Rams defeat Saydel on Senior Night for first win, but fall to West Marshall and Perry

By TYLER ANDERSON tanderson@iowainformation.com

At the beginning of the season, the Greene County High School girls’ basketball team were optimistic, holding a belief that they could be competitive every time they stepped out onto the court. Due to injuries, shorthanded and other factors, the winter campaign was anything but kind to the Rams.

However, the red and black won’t finish the season winless.

Following a 73-30 loss against West Marshall in a Heart of Iowa Activities Conference matchup held on Jan. 30 in State Center, the Rams put on their best performance of the season with a 51-46 victory over Saydel in a HOIAC contest last Friday at the Greene County Gym in Jefferson. 

The Rams couldn’t keep that momentum, though, falling to Perry by way of a 40-23 final score in a HOIAC clash held this past Saturday at the Greene County Gym in Jefferson. 

Going into the weekend, the Rams moved to a 1-18 overall record with a 1-13 mark within the Heart of Iowa.

This past Monday, Greene County made a short trip north to take on Southeast Valley in a nonconference contest at the SVHS Gymnasium in Gowrie. This past Tuesday, the Rams wrapped up their HOIAC slate with a matchup against Perry at the Perry High School Gym.  

On Jan. 31, the Rams found out where they will go for regional play. Placed in Class 3A-Region 7, Greene County will make a long trip north and west to take on Cherokee Washington in a first round matchup, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Cherokee Washington High School Gym. 

Recaps from the final contests of the regular season and from the Rams’ matchup against the Braves will be reported in an upcoming edition of the Jefferson Herald.  

West Marshall 73, Greene County 30: Starting off their recent stretch with a trip east, the Rams couldn’t get much going against the Trojans in a Heart of Iowa Activities Conference contest on Jan. 30 at the West Marshall High School Gym in State Center. 

West Marshall controlled the game from the get-go, and didn’t allow the Rams any chance of scraping back into the game.

Sophomore Becca Anderson led the Rams with eight points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals, as freshman Makenna Ebersole totaled seven points, eight rebounds, two steals and one assist. Sophomore Kaycee Pittman contributed with six points and three rebounds, followed by junior Ella Shipley’s three points, three rebounds and one steal, freshman Sara Morlan’s three points, one rebound and one assist, junior Payton Kokenge’s two points and two rebounds, and freshman Alaina Heard’s one point and one rebound.

Senior Grace Hardaway provided one assist, and freshman Autumn Barrett also had playing time against the Trojans.

Greene County 51, Saydel 46: Redemption finally came for the Rams, using a strong second half to clip the Eagles in a Heart of Iowa Activities Conference matchup held last Friday at the Greene County Gym in Jefferson.

Recent trends were in effect early for the red and black on Senior Night, as the Rams fell behind early at 13-9 heading into the second quarter. Greene County stayed close, though, trailing 24-23 going into the locker room.

Then, the Rams turned the tables in the third period, outpacing the Eagles via a 13-7 margin. This lifted the home town to a 36-31 with eight minutes to go.

Both teams kept pace with one another, but it was the Rams who captured a five-point victory.

Pittman had a stellar showing of 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal, complemented by Ebersole’s double-double of 10 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kokenge tallied nine points, seven rebounds, four blocks, three steals and one assist, followed by junior Emma Shipley’s six points, four steals, two rebounds and two assists, Anderson’s four points, three rebounds and two steals, and Heard’s four points and one rebound.

Ella Shipley left the game with three points, one rebound and one assist, and Hardaway grabbed one rebound against Saydel.

Perry 40, Greene County 23: Unfortunately for the Rams, the positive momentum didn’t last long, as the Jayettes used a huge opening burst to down Greene County in a Heart of Iowa Activities Conference game, which took place this past Saturday at the Greene County Gym in Jefferson.

Perry ran out to a 17-2 lead by the end of the first stanza, and kept the Rams at arm’s length until the final buzzer.

Heard came off of the bench to pace the red and black with seven points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal, while Ebersole collected six points, 13 rebounds and one block. Emma Shipley chipped in with five points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal, followed by Kokenge’s two points, seven rebounds and one steal, and Ella Shipley’s two points, two rebounds and one steal. Hardaway had one steal, and Barrett also put in some time on the court against the Jayettes.