferson. 

“It was an awesome night, no other way I would have wanted to go out,”  Hinote said. “I was beyond happy that we got the win, we have been getting better each and every game as of late and are trying to carry that into the post season.”

Hinote was in a zone early, feeling the onslaught of a special night during warmups. He had little idea his final night inside the Greene County middle school would be remembered in the history books. As Hinote retreated to the fourth quarter huddle, assistant coach and Greene County all-time leading scorer Trey Tucker pulled the younger Hinote to the side, giving him his blessing. 

“He told me to go and get it,” Hinote said. “It took me a while, but I got there. It’s all credit to my teammates and coach Chris Nelson. It was really cool so see my teammates want me to get it even more than I did.”

Despite a packed house full of friends, family and future coaches, Hinote’s nerves quickly dissipated as he took control of the contest from the opening tip. A banked in shot early in the game helped the senior ease into the action, perhaps hinting at a breakout night. 

Hinote was eight of 18 from three, which launched him over the 70 made threes mark, breaking the single season school record for the third time in his four-year career. The dazzling performance pushed his season three-point total to not only first in Class 2A (as of Feb. 5), but second in the state, across all classes at 78, surpassing his mark of 71 made threes a season ago. What separated this night from others was not only the records, but the fact it came in front of a special crowd of followers, Hinote said. 

 “It was cool to be able to do that on senior night especially with all the support I had from family, friends, and the community,” Hinote said. “Family friends drove from out of town to watch and even one of my Dordt coaches came. It’s always cool to do that with so much support.”

Hinote also broke the single game school record for made field goals, sinking 18 shots, surpassing Tucker’s mark of 15 in 2017. 

Greene County’s all-time leading scorer Trey Tucker, had set the previous high-water mark at 43 points during a narrow loss to Perry back on Feb. 14 2017. Tucker’s record stood a hair under two years, as he drilled a record 15-of-32 shots, only using four three-pointers to reach 43. 

The Rams led throughout the HOIC contest last week, pouring in 29 first quarter points, stretching their advantage to 22 by the half time break, leading 48-16. They completed the season sweep by out-scoring Saydel 19-11 in the third quarter, securing a nearly insurmountable 30-point lead entering the fourth. 

Greene County is a perfect 4-0 this winter while scoring 75 or more points, as they knocked off Ogden (96-91), Saydel (79-74) and Panorama (83-69) the three other times. 

Junior John Rosado got in on the action as well, chipping in a career-high 17 points snagging six steals while pulling in five rebounds. As a team, the Rams drilled 51 percent of their field goal attempts, including an 11-of-26 clip from three-point range.

The Rams’ 88 points is the second most in a single game in school history, only behind the 96-point outburst in the season-opener against Ogden. 

The Rams wrapped up the regular season with a 7-15 record, closing on a three-game losing streak. Hinote is confident Greene County will right the ship and make some noise as the playoffs begin Monday. With Rosado breaking out and Carter Morton chipping in a strong 15 points per game to go with a team-high 36 steals. The junior has also knocked down 36 three-pointers, padding the Rams’ third-best three-point total in Class 2A (156 as of Feb. 5). 

“This team is really starting to come together and celebrate each other’s highs and we stick together during our lows,” Hinote said. “We have a shot to make a run this year.”

Hinote has been on a tear this winter, surpassing the 1,000-point mark while also shattering the career three-point record, previously held by Tucker, cruising past the 200 plateau and bumping his season scoring average to 22.4 points per game, the sixth-best mark in Class 2A. Hinote’s 44-point outburst is the second-highest single game outing in Class 2A this winter. Sioux Center’s Cade Bleeker torched Unity Christian for 45 points back on Jan. 17. 

It was a tremendous way for a historic sharp-shooter to wrap up his home career. The emotions, nor stage, were never too big for the Rams’ leading scorer. He’s come to cherish the boisterous crowds night in and night out. Hinote always seemed to rise to the occasion inside the Jefferson gym. 

“I’ll definitely miss all the people that come to games and the community support,” Hinote said. “It’s always cool packing that gym, talking to the people in the community before games and going around shaking people’s hands. (It’s) something I’m always going to miss and that gym will always have a special place in my heart.”