By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

___ • ___

A family tragedy birthed a mission that perils in comparison to the sacrifices he made, but one Jim Cox knows would make his brother proud.  

Perhaps the greatest coach in Paton-Churdan history is still cooking up success nearly four decades later. Motivated by a war hero and a passion for the underdog persona,  Cox has pioneered another storybook season all the way near the Canadian border, 30 years after his initial coaching stint in small-town Iowa football.   

A Bedford, Iowa native, Cox made a commitment in the eighth grade to honor his fallen brother’s life by pursuing his fleeting passion. Howard Max Cox was killed in action during the Vietnam War in 1968, at the young age of 22 years old. 

Howard’s body was located and returned to his family a full month later, and when Howard’s best friend stopped by with his last letter, the words inside inspired Jim. 

“(The letter) simply said, if he ever got out of there, all he wanted to do was come back and be a college coach,” the younger brother said, thinking back on that moment nearly 50 years ago. “From eighth grade, without having any coaching contacts, I tried to honor his name by living out his dream.” 

That mission led to Jim taking a coaching position at Paton-Churdan, which he forever altered the history of the football and track programs. He led the Rockets to back-to-back state football titles in 1985 and 86, a 29-game win streak, a 1986 state track title and a 1987 runner-up finish. He was a man among boys, building the P-C Rockets from the ground up during his 10-year stint, engineering consecutive undefeated seasons. 

Leading struggling programs to success has become his calling card. 

Today, at 62-years old, Cox is the head coach at Northland Community and Technical College, a northern Minnesota program he led to its first conference title in school history not even two weeks ago.  

The coach has always set the bar high, and his latest goal is to capture the Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference’s first victory over a scholarship program. 

Prior to his arrival in 2016, the Pioneers were 2-5 coming off a 2014 suspension for lack of participation. 

Rebuilding downtrodden programs is why Cox took the Northland job in the first place, in the twilight of his career. He thrives off the challenges most other coaches would run from. 

Taking over a struggling team is something Cox has always been drawn to. 

–– • –– 

The cards have typically been stacked against Cox. The coach who has never lacked confidence, is the mastermind behind several spectacular turnarounds. 

He leapt into the coaching profession with little references to fall back on, and nearly half an athletic department to run, all on his own. 

The P-C football team won a total of four games in four years prior to his arrival in 1979. Cox was 24 years old tasked with leading every aspect of the football program, from the defense and offense to the special teams. That first coaching job shaped his lengthy career. The now college coach took one of the state’s worst programs into prominence. It certainly wasn’t easy, but his success in Churdan helped craft him into the coach he is today.  

“It was challenging for me because I’m high energy,” Cox said. “To be in a position where I had to coach offense and defense, to do it all, that kept me so busy and focused. It really helped me develop as a coach.”  

Cox played the same role in track, coaching every event for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. 

The 10-year run Cox had at the small, west central Iowa school district, is something he’ll cherish for the rest of his life. He remembers it as if it were yesterday. 

“To be honest, (since) I started out and I’ve always continued on, you always go back to your first coaching job,” the football coach said. “Paton-Churdan was so down. I’ve fallen in love throughout my career going to schools that have never had success.

Paton-Churdan helped develop my coaching (career) where I really loved situations where I could rebuild.” 

The hey-days of the 1980s are what continue to fuel his underdog persona. To say Cox pioneered (excuse the pun) a successful stint at Paton-Churdan would be an understatement. The Rockets never lost a playoff game with Cox at the helm, going 8-0. He compiled a 57-26 career record with three conference titles. 

Jim and Lant Doran each earned all-state honors and played for Iowa State University. Cox coached 54 athletes who qualified for the state track meet,  five of whom won state titles. 

“I’m so happy that all the kids of Paton-Churdan are doing so well,” he said. “I owe so much to the kids of Paton-Churdan.” 

The job he’s done with the Northland program is fittingly similar, as his career nears a close. Northland produced just 12 winning seasons in 40 years prior to 2016 with just one bowl appearance in more than 20 years. 

The Pioneers were also left rotting near the bottom when he took over last winer. 

–– • –– 

When Cox first arrived in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, a town of roughly 6,000 people 70 miles south of the Canadian border, the former two-time state champion coach immediately initiated a culture change. 

The southwest Iowa native brought honesty to the forefront of the Northland Community and Technical College athletic department. 

It was common for recruits to be misled of where exactly Northland was located and the life sacrifices they had to make before Cox took over. The average low temperatures in Thief River Falls hover around -3.7 degrees in January and 1.7 in February, with highs right around 15 degrees. It’s a tough sell for Cox and his coaching staff, but the atmosphere around the program now is a far cry from the previous coaching regimes. 

The football program was in disarray, Cox said. He immediately set the record straight with any potential newcomers. He had to bring in players without the promise of scholarship program. The MCAC is not a scholarship league.  

“(There were) decades of coaches lying to kids to get them here,” Cox said. “They were so desperate to get kids. We are almost in Canada, they felt the best way to do so was not tell them the truth on the cost.”

Cox’s intent was to attract top-notch athletes with integrity and he coupled that with a coaching pedigree that speaks much louder than any amount of words.

“The first thing we did was to be brutally honest with them when we recruited,” the coach said. “I think my years of experience (helped kids). I brought credibility. I’ve coached NFL Pro-Bowlers, I’ve coached kids who have broke world records in track. 

When you are honest with kids, they have a tendency to gravitate to that. You get a whole different type of kid.” 

Once Cox got the players he wanted, he knew the turning point was on the horizon. The Pioneers went 5-4 in his first year at the helm in 2016, a three-win improvement from the year prior, and with nearly his entire offense returning, expectations, at least for Cox, was bubbling toward the top. 

The coach knows a team with untapped potential when he sees it, even if he wasn’t yet 10 years removed from high school himself the first time around. 

“In 1984, I started a whole bunch of sophomores at Paton-Churdan and we were 4-4,” Cox said. “I told anybody and everybody that we were going to be really, really good, and i don’t think anyone believed that we would win back-to-back championships and go undefeated.”

The 2017 Northland team treated Cox with nine wins and a conference title. There’s still more work to do, though. The final unchecked box is taking down Ellsworth Community College, a scholarship program, in the Graphic Edge Bowl. It’s a goal Cox entrenched in the minds of his players during winter workouts, calling on his knack for predicting the future. 

“I sat back and watched where we were. I put on my door, that not only were we going to be good, but we are going to be the first team in this league to beat a scholarship program,” Cox said. “That’s what the bowl game is all about. I don’t think anyone really believed me that I knew we were going to be really good.”

–– • –– 

The 20th-ranked Northland Pioneers will square off against Ellsworth Community College out of Iowa Falls in the Graphic Edge Bowl Sunday, Dec. 3 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. 

Ellsworth Community College, despite their 3-8 record, presents a challenge Cox’s players have yet to face. They’ve won the last three Graphic Edge Bowls with athletes bigger, faster, stronger, and most likely, more talented. The Ellsworth athletes were lured to the Iowa school with the promise of scholarship money. That notion sets Northland behind the eight ball, which is why Cox brought a new, non-traditional offensive philosophy to northern Minnesota. They out run guys, not overpower them. Frankly, it’s their best option against players of Ellsworth’s caliber.  The Pioneers implore a run-and-shoot offense, slinging the ball all over the field. 

“Preparing for the scholarships kids, knowing they’d be bigger and stronger in the offensive and defensive lines, for us to go to Cedar Falls and beat a scholarship program, we needed to be an aerial attack,” Cox said. “We can’t line up and drive off kids that are getting scholarships. When I went out to hire assistants on offense, that’s what I was looking for.”

The Pioneers are 9-2 this fall, more than tripling their win total from 2015, and entered the NJCAA rankings last week at No. 20. 

Cox has flipped the notorious decline into a vigorous upward trend, producing a two-year record of 14-6. 

In addition to the first league title in school history, the Pioneers earned a bowl game invite for just the second time in 15 years, last playing in the Graphic Edge Bowl in 2002. 

–– • –– 

Cox’s coaching career has taken him all over the Midwest which has spawned some interesting opportunities. He left Paton-Churdan for Ellsworth Community College in 1989 (who Northland will face on Dec. 3), then pursued a coaching stint at Navarro College in Texas, which he left for William Penn University to bring them from the basement of small-time college football to one of the best in the state. He also latched on to Southeast Missouri State before eventually became a coach in the indoor arena football league with the St. Charles River Rage near St. Louis , Missouri, later taking over as director of operations. 

His coaching career has produced an NFL rookie of the year, Dale Carter, with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1992, and Eliud Bargantuny, a world record-holder in the steeplechase. Carter played for Ellsworth Community College in 1988-89 and later went on to the University of Tennessee before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1992. Cox has coached 16 future NFL Pro Bowlers.  

The transition into indoor football was surprisingly simple, Cox said. The restrictions allowed his philosophies to thrive and shine. 

“It was real easy, the rules are so simple. The rules are all set up for offense,” he said. “You can’t blitz, you can’t twist your lineman. It makes it real easy as a coach. There aren’t a lot of Xs and Os.” 

Cox took that offensive experience with him to northern Minnesota, where he’s produced the most efficient attack in the country. 

In a mere two seasons, the Pioneers have climbed to the top of the NJCAA, scoring 39.2 points per game and averaging 454 total yards per game. Shannon Patrick has blossomed into the nation’s most proficient quarterback. He has thrown for a NJCAA-best 41 touchdowns and 4,122 yards, 800 yards more than the second place quarterback with a 60 percent completion rate. He averages 374 yards per game, which is also tops in the country. He’s No.1 in completions as well with 325. 

Getting Patrick to come up north from Palm Beach, Florida was the final piece Cox needed. The sophomore signified the official start of the turnaround. 

“I had talked to him for nine months everyday, texting and calling him to convince him that he didn’t want to sit on the bench somewhere,” Cox said. “Now he’s setting all kinds of junior college records. Recruiting him here was huge for us.” 

The Pioneers beat Mesabi Range 68-35 in the historic Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference title game Sunday, Nov. 12 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Pioneers shook off a one-point halftime deficit to outscore Mesabi 41-7 over the final two quarters. 

Northland compiled 668 yards of total offense, with Patrick throwing for 575 yards and eight touchdowns, completing 31-of-49 passes while four Pioneer receivers went over the century mark.

The victory ended a four decade drought for a school that has endured heartache, lies and carelessness.

Those that stuck with it were rewarded.  

–– • –– 

The historical triumphs Cox has brought to the program has been as uplifting for the school as it has been for the long-time coach. 

Now nearing 63, Cox was pulled out of retirement for one final rebuilding project. He hasn’t executed these near miracles for his own personal gratification, it’s more for the people within and surrounding the school. He craves the joy that resonates throughout.  

“When I walk down the hallways, I see all the teachers that have been here for a long time and the smiles on their faces,” Cox said. 

That emotional certification is all the reward he needs. 

“It was fantastic,” the coach said following the MCAC title win. “When you do things like that, it’s not really relief, it’s a satisfaction. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there and worked hard to get it.”  

Just nine years removed from a winless campaign in 2008 and three years after a season with no football, Cox has the Pioneers situated firmly at the top of Minnesota, literally and figuratively. The school’s athletic director, Mike Curfman, has taken notice of the job Cox has pulled off. His presence will have an impact for many years after. 

“Winning our first ever MCAC Championship is a tribute to Jim, his coaches and players and a great reward for all their hard work and preparation that they do week in and week out,” Curfman said. “Jim has really been able to move Pioneer football forward in the short time he has been here, it has been impressive to watch.”   

He continued, ““Jim has been a wonderful addition to our athletic staff. He is a tremendous recruiter and has the ability to get the best out of his players.” 

The records, the titles, the high-flying offense and the enthusiasm of the players, it’s all brought a rejuvenated energy to the school, Curfman said. And that inspiration Cox’s brother provided in 1968 is still with him, nearly 50 years later, leading the coach to heights he never could’ve imagined back in junior high. 

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

–– • –– 

Here we are, poised to dive head first into the winter schedule as temperatures hover in the 50s. As strange as the weather may be, with five local teams competing, and excitement brewing, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy this winter. We in the Jefferson Herald sports department have compiled the 10 sporting events we are most looking forward to over the next four months. This list, if anything,  should help generate some interest in the casual fan base. 

We’ve got basketball, wrestling and swimming dotting the landscape, so for those looking to shake off the eventual Cabin Fever and satisfy their competitive juices, this list is for you. 

1. Greene County boy/girl doubleheader vs. North Polk at Wells Fargo Arena (Dec. 15 in Des Moines)

This may not be the best set of games all year, and that’s not putting either of the teams down, but it’s certainly the coolest opportunity. 

The Ram boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will face off against North Polk on the sprawling, professional court of Wells Fargo Arena Dec. 15. 

The Des Moines appearance will pit two Heart of Iowa Conference squads against each other in an opportunity of a lifetime. Wells Fargo Arena is home to the boys’ and girls’ state tournament each year, and can hold upwards to 15,000 fans at capacity. What a cool moment for the west central Iowa High School.  

 2. Greene County boys’ bball vs. Grand View Christian, Nov. 6 in Jefferson

This game should be a wild one and could provide a great measuring stick for the Rams. Grand View Christian scored more than 100 points six times last season while cruising to the Class 1A state title. Greene County averaged 68.3 points per game last year, scoring more than 80 points on five occasions, twice cracking the 90-point mark. 

Though this game doesn’t mean much as far as conference and playoff implications, it will give the Rams a chance to see how they stack up against the best. The Thunder averaged 84.8 points per game a season ago and compiled a 27-1 record, draining a remarkable 221 threes. Buckle up boys and girls, high-octane offenses will light up the scoreboard in February. 

3. Greene County wrestling vs. Carroll, Winterset in Jefferson, Nov. 30 (Already happened)

The Rams dive right into their unfortunately small home schedule as they host Carroll and Winterset, a preview of the Rams’ 2018 sectional opponents in Winterset. Though it’s early, the Rams will get a good look at what they may face in February as well as get a chance to wrestle against a 3A squad. This is also one of just three home meets for Greene County wrestling this winter, with just a single home tilt after the calendar flips into the new year (Jan. 11) with the other meet sandwiched in between on Dec. 7. Get out and enjoy this one.

4. Greene Co. girls’ bball vs. #10 Nevada, #7 (4A) Boone, Week of Dec. 21 

This marks a brutal week for the Greene County Rams as they hit the road for back-to-back match ups against top 10 ranked foes. If the girls can keep these two contests close, it will be a huge confidence boost for the program. Both Nevada and Boone qualified for state a year ago while Nevada could have a conference winning streak nearing 25 games at this point. 

5. P-C boys’ vs. Ar-We-Va, Jan. 5 in Churdan

The Paton-Churdan boys’ team is the only Rolling Valley Conference squad to have beaten Ar-We-Va in their history in the RVC, doing so back in 2016. The all-Rockets matchup could pit P-C up against a team that has a regular-season win-streak nearing 28 games. Ar-We-Va swept P-C with ease last winter, so revenge will definitely be on the minds of the local squad. 

6. P-C girls’ bball vs. #7 Exira-EHK, Dec. 19 in Churdan 

Will the Rockets actually be able to stay competitive with the back-to-back state qualifying Spartans now that they have some size? Defensive, freshman center Danielle Hoyle (6’2”) should be able to match up with Sophia Peppers (15PPG & 9RPG in two games last winter), but can she produce enough offensively to keep P-C in the game? It’ll be an interesting test, as P-C has four girls capable of scoring at least 10 PPG in Jenna Beyers, Grace Geisler, Megan Carey and now Hoyle. 

7. Greene County boys’ bball vs. South Hamilton, Jan. 30 in Jefferson 

This game could essentially be the de-facto Heart of Iowa Conference champion. The Hawks won the league title a year ago by a single-game over Greene County and returns four of five starters from the state-qualifying team. In the second to last conference game of the year, the winner will most likely come out on top as HOIC champion. What a way to close out the conference season. The two teams split the regular season series last winter, I’d certainly expect more of the same competitiveness this time around. Greene County and South Hamilton are the giants of the league. 

8. Wrestling state tournament, Feb. 15-17 Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines

The spectacle that is the Iowa High School state wrestling tournament is hard to pass up every February. The enthusiasm, excitement and downright insanity it generates is unrivaled in any other high school sporting event in Iowa. Good luck trying to find a parking spot on the Friday of the meet anywhere near Wells Fargo, as most of the parking garages are regrettably sold out by 8 a.m. 

Greene County often has a been a staple at the state meet, which makes this a must attend event each and every winter. Don’t miss out on your chance to view one of Iowa’s most famous spectacles, with hundreds of athletes competing for individual glory. 

9. Greene County wrestling vs. #9 PCM, South Hamilton, Jan. 11 at Home

The Rams welcome ninth-ranked PCM into town for the season finale. It’s one of the final tune-ups for the Heart of Iowa Conference tournament and should give Greene County a good sense of where they stand within the league as they enter the postseason. 

With a bevy of youthful talent nearing the tail end of their second full varsity season, the Rams should only be rounding into form at this point. Could a potential upset be on the horizon? 

10. Boys state swim meet, University of Iowa, Feb. 10 in Iowa City

This is a cool opportunity for the high school swimmers in February. The state meet has been moved to the NCAA regulation swimming pool at the University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center after 12 years in Marshalltown. The Hawkyes have hosted the NCAA championships in the past and could provide significant motivation for the Greene County swimmers competing on the Boone swim team. 

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

__ • __

Burning the midnight oil nearly took on a literal meaning as the opening tip of the season neared. 

Instead of actual oil, though, the Greene County girls’ basketball team was hoisting up jumpers, running sprints and, get this, watching movies. 

The Rams held their own rendition of “Midnight Madness” a few weeks ago, a new tradition head coach Dean Lyons was urged into by his ambitious senior class. 

Lyons’ daughter, Laurin, who is a senior this winter, along with several of her classmates approached the coach with the unusual practice idea, and, admittedly, he was a little skeptical at first. But the coach was quickly persuaded, and the moment turned into a special evening for the team. 

“I thought, you’re crazy,” Lyons said. “But, you know what, they wanted a team bonding thing, and we have 33 girls out and everyone of them were there. 

The athletes wrapped up the night with a movie. The late evening activities really pulled the team closer, Lyons felt. With five players on the court at all times, they need to learn to work as a cohesive unit. 

“It was really nice. They were all together,” the coach said. “It felt good and I think it helped our team out. Something different for team unity.

I had a lot of kids come and tell me they enjoyed it. It’s something I’ll always remember.” 

Change is the general theme as the Rams head into the teeth of the winter schedule. 

Coach Lyons doesn’t shy away from the lack of success the Rams have endured over the past few years. Greene County has won just 15 games in the last three seasons (they were 4-18 a year ago) – and he knows his girls must develop a winning mentality to turn that around.  To do that, the Rams must replace 18 points per game scoring which was provided by departed seniors Kenna Marquardt, Taylor Promes and Taylor Wessling. 

Coach Lyons wants his girls to rely on defense in the early going, by pushing the tempo and switching up his schemes. The Rams will deploy several different defensive fronts in an attempt to leave their opponents discombobulated. 

“We are going to mix a lot up, change some things. We’ll make the other team think,” Lyons said. “We’ll throw in some half court trap. We’ve been working since day one, because we have the quick girls up front and maybe we’ll get some quick buckets off that. 

It’s a little bit different. Hopefully, we can force some turnovers that way.” 

Last year, the Rams often were run out of the gym, falling behind quickly thanks to swarming full court presses and offenses that liked to get out in the open court. Greene County was a step behind when it came to speed, and that’s something Lyons hopes to flip this year. They want to be the agressor. 

“Last year, we had some injuries, we had a little bit of everything and people just ran us into the ground. We didn’t have the bench. This year, we are quicker,” Lyons said. “We have a saying that we started in the fifth grade, ‘be the hammer, not the nail.’ We want to be the one that run the people into the ground, the one that is most aggressive and I think the girls have bought into that.”

The veteran core of Laurin Lyons, Samantha Hardaway, Onica Delp, Ashley Millard and Regan Lamoureux has been together for nearly 10 years with coach Lyons along for the ride, coaching traveling teams and leading them at the middle school level.  He has a deep talent pool at his disposal, which is something he has rarely had at the helm in Jefferson. 

“I feel like we have a lot of girls that we can rely on this year to step up and help the team,” Lyons said. “This team feels a little different. 

They’ve been around each other so long and they know what I expect from them.”

This winter will be Lyons’ third year as head coach, after having spent time in Pomeroy, Paton-Churdan and East Greene. He coached junior high for two years prior, while another year as a varsity assistant. 

Lyons’ daughter, Laurin, is the last of the Lyons children to play for their father. While its something he’s enjoyed, Dean did admit there are some challenges that arise when coaching family, especially at the varsity level. 

“The toughest thing I’ve learned, there are two of them. The first, when the game is over, you have to leave it, you can’t take it home. I’ve been told that by my kids numerous times,” the elder Lyons said. “The second toughest (thing), let’s be honest, your kids take a beating from the public at times and other kids because you are the coach’s kid. It’s tough, but they’ve adapted really well to it and kind of let it go in one ear and out the other. 

I love coaching my kids, it’s a great opportunity to be with them and I wouldn’t trade it for (anything).” 

Laurin led the Rams in scoring (8.3 PPG), rebounding (5.5 RPG) and passing (3 APG) for the second straight year  last winter and poured in 16 points in the Rams’ season-opening win against Ogden Monday, Nov. 27. She’ll be the focal point of a Rams squad that looks to build off her success. 

“She’s been around the gym all her life. She grew up with me coaching boys then girls,” coach Lyons said. “She brings experience, toughness and leadership to the team. We will rely on her a lot. We’d like her to have, realistically, around 15 to 20 points a game.”

Tenth-ranked Nevada once again will be the cream of the crop in the Heart of Iowa Conference. The Cubs have won 37 straight HOIC games, stringing together back-to-back perfect league records and four straight conference titles. 

Lexy Koudelka, a Division I recruit who signed to play basketball at Illinois State earlier this month, led the conference in scoring (19.4 PPG), rebounding (13.3 RPG) and field goal percentage (60 %) while she was second in blocks (3.5 BPG). 

Taking down the champ will be a tall task for anyone this winter, Lyons said. The Cubs were 22-2 a year ago with yet another state tournament trip punched. 

“There’s no doubt about it, until they get beat, it’s Nevada,” Lyons said. “They still have (Lexy) and she’s going to be really tough. After that, there’s quite a drop off.” 

The coach feels another veteran squad to the northeast ranked in the top 10 who could make a run to make it interesting this time around. 

“A team to watch this year will be Roland-Story,” Lyons said. “They bring back everybody and they’ve got some younger kids. They’ve got shooters.” 

The Rams started the year 2-1 and travel to Saydel, Dec. 7 after a six-day lay-off.  

The 3A regional tournament begins Feb. 10 with the state tournament set for Feb. 26 through March 3 at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

__ • __ 

One thing Greene County’s opponents know they’ll have to come to terms with this winter is the Rams will score and at a lightning quick rate. 

Just where a potentially lethal offense can take the Jefferson high school is entirely up to the guard-heavy unit. 

With two double-digit scorers returning from last winter’s squad, three starters as well as the addition of a point guard transfer who scored 16 points per game last winter just a few miles north, Ram fans could be in for quite the treat in head coach Chris Nelson’s second season. 

Add all that onto the fact Greene County makes a move down to Class 2A for the 2017-18 season, this squad certainly has generated significant excitement as opening tip approaches. 

Heck, Nelson, who guided the Rams to a 14-8 record in his first season at the helm, isn’t afraid to express his own enthusiasm for the upcoming schedule. He can sense big things bubbling toward the brim. 

“I am very excited for this upcoming season. We have a good number of kids either returning or will be stepping into new roles which creates that excitement,” the coach said. “Wade (Adcock, 11 PPG), Trey (Hinote, 15 PPG), and Lance Hughes, 8 PPG) all started last year and really improved, not just in the basketball skill area, but also the mental aspect of the game, but we still have room to grow.”

Of course, any season preview would be underwhelming without mentioning the impact losing Greene County all-time leading scorer Trey Tucker has on the Rams. 

Though the departed 2017 graduate holds the school record for most points (1,811) and most made three-pointers (196), he helped transition a sputtering Ram program that needed direction, pushing Greene County to 14 wins a season ago, the consolidated school’s first winning-winter in its’ five-year history, and a second-place finish in the HOIC. 

“Trey did a great job for us last year. He obviously was a very good scorer but what we will miss most is his competitiveness,” Nelson said. “I thought he matured a lot and became a good leader for us. You don’t always get to coach a kid with skills like his and I was fortunate to. I think the guys that played with him and kids who watched him, realize with hard work and dedication, that type of player can be produced in our community and I think he has jump started that for some. 

He along with our other six seniors (last year) really helped us set a good foundation and now it is this years team’s turn to take the next steps forward.”

Losing Tucker does not create as big a drop off one might imagine. No, quite the contrary. The record-breaker invigorated a basketball-crazed community and opened doors for the quick, sharp-shooting guards that dot the roster this winter.

A pair of prolific scorers will fill the shoes left by Tucker, as Trey Hinote, along with his school-record 68 three-pointers a year ago and P-C transfer Joe Towers combined for 31 points per game, though on different teams, last winter. Towers (16 PPG, 33 threes, 4.1 APG, 4.5 RPG) would’ve been the third leading scorer in the HOIC last winter and brings with him several years of varsity experience. He’s also played in some big time match ups (P-C upsetting Ar-We-Va two years ago ring a bell?) and should provide a solid transition into the future. 

Nelson envisions the senior making a significant impact during his first, and last, season in the red and black. 

“Gaining Joe Towers is big as he brings some more offense, but does it in different ways that blends well with the others,” the coach said. 

With a veteran, guard heavy lineup, Hinote’s blistering three-point shooting, Adcock’s high field goal percentage (67 percent, which led the league last winter) along with a handful of players who can produce points as well, the Rams will push the tempo yet again, hoping to improve upon their 68 points per game in Nelson’s rookie season. 

“Scoring should not be a problem as we have four very good options plus some others that can knock down shots when the opportunity is there,” the coach said. “We will play fast and should be better with our defensive pressure in the half court.”

Greene County’s depth, which Nelson feels his bench could go six to eight players deep if he really needed it to, provides an extra layer of ferocity in practice. 

“We have 14 guys that are all competitive and athletic,” the coach said, “Which should create a more intense and competitive atmosphere where each individual will get pushed by their peers.”

Just two of the Heart of Iowa Conference’s top 10 individual scorers were upperclassmen a year ago, Tucker (24.5 PPG) and South Hamilton’s Collin Hill (21.9 PPG), which means it shouldn’t take much for South Hamilton and Greene County to battle it out once again for conference supremacy. The Hawks return the top-point guard in the league in Marco Balderas, who averaged 12.7 points per game while dishing out 5.8 assists per game in addition to 63 steals. South Hamilton captured the HOIC crown with a 14-2 record in 2017-18, using it to fuel a state-tournament run in which they nearly upset eventual 2A champion, Western Christian in the first round. Hill did lead the conference in steals (67) and blocks (44) and was second in rebounding (8.3 RPG), which will be difficult to replace. 

Greene County was 13-3 in league play a season ago, earning a split with South Hamilton, each team winning on the road. Nevada will be a tough out again as they return four of five starters including Trent Stahl, who was fifth in the league in scoring at 14.1 PPG to go with 4.5 rebounds per game and 4 assists per game. The Cubs defeated Greene County 66-60 in Jefferson for one of the Rams’ three losses last season. As a team, the Rams led the HOIC in threes made (169) while shooting 50 percent as a team, aided by 131 total long balls from Tucker and Hinote, and PPG (68.3). PCM was a close second with 151 made threes and brings back Jackson Thomas, who was fourth in the HOIC in made threes with 53 while averaging 14 PPG as a junior. 

Staying at the top of the league this winter will be no easy task, Nelson said. 

“I think our conference will be better than last year as the majority of the teams return quite a bit of talent,” the coach said. “South Hamilton, to me, is the favorite until someone knocks them off. However, Nevada and PCM will be right there. Gilbert, Roland-Story, and North Polk can all compete and knock anyone off.”

Defense was a sore spot for the Rams a season ago, as they often failed to get back following a missed shot, allowing 59.3 points per game, including more than 80 points on three occasions. 

A line up with just one player over six-feet tall could have played a role in those defensive lapses. Grabbing those key caroms will be the difference between a great season and an average one, Nelson said. 

“We lack size, so rebounding will be a huge part in determining our outcome of our season,”  the coach said. “We have to continue to work on defensive positioning off the ball.”

The Rams (1-0) take on Saydel, Thursday, Dec. 7. The Eagles recently snapped a 24-game losing streak, and have lost 41 of their last 44 contests, spanning two years. 

By BRANDON HURLEY

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley 

Times are tough for Greene County wrestling. 

But a resurgence is coming, though it may take some time. 

Despite an outfit nearly 30 athletes deep, the Rams lack experience, and frankly, don’t have a deep pool of students who know the sport. 

It’s a notion head coach Mark Sawhill has had to face head on just a week-and-a-half into the winter schedule but certainly one his willing to put the time in for. 

“We have to be patient and teach them because a lot of them haven’t been on a mat before,” the coach said.   

Senior Cayden Gerdes is one of the most veteran wrestlers on the team, and has a lot of weight on his shoulders as one of the lone seniors with experience. The Rams have received a surprising boost from fellow senior Clint Dennhardt, who is making his first foray into high school wrestling. 

The two-year starting quarterback is off to a 6-1 start with a fifth place finish (182 pounds) at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational in which the Rams competed against 13 other teams, including several 3A squads.

Dennhardt’s dedication to being the best is what Sawhill feels has ignited the blistering start. 

“He’s just a good athlete, No. 1 and No. 2, he knows how to work hard, he’s always done that and he’s proven it in football,” the coach said. “He does everything right and has the right frame of mind. He’s there to win, he’s not there to participate. He’s there to compete and that makes a big difference. 

Clint is an athlete and he wants to go after people.” 

Greene County, more specifically, Jefferson and Jefferson-Scranton does have a illustrious wrestling past. They boast three individual state champions and dozens of state-place winners, all of whom line the walls of the wrestling room at the Jefferson Fieldhouse. It’s been 23 years since a wrestling championship was secured in Des Moines, but state-qualifiers are the norm, 

The Rams won a Heart of Iowa Conference dual title in 2013 and Jordan Challen placed in the 2015 state meet and was a three-time state-qualifier. In fact, the Rams sent three wrestlers to state that year and have a string of state-qualifiers that dates back more than 20 years. 

Allow me to take a brief trip down memory lane, will you? 

State champions, while few, do call Greene County home. 

Dave Hagedorn was Jefferson’s first state champion in 1979, and he went on to wrestle at Utah State. He finished his senior season with a 31-0 record, compiling a 62-1 stretch run over the final two years, finishing with exactly 100 career wins. 

Erik Strawn came along a few years later and produced one of the best single-seasons in school history (32-0) in capturing the 1982 state title. 

Strawn’s victory came on the heels of his runner-up finish as a junior in 1981, putting a cap on a tremendous two-year run, compiling a career record of 109-13-1. The Rams placed eighth as a team that 1982 winter, also anchored by Mike Oakes, who secured second place, falling in the championship match at 167 pounds. The Rams had four representatives in Des Moines that year, aided by Craig Hastings and Jeff Miner as they produced a perfect 9-0 dual meet record and reached as high as No. 7 in the state. 

Will Thomsen is the third state champion, pulling off the feat in 1994 for Jefferson-Scranton/Paton-Churdan. Thomsen amassed an incredible 42-0 record during his senior year, tallying a school-record 122 wins and just 18 losses. 

The Rams have come close since, but have not been able to recapture the glory of the late 70s, 80s and 90s. 

The present is geared toward helping young Greene County athletes birth a love for the sport. It starts with the fundamentals, Sawhill said. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of tapping into it and harnessing it to the best of their abilities. Right now, many of his wrestlers don’t know all the intricate details of the sport. 

“Teaching them the right things to do,” the coach said. “Pushing the conditioning, believing in them and getting them to believe in themselves and hopefully we will get back to where we are supposed to be.”

Jefferson Herald sports editor Brandon Hurley sits down with Greene County girls' basketball head coach Dean Lyons to preview the 2017-18 season.

Jefferson Herald sports editor Brandon Hurley sits down with Greene County boys' basketball head coach Chris Nelson to preview the 2017-18 season.

Our sports editor Brandon Hurley sits down with Greene County girls' basketball head coach Dean Lyons to discuss the first week of the season. The episode aired Dec. 4 from Tech Zone in Jefferson. 

Jefferson Herald sports editor Brandon Hurley sits down with Greene County boys' basketball coach Chris Nelson to recap the first two weeks of the 2017-18 season. Episode aired Dec. 11 from Doc's Stadium in Jefferson. 

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

Churdan -

The heart-stopping moment came with 15 seconds left, but proved to be the biggest shot of the night. 

Samantha Brown’s game-tying corner three – her fourth of the game – sent a roller coaster RVC matchup into overtime, which allowed Glidden-Ralston’s quick and athletic defense to takeover, guiding the Wildcats to a 66-59 road win over Paton-Churdan, Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Despite freshman Danielle Hoyle’s best efforts down the stretch (the 6’2” center tallied eight gigantic points in the fourth quarter, including six straight), the Paton-Churdan Rockets (2-2) fell short in what could’ve been a key victory.  

That final momentum swing was a culmination of grit and persistence as G-R erased what once was 18-point first half deficit, holding the Rockets to just a single point and no made field goals in the extra period.

The Wildcats’ swarming second half full court press flustered P-C ball handlers, forcing them into errant passes or quick shots, a switch head coach Cole Corson went to at the half time break. An 11-point halftime P-C lead (34-23) quickly vanished in the third as G-R took advantage. 

“We started out in a man press looking to trap. Based on their press break we switched it to a zone press and we adjusted some people,” Corson said. “Normally, we do it a little differently and we talked about it at half time, taking away certain passing lanes and we’d have to sprint back. When they did beat it, we had to make sure we were sprinting back to take away that backside pass. 

We took away the middle and it started to slow things up.”

The press was clearly a defensive set the Rockets weren’t ready to handle, as G-R used an 18-7 run, including back-to-back threes from Bridgette Daniel (14 points, six rebounds, five assists), to tie it at 39. The second half looked eerily similar to P-C’s first two quarters, but with the roles reversed. 

“We have to handle the ball better,” Paton-Churdan head coach Tom Kennedy said. “We showed some flashes where we handled it well but then we had lapses. They were trying to get us to take quick shots, but when we stopped doing that and tried getting it inside, that’s when we started to come back.”

Kennedy took a moment to allow his girls to learn from G-R’s athletic press. It clearly rattled an offense that was clicking in the first half, as it forced P-C into a staggering 31 turnovers.

“(It) sped us up and it forced some turnovers. Then we started taking quick shots that weren’t layups,” Kennedy said. “I would’ve been fine with that, but we started shooting some deep shots. We got behind when we weren’t pulling it out and working it inside. We were patient when we came back on them.”

P-C built an 18-point first half lead thanks to advantageous three-point shooting and missed G-R layups and turnovers. Six Rockets scored in the opening six minutes, including three-pointers from a trio of players as they built a 30-12 lead. P-C made four first half threes but just one in the second half. 

Once G-R tied it late in the third thanks to an 18-7 run and three Daniel long balls, a clinic of high-quality basketball ensued. 

The two Rolling Valley Conference rivals played tug-of-war the remainder of the way, trading various forms of haymakers. As a team, G-R drilled six second half threes, helping complete the miraculous comeback. A persistence to stick with the offensive game plan paid off. 

Daniel and Brown (17 points) each hit four from deep and played pivotal roles in the second half. Add that in with Hannah Whitver’s 10 second half points and it was a perfect recipe for the game-changing run. 

“If we can make threes with our quickness, we are tough to stop,” Corson said. “If we can shoot the ball well and they are in a zone, they have to come out of it. And if they go man, I think we are athletic enough to create some mismatches. Being able to shoot the ball is huge for us.”

No squad could separate themselves late in the third or in the fourth, though G-R did hold a five point lead with 3:30 left. That’s when Hoyle, who finished with a tremendous double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds), went to work, scoring on three straight possessions to give P-C the lead. Junior Megan Carey’s three-pointer off Hoyle’s missed and-one free throw gave the Rockets a four point lead with 90 seconds to play, capping a thunderous 9-0 run. 

The freshman center’s presence four games into the season has been the difference in P-C’s early season success. She’s averaging a double-double in her first varsity action, scoring 13 points per game while pulling in a RVC-leading 10.5 boards per game. She adds another dimension to the Rocket offense and allows better spacing for their athletic guards. 

“She does a great job for us. In the first half, I thought she really controlled the boards,” Kennedy said. “In the second half, she was getting stuck on the baseline but when she went out and got the boards, it started to help us. 

She helps us inside and she opens shots for us. We have to be a little more patient, work it inside to her and Jenna (Beyers) then kick it outside. We have good three-point shooters but we have to learn the rhythm of it.”

Megan Carey (10 points) was the only other Rocket in double figures, but five athletes scored at least six points, providing a balanced offensive output. 

The fairly quiet extra period was kick-started by a G-R bucket followed by a steal and fast break layup. It seemed as though the Wildcats’ pressure had finally broke P-C’s will, outscoring the Rockets 9-1 for the victory. The emotional win moved G-R to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play with their lone loss to undefeated Exira-EHK. 

The loss dropped P-C to .500 on the year, but yet another game in which the Rockets made more than 45 percent of their three-point attempts. In Three of their four contests so far, the Rockets have not shot worse than 45 percent from three. Though they blew a big lead, they did find enough to force overtime and did not let the disappointment snowball into a blow out loss. 

“Really, we could’ve had a much bigger lead in the first half if we rebounded better,” Kennedy said. “We have to handle the ball better. Coming into the year, I said how we handle the pressure and our rebounding would determine how good we are. That’s what we have to shore up. Some times we get lost on shooters, too.  

Though they shot fairly well, knowing when to take a long three and when to work the ball inside to Hoyle or Beyers, who came into the game averaging 12.3 points per game, pouring in nine points to go with four boards Tuesday.

“It’s hard to teach them (exactly) what a good shot is because they are good shots, but I’d rather them have a touch inside then go back out,” Kennedy said. “That’s something we are learning.”

The Rockets are on the road Friday, Dec. 15 against West Harrison then take a long trek north to take on West Bend-Mallard,  an hour-and-a-half drive, Monday, Dec. 18 before returning home, Tuesday, Dec. 19 for an RVC tilt against sixth-ranked Exira-EHK, who has made three straight state tournament appearances.

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

Churdan - 

A seemingly minor sequence late in the second half defined the grit of a team in search of their first win. 

Crisp movement from the Paton-Churdan offense found the ball in the hands of point-forward Charlie Minnehan, who calmly dropped a delicate bounce pass to Gage Behrens for an easy layup. 

That sequence gave the Rockets the cushion they needed, a six point lead with 80 seconds left, as P-C snatched their first win of the year, a gritty, come-from-behind 69-61 victory over Glidden-Ralston at home. 

Minnehan finished the game with 14 points, scoring in a variety of ways, a pair of three-pointers, driving layups, mid-range floaters while also hauling in seven rebounds to go with four assists. 

A seven-point deficit quickly became an eight-point advantage for the once down-trodden Rocket squad late in the third quarter. P-C entered Tuesday’s battle with Glidden-Ralston on a three-game losing streak and in search of their first win. The resiliency proved pivotal in the Rockets’ comeback win. 

“It’s huge. Those first ones are always big ones,” P-C head coach Chris Stimson said. “We had been in games but never were able to really finish it off. Tonight, things started to click and we had some guys step up that hadn’t. It was a matter of them believing in themselves. You want to make sure that you have five worthy guys out there that can count on one another.” 

P-C would find that elusive victory on the backs of their seniors and another momentum-shifting sequence midway through the second half. 

The Rockets poured in 39 second half points, including a decisive 15-0 third quarter run as the Rockets snatched a win in their home-opener, after playing three straight on the road. 

It was a matchup of two of the conference’s most veteran and level-headed leaders, as P-C’s Jake Berns and G-R’s Justin Sparks combined for nearly 60 points, trading haymakers throughout the second half. 

Ultimately, it was the hometown Berns, who tallied a big-time double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) who led his squad to victory, slicing through the lane for tough buckets while snaring a handful of weak side offensive boards for back-breaking second chance buckets. 

The delectable taste of the season’s first win is always delicious, especially if it took four tries to pull off. 

Berns and Minnehan combined for 42 points and 18 rebounds as they finally got that proverbial monkey off their back. 

“It feels great,” Minnehan said, relishing the victory on a familiar court. “Starting 0-3 then getting a big win at home, it’s nice to have.”

The senior calmly found his shots and didn’t force the issue, spreading the ball around when needed. He drove when the three wasn’t there and took the open shots that were given to him. That late sequence in the fourth played right into his own game plan Tuesday night. 

“In previous games, I tended to take early threes, but this game, I decided I wanted to get to the line more,” Minnehan said. “I started to get aggressive and get to the hole and create for my teammates as well.” 

Though Berns ultimately lugged the Rockets to victory with his swiss army knife-like repertoire, it was a five minute stretch early in the second half that made the difference. A seven-point P-C possession, which included a technical foul, an and-1 bucket and a corner three, swung the game, as the Rockets took a 50-42 lead. Though Sparks and his game-high 29 points would eventually tie the contest at 54 with three-and-a-half to play, the Rockets would never trail again, as Berns and Minnehan played off each other well to pull out the elusive win. 

But it wasn’t the offense that kick-started the all-important run, Minnehan felt. A tightened initiative on the other side of the floor led to the momentum change. 

“It all started on defense. That enabled us to get more efficient shots and it also gave us confidence,” the senior said. “It all started on defense and that should be our identity down the road.” 

G-R led 35-30 at the break, but a technical foul and poor defensive rebounding allowed P-C to take a 45-37 lead late in the third. 

G-R head coach Tyler Shipley frustratingly benched his starters prior to the run, hoping to make a statement, pointing to the lackadaisical performance on the defensive end. The offense was there, the Wildcats drilled nine threes and put up a fight until the end, but it was the effort on the opposite side that had Shipley upset. 

“That was the only thing that was wrong. Our offense looked pretty good tonight. But I told our guys at halftime, if we don’t come out with intensity, I’ll just take you out,” the coach said. “I had to do that tonight and thought maybe that’d wake them up, it did a little bit but our defense wasn’t where we needed it to be.” 

Berns’ heroic efforts continued to keep G-R at bay as his rebounding and driving ability, as well as clutch free throws, maneuvered the Rockets to a 6-0 run in a 30 second span, securing the victory. The confidence and poise his guys showed Tuesday satisfied Stimson and was a big key. 

“I told the kids, be patient and value each possession,” the coach said. “We can’t have ill-advised shots or passes, we aren’t good enough yet. It’s a confidence-builder for our kids.”   

Berns and Minnehan played well off each other all night long. When the Rockets needed to pull out of a slump, one of the two was right there for a big offensive rebound or a clutch three-pointer. That’s something Stimson had been waiting for two weeks into the season. He got that watershed moment from his two most veteran guys. 

“Their leadership is unbelievable,” the coach said. “I can’t be more proud to have them. I’m glad they are working hard. They are doing it the right way and showing the younger kids. They’ve been very encouraging, picking them up when they have a bad shot. We are going to count on them all season long.”

Sparks did everything in his power to keep the Wildcats within striking distance, scoring 29 points on an array of threes and driving buckets. He capped off the effort with a double-double, snaring 11 rebounds to go with five made threes. 

His presence was key as the Wildcats were without their leading scorer, Blake Pagel. 

Berns bumped his scoring average up to 23 points per game through four contests, which is third in the RVC behind Ben Obert’s (CR-B) 25.3 PPG and Joe Weber of Boyer Valley (24.6). Minnehan is averaging 11.75 points per game while Berns is pulling in the second-best rebounding average in the league at 9.75.

The Rockets play four times in the next week, starting with Friday’s road trip to West Harrison. They then make a long, 90 minute trek to West Bend-Mallard on Monday before hosting Exira-EHK Tuesday, Dec. 19 and Boyer Valley the final day before winter break (Dec. 22). It’s a pivotal week of the season, Stimson said. 

“This is a big builder. It’s a big stretch coming up,” the coach said. “It’s nice that we head north and west, hopefully we can build on this. You can’t come out and be flat and I’m going to continue to work them.” 

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

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What: Iowa Wolves High School Hoop Series

Who: Greene County vs. N. Polk DH

When: 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

Where: Wells Fargo Arena, downtown Des Moines 

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It must’ve been a joke. 

When the Greene County girls’ basketball team first caught wind of a potential date at The Well, they didn’t believe it. 

A prestigious facility usually reserved for state qualifying teams couldn’t possibly host this small, west central Iowa school, would it? With three state tournament appearances in school history between the two boys’ and girls’ programs, a chance to play in Des Moines has been quite the rarity. 

Well, despite the dismay to many coaches and players, the Greene County girls and boys basketball teams will in fact partake in the annual Iowa Wolves High School Hoop Series Friday, Dec. 15 at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines hosted by the Iowa Events Center. 

The event allows select schools from all over the state to play on the pristine court each winter.

The initial disbelief quickly wore off for the girls’ and boys’ team as reality set in and they prepare for a Heart of Iowa Conference doubleheader with North Polk. Even girls’ coach Dean Lyons was a little taken back when he first saw the schedule, but then memories of nostalgia set in. 

“When I was told that, I didn’t believe it,” the coach said. “As a kid, it was Veteran’s (Auditorium) for me, but it was playing on this big court in this nice arena, it was awesome.” 

Wells Fargo Arena is located on the northern edge of downtown Des Moines, roughly 65 miles southeast of the Greene County High School. The arena plays host to both the boys and girls state basketball tournament each year at the end of February and mid-March. It is also the home court for the Iowa Wolves, a Minnesota Timberwolves NBA G League affiliate and the Iowa Wild, the Minnesota Wild’s AHL minor league affiliate. The arena can hold upwards to 15,000 fans and has hosted big name musical concerts in the past including Drake, Toby Keith, Hall and Oates, and Katy Perry. 

The Rams will tip off their doubleheader with the North Polk Comets at 2 p.m. with the girls’ game first up. The boys’ will follow at 3:30 p.m. or 15 minutes after the girls’ game concludes. 

The doubleheader provides a chance for Chris Nelson’s guys to get a feel for where the Rams hope to be come March, the Greene County boys’ coach said. It’s not taboo to have eyes on lofty expectations. 

“We have a confident team even after getting beat, and one of our goals is to make it to the state tournament,” the coach said. “I think this is a really good test in a situation that will give us a taste of what it’s like to play there and use that momentum the rest of the year. 

We will have tasted what it’s like, but if we really want to get down there, here’s our new objectives and what do we need to do to get there. I think it will be good motivation.” 

Greene County schools will dismiss at 11:45 Friday, Dec. 15 for the unique showdown. Pre-ordered tickets, which still can be purchased at the high school office, are $8 and allow entry into the girls’ and boys’ high school games as well as the Iowa Wolves versus Northern Arizona NBA G League game at 7 p.m. that night. Tickets at the door will be $18. 

A Greene County pep bus, chaperoned by Shannon Black and Donna Carhill, will take roughly 50 students to and from Des Moines. 

The enthusiasm has slowly been building for this rare doubleheader. Lyons knows his girls will be ready as they take on their second straight ranked foe.  

“They are really excited,” the coach said. “The school is letting out, hopefully we have a nice crowd. It’s great for the program. It’s something that we can say that we played in Wells Fargo and a lot of teams can’t say that.” 

The girls square off against the 15th ranked Comets, who enter Friday with a 5-1 record as of Tuesday, Dec. 12 with their lone loss coming to No. 8 Nevada (42-29) back on December first. North Polk is averaging 48.5 points per game with back-to-back wins over Gilbert and South Hamilton by 60 total points. They are led by two double-digit scorers, including Maggie Phipps at 13 points per game.  

The boys, while facing a winless Comet team (0-6 as of Tuesday), won’t be caught with their guard down, not after surrendering an 11-point lead to PCM last Friday. North Polk will play a similar style to the Rams, relying on their speed and quickness. The Comets may have a somewhat deceiving winless record, as they’ve played one of the tougher schedules in the conference, including a loss to No. 6 South Hamilton, Perry and Gilbert. There certainly hasn’t been any cupcakes out there, and Nelson is aware of the trap, if you will. 

Couple a winless opponent with an unfamiliar, massive arena as the back drop and the coach hopes his guys can avoid a sluggish start. 

“We will have to play our game. Yes, because of the size (of the court) and the open background, we may have some ugly looking shots to start off, but we have to find a way to get ourselves relaxed,” the coach said. “The best way to do that is on the defensive end. Once the game really gets going, I think our kids will be fine.”

Nelson plans to ease his athletes into the atmosphere, arriving hopefully an hour prior to the girls’ game to give them a feel for the bigger court and wide open arena.   He’s hoping it helps eliminate the intimidation factor and his three-happy team doesn’t fall in love with the NBA three-point line. 

“We will go down on the court and walk around, get a feel for what it’s going to be like out there,” Nelson said. “We are going to play our game, and we have to recognize that we are playing on a 94-foot floor and where our actual three-point line is because we don’t have to settle for the long ones.

We’ve got a few that can shoot them but we don’t necessarily need to all the time. I’m hoping we can get down there early so we can get the (aw factor) out of the way.”

The nerves will be there, but its a matter of riding out the initial wave of excitement. 

“I’m sure if I was out there, the adrenaline would be pumping and I’d be jumping a little bit higher,” Nelson said. “We have to try and get through that first wave of energy and get to our second wind.” 

VIEWING TOP-TIER TALENT 

The Greene County athletes, coaches and fans who make the trek down to The Well this week will be treated to one of the highest levels of basketball following the Greene County doubleheader. 

The Iowa Wolves, a G League (formerly the Developmental league) affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves, hosts the Northern Arizona Suns, a Phoenix Suns affiliate, at 7 p.m. Dec. 15. 

“It’s going to be a really good team bonding time,” Nelson said of the pro game. “I know the kids are really excited for it and were asking about it. It’ll be really cool, and it’ll obviously be much cooler if we win our ball game. But regardless, playing and then being able to watch the next two levels above us will be a cool experience.” 

The game will be broadcast on Facebook Live on the NBA G League Facebook page. 

Former Maryland standout Melo Trimble leads the Wolves in scoring (23 PPG) and passing (6.4 APG). The 2013 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett, is a member of the Suns. He’s played in nine games and is averaging 12.3 PPG and 6.8 rebounds per game. 

Former University of Northern Iowa star Wes Washpun has played in eight games for the Wolves this year, averaging 5.8 points. Washpun, a graduate of Cedar Rapids Washington, began his career at Tennessee before transferring to Cedar Falls. He averaged 16.3 points per game during his senior year, leading the Panthers to the second round of the 2016 NCAA tournament. 

Nelson will use Friday’s night cap as a teachable moment, urging his guys to really study the athletes on the floor and how they play the game. 

“The G League, they are all really good players, but they aren’t quite good enough for the NBA. Just to see how they move and how they play (will help us),” the coach said. “They are going to do a lot of similar things that we do from a fundamental point, but to have our kids see them do it at a high level will be really good for us.” 

Peter Jok, a former West Des Moines Valley star and 2017 first-team all-Big Ten member for the Iowa Hawkeyes, has appeared in just one game for the Suns, attempting just one shot. Jok  was the Big Ten’s leading scorer in his senior season (2017-18), averaging 19.9 PPG. He went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft and signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns in September. 

The familiar, but not quite marquee names will be an added bonus for those in attendance. And though it will be somewhat of a learning opportunity, Nelson encourages his guys to pay more attention to the college game for fundamental purposes. Many of the athletes on display Friday have played big roles on winning college basketball teams. So in a way, it does fit with Nelson’s philosophy. 

“Our kids will know some of those guys so it will be really cool for them,” the coach said. “I tell them to watch more college because I feel like you learn more from college  than the NBA because it’s a whole different game. 

I tell them to watch how they play. Especially when things aren’t going well, how do they handle the situation. A lot of my guys probably know these guys better than I do.”  

The Greene County boys' and girls' basketball teams played North Polk Friday, Dec. 15 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines for the Iowa Wolves High School Hoop Series. The boys' won, 64-44 to improve to 4-1 while the girls lost 62-23 to the 12th ranked Comets. (Pictures and video by Brandon Hurley, Jefferson Herald)

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor

sports@beeherald.com

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A gritty comeback fueled the Greene County boys’ basketball team to their fourth straight win Tuesday, Dec. 19, a 60-55 road triumph at Nevada. 

Trailing by nine after one quarter, the Rams strung together stingy defense coupled with advantageous offense improving to 6-1 on the year. 

A defensively stout third quarter helped pull the Rams ahead entering the fourth, up 44-42 but one final round of resiliency would ultimately allow Greene County to prevail.  

“I was very pleased with the way our kids did not get rattled by Nevada’s play in the first half and answered very well in the third quarter,” Greene County head coach Chris Nelson said. “I thought we were much more aggressive on both ends and attacked the paint well in the second half. Defensively, we mixed it up again and I think we hustled much better as well.”

The Rams fell back down by five in the fourth quarter, but a locked-in defense allowed the Rams to make another comeback and secure the victory. Greene County held the Cubs to a single point over the final five minutes, closing out the triumph on an 11-1 run.

“Our kids believed in each other when we were down five and made a great run to end the game,” Nelson said, who was thrilled with the defensive showing when his shooters didn’t have it.

The ability to close out victories has been a key calling card through the first half of the year. 

 “(It) shows our kids are figuring it out on the defensive end,” Nelson said. “That was a struggle for us last year in finishing some games and to see our kids play together and learn from last year to finish tonight was outstanding.” 

Greene County’s Trey Hinote poured in a season-high 28 points while dishing out six assists to pace the Rams. Senior forward Wade Adcock chipped in yet another double-double, tallying 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting while hauling in 13 boards, six on the offensive end. 

After stumbling to a 10-point loss to PCM at home Dec. 7, the Rams have rattled off four straight victories, despite getting inconsistent offensive production. 

The Rams struggled with their touch beyond the arc Tuesday, knocking down just three-of-19 attempts (15.7 percent), dropping their season shooting percentage to 29.3 percent from distance. 

Greene County has stopped relying on offense to win every game, and that’s something coach Nelson said his guys can hang their hats on. 

“I think our understanding of what it takes to win, to play and do the little things consistently throughout four quarters, and playing together are the keys to this little four-game run,” the coach said. “Our kids believe in each other and are playing confidently.”

The win keeps Greene County within striking distance in the Heart of Iowa Conference, sitting at 5-1 in conference play, one-and-a-half games back of No. 6 South Hamilton (9-0, 6-0). 

Hinote is tied for the league lead in scoring at 17 points per game aided by a conference-best 16 made threes. 

Adcock is averaging a double-double while leading the league in rebounding and shooting percentage (13.4ppg, 11.1 rpg, 59.1 percent), securing double digit rebounds in all seven games this winter. 

The Rams continue their brutal final week before the holiday back, a string of four games in five days, with a road contest against Boone tonight and a showdown with rival Perry Friday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Jefferson. 

The key to finishing out the week is remaining confident and trusting what works, Nelson said. 

“Guys are playing their roles well and picking each other up when one has an off night,” the coach said. “We know we have a nice team but also know we still have plenty to work on. We are going in the right direction.”

Nevada girls secure 43rd straight HOIC win, send Rams packing

The shooting woes continued for the visiting Greene County girls’ basketball team as nine first half points, including just two points in the second quarter, spelled doom and  the seventh-ranked Nevada Cubs continued a conference win-streak which dates back to 2015.

Nevada (8-1), secured its 43rd straight   HOIC victory, last suffering a loss in January of 2015 with a defensively stout 45-21 triumph over the Rams. The three-time defending conference champions only loss this year was a 51-49 buzzer-beating defeat to ninth-ranked Boone in the opener. 

Greene County (3-6) fell behind 30-9 in the first half and scored a mere three points in the third quarter to wrap up their fifth straight loss. The Rams connected on just seven shot attempts (seven-for-29) while attempting only a trio of three-pointers. Not one Greene County athlete reached double figures in scoring, led by Bailey Cunningham’s nine points. The Cubs swiped 15 steals and out-rebounded the Rams by 10 (33-23), led by Lexy Koudelka’s double-double (21pts, 13 rebs, five blocks). 

After starting the year 3-2, the Rams ran into a buzz saw and are in the midst of a five game stretch that includes four ranked teams. 

They travel to Boone (7-1) tonight, the final game before the holiday break. The Toreadors (4A) qualified for state a year ago and have made 39 threes this year. 

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

It was one heck of a year for sports inside Greene County. From snapped postseason droughts to broken records and high profile commitments, the athletes of Greene County High School and Paton-Churdan did not disappoint. Here are the Jefferson Herald’s top 10 sports moments of the year. Take a look back with us, if you will, and let us know what you think. 

Enjoy!

1. Trey Tucker breaks scoring record/named all-state

How can you make a year-end list and not include, in my opinion, the best basketball player in Greene County history?

It truly was a banner year for the decorated Trey Tucker, who broke the school’s all-time scoring record with a spectacular 39-point performance in a win Jan. 13. He holds the career mark with 1,811 points, also setting the all-time three-point mark (196). 

The departed senior led 3A in scoring last season (24.5 points per game) and led the Rams to their first winning-record as the consolidated Greene County school district (14-8), the most wins for a Jefferson team in four years. 

“It’s been a long road,” Tucker said following his record-setting night. “I’ve put in a lot of work and it’s nice to see. God gave me the ability to make it happen.” 

2. Megan Durbin signs with ISU

The first athlete in nearly 25 years to bring Jefferson and Greene County a state title finally found a future home last month. 

Megan Durbin signed a letter of intent to high jump at Iowa State University next year, becoming just the fourth female athlete in Jefferson history to earn a Division I college scholarship when she committed to the Cyclones. The 2016 3A high jump state champion has never finished worse than second at state in her high school career and she holds the Greene County record at 5’8”. The senior also captured the 2016 Drake Relays high jump championship and finished second at Drake and state this past spring. 

“It’s the only school that I felt like I was home,” Durbin said following her announcement on Twitter. “I think that with the all year specific training and coaching, I can hopefully finish highly within the Big 12 conference somewhere within my college career.” 

3. Mitch Moore hired as football coach

Usually, the hire of a new football coach at a rural high school isn’t big news, but this one in particular was. The town was a buzz when Mitch Moore, a former Iowa State University assistant, was hired by Greene County back in March, replacing Dean Lansman. He later took over as activities director as well The coach brought with him a new enthusiasm and the “Process.” Though he only led the Rams to one win on the gridiron this past fall, excitement was re-instilled in the program and a deep talent pool looks to be waiting in the wings. 

4. GC baseball wins first postseason game

The Greene County baseball team captured it’s first postseason win in four years back on July 14, a dramatic 7-4 win over ADM in Harlan. The victory secured the Rams just their second overall winning record in the past nine years, a program-defining win. 

The triumph was the first postseason win for the 2017 boys’ senior class and held significant importance in the athletes’ final attempt. After being shutout the year prior (15-0) in four innings to Boone in the first round of district play, redemption was certainly on the minds of the Greene County athletes. 

“It’s a giant win. It’s crazy,” Chase Stoline (Class of 2017) said after the game. “Our seniors have never won a postseason game.  We are excited. I was trembling out there, the last six outs. I was scared, I’m not going to lie.”

 5. Kafer, Rams break football records vs. IF-A

What a way for the Rams to usher in the first victory of the Mitch Moore era back on Sept. 27. 

Sophomore tailback Colby Kafer and Greene County ran wild on Iowa Falls-Alden, piling up 420 rush yards as Kafer broke the single-game school record with 285 yards of his own. The Rams poured it on for a 61-21 victory, ripping off 47 unanswered points after trailing 21-14. 

Kafer scored four touchdowns and tallied a spectacular yards per carry average of 15 yards. The Rams, as a team, scored eight rushing touchdowns, as Clint Dennhardt added three as well. 

“(That was) as good as a day from a back that I’ve been around in a long time. He was breaking tackles, he was finishing runs, he was running through contact, he was hitting the cutbacks and cutting at the right time,” Greene County head coach Mitch Moore said of Colby Kafer’s record-breaking night. “It was fun to see, and he has some special tendencies in him and it was fun to see him come full circle.” 

6. Durbin places second at Drake Relays, state

A friendly rivalry intensified at Drake Stadium in Des Moines as Greene County’s Megan Durbin went toe-to-toe (almost literally) with North Polk’s Maria Goram. The pair duked it out in the girls’ high jump both at the 2017 Drake Relays and the state meet in Des Moines a few weeks later as Durbin grabbed silver in both events. Durbin was not at all disappointed that her fellow competitor and friend won, despite denying the then junior back-to-back state titles. Durbin has never finished worse than second at state in her three year career. 

The duo has proceeded to one-up each other, raising the literal bar with each jump. 

“I don’t see her as an opponent, I see her as a friend,” Durbin said following the 2017 state meet. “I wouldn’t want anyone else to win except her.” 

Each meet is their own game of one-up manship. They push each other while also dolling out sincere words of encouragement. Watching the two compete is like witnessing a pair of friends dare one another to  in their backyard. 

“I like having the support there, and I think she does too,” Durbin said. “She gets really nervous and I think the support we give to each other helps a lot.” 

They each have one year left in track and field, I’m excited to see where this rivalry goes next. 

7. Nelson leads alma mater to winning record in first year

They are off to another hot start this winter, and that’s a credit to coach Chris Nelson. The Greene County boys’ basketball team produced its first winning record as a consolidated school, trotting out to a 14-8 record in Nelson’s first year leading his alma matter. The Rams finished second in the HOIC, including an upset win at 2017 state-qualifier South Hamilton and broke several school records. 

This year’s Greene County squad is 6-2 through the first half of the winter season and looks poised to take last year’s success a notch further. 

“First and foremost, I am very proud of this group of young gentlemen for the many accomplishments they had this year. It was a group that was easy to coach, fun to coach, and most importantly willing to learn and get better,” Nelson said following the Rams’ loss to DC-G in the first round of district play las February. “For having a mixture of some experience and new guys stepping into new roles, I thought our kids did a great job. Obviously the winning record is very nice but I think there are many small things all year kids got better at and did well that really made it a good first year for me. 

I couldn’t have asked for a better group to start out with and I think we can chalk this up to a successful season.” 

8. Girls’ beat Perry, first time in 10 years

It had been a long time coming, and, boy, was the victory ever so sweet. The Greene County girls’ basketball team charged back from a 13-point deficit for their first victory over the long-time rival since 2007. The Rams pulled off a 63-52 victory over the Bluejays Nov. 28, outscoring Perry 57-34 over the final three quarters. 

The triumph avenged a string of embarrassing losses over the last decade, including the three previous defeats by a total of 85 points. The early season win was a confidence builder for a program that won just four games the year prior. The 63 points were the most a Greene County team had scored in nearly two years. 

“I’ll tell you, it’s amazing. I will not sleep tonight. I’m so happy for the girls,” Greene County head coach Dean Lyons said following the win. “They’ve bought into what we are trying to teach. Perry has been a thorn in our side and they could’ve given up. It feels great.” 

9. Kelly Simpson retires

Simpson was a mainstay in the Greene County track and cross country programs for 30 years but finally hung it up this spring. He helped lead more than 20 events to the state meet and was even an instrumental part of the girls team state title in 1994. Simpson’s legacy will resonate for years to come and will leave big shoes to fill, especially in the shuttle hurdle relay, his bread and butter event. 

Simpson retired at the end of the 2017 track season. 

His calling card was coaching up his girls and motivating them beyond their natural abilities. Simpson was the king of development and finding their best event, usually the hurdles.  

“We haven’t always had great sprinters, but the ability to take good sprinters and turn them into hurdlers, that was the difference. We’ve had years where we qualified in the shuttle hurdle but couldn’t make it in the 4x100-meter. Same four girls. Simpson said in a Jefferson Herald profile in April. “We run our race, we use the right technique, we’ll beat you and let them make the mistakes.” 

10. Greene County awarded soccer programs

This was a watershed moment for the Greene County school district. The Rams were awarded varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer at an early 2017 school board meeting and the 2018 spring schedule will signify the inaugural Ram soccer season. 

Greene County athletes had been traveling to Boone the last several years in a sports sharing agreement, but now have a program of their own. The new soccer teams also arrive just in time for the 2018 World Cup next summer in Russia, which may in turn give the program an extra boost in popularity. The World Cup is the most viewed and attended sporting event in the world and lasts for several weeks. Soccer is insanely popular worldwide and has been for decades. It’s been growing fast in the United States for years – some of the world’s best professional soccer players continue to make the jump to the MLS. Minnesota just added a professional franchise this year and Sporting Kansas City is enjoyed a breakout year. 

Here’s to many, many more memories in 2018. Cheers!

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

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A relatively significant shakeup could be on the horizon in the Heart of Iowa Conference. 

Greene County’s athletic conference is mulling realignment, adding potentially three, if not more, schools to its pool while perhaps losing one of its largest members.

The HOIC has ambitious dreams of returning to double digit membership as Gilbert’s fate became a lightening rod of discussion at the most recent conference meeting last month. 

Gilbert, who has an enrollment of 337 students grades ninth through 11th, is contemplating a move out, citing continued growth of their community just a few miles north of Ames. Gilbert’s most likely destination would be the Raccoon River Conference, which houses similarly-sized schools such as Boone, Ballard, Carroll, Perry and ADM. 

Three West Central Activities Conference schools could make the jump into the HOIC to offset Gilbert’s loss, each centrally located near the Des Moines metro and surrounding areas. 

Van Meter is most likely the top choice. The suburban school a handful of miles west of Des Moines, has been on the rise for several years. Woodward-Granger could be another likely addition, as well as the private entity of Des Moines Christian, which would push the HOIC to 10 teams, factoring in the loss of Gilbert. 

The three schools all classify within 2A and present appealing attributes to the Heart of Iowa Conference. 

Van Meter’s athletic success (perhaps best known as Bob Feller’s Alma Mater) has come to a head over the last 24 months cemented by a pair of championships and several state tourney appearances. 

The Bulldog softball team captured the 2016 softball state championship in 2A while the football team secured its first-ever football state championship in November. Van Meter punched their ticket to the boys’ state basketball tournament for the first time since the 1930s last March and are off to an 8-0 start and a No. 3 ranking in Class 2A this winter. The school district also qualified for state baseball in the spring and participated in the 2017 girls’ state basketball tournament. 

Van Meter is situated just off Interstate 80, 15 minutes south of Waukee. The 10-team West Central Activities Conference also includes Ogden, Panorama, Madrid, AC/GC, Earhlam, Woodward Academy, and West Central Valley. 

The Woodward-Granger Hawks have a strong wrestling program, led by Madrid sophomore Cody Fisher, who placed second at the 2017 tournament in Class 2A. Fisher is ranked second at 195 pounds midway through the 2017-18 season. The Hawks as a whole captured the WCAC title last spring. The W-G Hawks were also a force in baseball this past summer, winning their first 25 games and capturing a top five ranking. They reached the substate final before losing to Centerville. The W-G football team was 6-3 this past fall while their boys’ basketball is out to a 6-3 start this winter. 

Des Moines Christian is located within the Des Moines metro in Urbandale, and is enjoying a highly successful boys’ basketball season. The Lions are ranked ninth in 2A with a 9-0 record and qualified for the 2016 state tournament. The DMC girls team qualified for the 2015 tournament while the Lions’ boys’ soccer team was a 2014 state qualifier. 

Simply from a logistics stand point, a move to the HOIC would make sense, as the WCAC has teams spread all over Iowa, with annual trips to Stuart a bit of a chore. A majority of the WCAC schools also have enrollments below 200 kids grades 9-11, and while Van Meter (192) and Woodward-Granger (165) both peak below 200 as well, they are based in communities that are expanding. Granger is seeing residual effects from Grimes, Jester Park and the location near Highway 141, while Van Meter has become a destination for Iowans who work in and near Des Moines but want a smaller school feel. Woodward is on the edge of Dallas County, 15 minutes east of Perry. 

Des Moines Christian hovers just above 200 students (202) but sits smack dab in the middle of a thriving suburb (Urbandale). 

Aside from a logistical and geographical stand point, the addition of Van Meter and DMC to the HOIC would increase the conference’s credibly and legitimacy. Gilbert is a top notch school, who has a quality athletics department all the way through, but Van Meter has suddenly become the cream of the crop in Class 2A. Adding them and a few others is a big win for the league. 

Greene County High School activities director Mitch Moore assured GC board members at a Dec. 20 meeting the Rams are staying put amid the possible changes. It’s a movement the school district needs to be apart of. 

“It’s a conference that we want to be in,” he said. “It is important that we stay. We want to stay here, with teams in the Des Moines and central Iowa area.” 

The general consensus at the conference meeting was Gilbert, indeed, is essentially all but gone. Gilbert’s population was at 1,126 as of the 2016 census, but draws many of its students from open enrollment in the surrounding communities. 

“It’s very likely that they are leaving,” the Greene County football coach said. “It hasn’t been set in motion just yet, but they are probably moving to the Raccoon River Conference.”  

North Polk (328 students) could leave as well, but they have not hinted in either direction as of late. Time will tell if the HOIC losses the Comets, who reside in Alleman and draw from Polk City. Alleman is roughly 15 minutes north of Ankeny. 

The HOIC, ideally, would like to grow to 12 teams and return to it’s two division split similar to a few years back in 2011, which makes new additions a perfect fit. 

The loss of Collins-Maxwell/Baxter when their sharing agreement dissolved last spring left the HOIC with just eight conference members and in need of at least one replacement member.

They may have found three. 

Woodward-Granger and Van Meter wouldn’t be alone with enrollment below 200, South Hamilton is at 187, which would place W-G as the smallest member. Other potential candidates include West Marshall (State Center) and East Marshall (Legrand). 

No timetable for the new additions has been set, but another conference meeting is scheduled for next week, which should produce more details, Moore said. 

In the mean time, I say welcome these schools with open arms. They make sense geographically and provide one heck of a boost in competitiveness. 

Now, we play the waiting game.

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

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A mid-winter’s slumber will be met with a rude-awakening this week. 

The Greene County boys’ basketball (6-3) team returns from a 14-day layoff to spar with undefeated and fifth-ranked South Hamilton Friday, Jan. 5 in Jewell. 

The Hawks, 2017 state tournament qualifiers, are 10-0 averaging 62.8 points per game (46.5 percent), and are one of only 12 unbeaten teams left in the state. The Heart of Iowa Conference front-runner was the first 2A squad in the state to double-digit wins while they are fourth in free throws made (119), as of Tuesday, Jan. 2. South Hamilton is outscoring their opponents by 20.5 points per game during their 10-game win-streak, the ninth-best margin in the state. 

The Hawks are atop the conference with a 6-0 record, a game ahead of both Greene County and PCM (5-1).  

The defending conference champions handed PCM (7-1) its only loss of the year back on Dec. 15, a 70-68 nail-biter in Monroe. 

Cole Berg (11.4ppg) dropped in 23 points including 11 free throws and eight rebounds in the victory.  

Conner Hill is the Hawks leading scorer (12.9ppg), but is just one of four starters the Hawks deploy averaging double figures in scoring. Marco Balderas, who led the HOIC in assists per game last winter, is averaging 15.8 points and five assists per game in his first four contests back from an injury. 

Logan Peters chips 12 points per game on 56 percent shooting while Berg rounds out the scoring at 11.4 points per game.  

Hill is also dishing out three assists per game while swiping a pair of steals per contest. 

The Hawks don’t rely much on the three-ball, only having made 37 shots all year at a 30 percent clip. 

South Hamilton beat out Greene County for the conference title a year ago, as the two squads split the season series, each winning on their opponent’s home floor. The Hawks were 14-2 last winter while the Rams fell a game short at 13-3. Many of the same players will see action again Friday minus two key contributors – Truman State freshman Collin Hill and Greene County all-time leading scorer, Trey Tucker, who graduated in the spring. 

South Hamilton is 32-3 in their last 35 games, having lost just two of their last 20 conference games. 

The Rams stayed busy over the winter break, scrimmaging Ballard, Kuemper and ASHTW, Avoca. That competition and the notion that they did play with, and beat South Hamilton a year ago should give Greene County the extra boost it needs coming out of the long lay-off. 

“I don’t think it will take too much to get motivated,” Greene County head coach Chris Nelson said. “It’s the end of our first half of our conference schedule and it would be nice to end on a high note.”

A win in Friday’s contest will go a long way in the Rams’ hope to conquer a conference title as they play PCM and South Hamilton each once more. The three HOIC squads are the only teams in league play with less than three losses, essentially setting up a three-team race. 

“South Hamilton is a very confident team,” Nelson said. “They are playing very well, they do things the right way. They are coached well and don’t make a lot of mistakes. It’ll be fun. If we win, we won’t have to rely on as many teams to do things for us.”

A weird quirk in the schedule follows Greene County’s top 10 showdown as they are off for seven days until they host Saydel Friday, Jan. 12. 

Greene County’s Trey Hinote is third in the league in scoring at 16.9 PPG while senior Wade Adcock (14.8 PPG) continues to lead the HOIC in rebounding at 10.8 RPG, which is the seventh best total in 2A. He’s also third in the league with a 57 percent shooting rate. 

Greene County girls back in action tonight

After an unrelenting and brutal schedule which witnessed the Rams square off against four top 10 foes in six games, the Greene County squad catches a bit of a break, at least on paper. Their next two opponents, Woodward-Granger and South Hamilton, have a combined five wins as the Rams (4-7), as Greene County snapped a six-game losing streak last night against Woodward-Granger. 

Greene County head coach Dean Lyons is looking for some extra scoring out put. Ram senior Laurin Lyons leads the team in scoring (11.5ppg) and assists (31). 

“They throw a few extra girls on Laurin (Lyons) and we haven’t had any one else step up to take shots,” Greene County head coach Dean Lyons said. “We are lacking confidence. We have to get a win. Winning helps. We do have open shots but I think some times the girls are tentative to take them. We can’t score unless we shoot the ball. 

The Rams split their season series with South Hamilton (3-7) last winter, Greene County’s HOIC foe Friday at 6 p.m. in Jewell. The Hawks are 1-3 in their last four games and boast wins over Ogden (56-45), Gilbert (46-45) and Saydel (46-37). They average 36.8 points per game at a 27.8 percent clip. This two-game stretch, coupled with a home tilt against Saydel next Friday (Jan. 12), could swing the whole season, Lyons feels. 

“Our first three ball games will be key,” the coach said. “We have to, let’s not sugar coat it, we have to get two or three of those. If we get that, all of a sudden we are 6-7 and everyone is feeling good about themselves. If we run the table, everyone is having fun again.”

The Greene County boys' basketball team came up just a hair short in their upset bid of fifth-ranked South Hamilton Friday, Jan. 5, losing 64-56 in Jewell. Enjoy a brief video slideshow compiled by Jefferson Herald sports editor, Brandon Hurley.

The Greene County girls' basketball team surpassed last season's win total with their fifth victory of the year, a 55-49 triumph over Saydel Jan. 12 in Jefferson. The boys also won, 69-52, to complete the season series sweep of the Eagles. Here are a few images and clips from the victorious evening. (Shot and edited by Brandon Hurley, Jefferson Herald)

By BRANDON HURLEY

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

Struggling to penetrate a concrete Nevada defense and clinging to a one-point lead, Greene County’s dynamic backcourt shared a moment of clarity. 

With the Heart of Iowa Conference’s leading rebounder on the bench in foul trouble and a 10-point quarter in the rear-view mirror, juniors Trey Hinote and Lance Hughes nodded toward one another, initiating a game-defining run.

The six-foot-one-inch Hughes (10 points) sparked the fourth quarter takeover with a slicing, fast break layup and used his length for a lob pass and bucket to Carter Morton, while Hinote put the proverbial nail in the coffin with a pair of his trademark, silky smooth three-point jumpers. 

Just like that, the Rams built a seven point lead while the bench and hometown crowd was sent into a frenzy. 

The early fourth quarter run – 24 points across the eight minute period – allowed Greene County (8-4, 7-2) to snatch a season sweep of the visiting Cubs with a 63-55 victory Tuesday, Jan. 16. 

The second half offensive explosion – executed primarily without the help of Wade Adcock (14.7ppg, 10.7rpg) – was a matter of the backcourt putting the game on their shoulders. 

“When Wade went to the bench, Lance and I looked at each other and kinda nodded, saying we (have to) make something happen,” Hinote said, who finished with a game-high 25 points and five three pointers. 

It wasn’t the offense that allowed the Rams to secure their second straight victory, no, it was a switch defensively that made the difference. With Adcock picking up his fourth foul with 5:30 left in the third quarter and Nevada now having a size advantage, Greene County head coach Chris Nelson knew a pivotal point had arrived. 

The Rams failed to score and couldn’t keep the Cubs out of the paint, surrendering several key offensive rebounds. 

Nelson launched his team into a defensive ploy set to harass Nevada in the final period. 

“We switched to a zone and our kids really executed and battled,” Nelson said. “We were out-sized but we got a couple kids in foul trouble and off the floor. We are tough to guard offensively.” 

The lightning-quick and athletic combination of Hinote, Hughes, Morton and Ben Bravard sparked the onslaught with their swarming defense. Hinote and company embraced the switch and it paid dividends, ten-fold. They rose to the occasion. 

“We went to our crazy 2-3 zone, which won us that ball game,” Hinote said. “We made a statement, they were bigger than us but none of us backed down.”

Bravard scored three key buckets in the fourth quarter, helping fill the gab left by Adcock. He secured a couple pivotal steals as well. Nelson took notice. 

“Ben played really, really well. He’s been doing that all year,” Nelson said. “He’s not necessarily a scorer but he finds his spots. We got him the ball and he finished. That brought us a lot of energy and I think helped us win.” 

Hinote credited his hot shooting night to the hours of work he’s put in ouside of official team practices. He was finding the bottom of the net with relative ease Tuesday, scoring 15 of the Rams first 23 points, including a string of seven straight in the second quarter. 

The game plan was simple, create a shot he knew he couldn’t miss, that and trust his teammates.  

“I kind of got it rolling and it started with the a simple pull-up jumper that I’ve worked on every day, all weekend,” the HOIC’s leading three-point shooter said. “I went into this game thinking ‘use the pull up, use it.’ All credit to my teammates because I let it come to me and they found me in rhythm and passed up good looks for better ones.”

The Nevada win was significant, as the Cubs came into Jefferson last winter and left unscathed, derailing the Rams’ title hopes with a 66-60 victory. 

It may still be somewhat of a pipe dream, but Greene County is holding serve in league play this year with an outside chance for a conference title.  

The Rams are now 7-2 in Heart of Iowa Conference play, a game and a half back of PCM and two-and-a-half back of sixth-ranked and undefeated South Hamilton. 

Greene County has one crack left at each, as long as they remain on track. With the Mustangs and Hawks squaring off again – S. Hamilton won the first battle by two – looming Jan. 26, the Rams very much so are still in the hunt, despite losses to both. 

Entering Tuesday’s contest, Adcock was leading the HOIC in rebounding at 10.7 rebounds per game, which was the third best average in the state. He has tallied seven double-doubles and is averaging 14.7 points per game, shooting nearly 60 percent. 

South Hardin’s Kevin Rewoldt leads 2A at 13.4 rebounds per game. 

Hinote is now tied for the HOIC lead with 29 made threes along with Saydel’s Zach Bobenhouse, while the junior is fourth in the conference in scoring at 16.6 points per game. 

Beginning with Friday’s road contest at Gilbert, the Rams embark on a journey of four games in  five days, all four of which are on the road. They’ll visit Webster City the following day (Jan. 20) then make a stop in Winterset for a make up game Monday, Jan. 22 before concluding the grueling stretch Tuesday for an HOIC matchup with Roland-Story. This particular slate could provide a strong barometer for where the Rams are going, but certainly isn’t something new. 

“We’ve been there before, we’ve done the four games in five days,” Nelson said. “We’ll have to make sure to review everything and they’ll be amped up, ready to play.” 

Sixth-ranked Nevada keeps win streak intact

The Greene County girls had no answer for Nevada’s shooting prowess despite their star player out for the entire second half Tuesday. The sixth-ranked Cubs inched closer to securing a 50-game conference win streak with a 50-29 win over the Rams. 

Nevada last loss in HOIC play to Saydel back on Jan. 23, 2015 a nearly three-year span. 

The three-time defending conference champ held Greene County (5-9) to a mere eight first half points as the Rams only attempted 25 shots throughout the 32-minute game. 

The 13-1 Cubs pulled out the victory with little help from 3A’s  top-rebounder and second-leading scorer –Illinois State commitment Lexy Kouldelka – who sat out the entire second half with an injury. Kouldelka entered the contest averaging 22.4 points per game and a staggering 13.9 rebounds per game, coming off one of the best performances in recent history, scoring 44 points while securing a spectacular 25 rebounds - including 11 offensive - in a 30-point win Jan. 13.

Greene County connected on just nine shots and scored four points in each of the first and second quarters, falling behind by 14 at the break. 

Nevada came out firing in the third quarter, taking a 36-14 lead into the final period. 

Laurin Lyons led Greene County in scoring with 11 points, nailing five free throws as the only Ram in double figures. The senior leads the team in scoring (11.9ppg) and rebounding (6.9rpg). 

Greene hits the road four times in the next week, with HOIC tilts at Gilbert and No. 8 Roland Story Friday and Tuesday, with a non-conference matchup in Winterset sandwiched in between on Monday (Jan. 22). They wrap things up with a road game at 10th-ranked North Polk Friday, Jan. 26.