Greene County started the 2016 portion of the high school boys’ basketball season with a comeback victory over winless Saydel (Des Moines) on Tuesday night in Jefferson by a 46-38 final. The Rams led 9-0 and 11-2, then Saydel scored the next 18 points and Greene County went 11 minutes of the first half without a point. Coach Jeramie Hinote’s team closed the gap to 20-14 at the break, but eight points from Saydel senior Andrew Smith in the first 90 seconds of the second half put the Eagles up 28-14. Greene County was within 30-27 at the end of the third quarter and out scored the Eagles 19-8 in the fourth period. The win puts the Rams at 2-4 in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference and 3-6 overall while Saydel fell to 0-6 and 0-8.

Max Neese had 14 points and Reid Lamoureux 11 for the Rams. Trey Tucker severely sprained an ankle on Dec. 21 at Winterset and didn’t score until the second half. He finished with nine points. Saydel was led by Kole Walker with 15 points and Andrew Smith with 14.

On the girls’ side, the Eagles broke a seven game losing streak while the Rams’ losing streak is now six games after Saydel won 40-21. Greene County was just four of 36 shooting from the floor including one of 21 in the second half. Saydel senior Cassie Chubb scored 17 of her game-high 19 points in the first half as the Eagles led at intermission, 21-15. Saydel held a 34-19 advantage after three quarters and stretched the lead from there. Laurin Lyons had six points to lead the Rams. Both games were heard on KG98 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.

The Rams host Roland-Story (Story City) on Jan. 8 in the middle school gym in Jefferson with the girls at 6 and the boys to follow on KG98 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.