Greene County and Nevada split Heart of Iowa Activities Conference basketball games on Friday night in Nevada. The Rams won the boys’ game 51-46, after the Class 4A seventh ranked Cubs won the girls’ contest by a 50-23 final. Both games were broadcast on KG98 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.

Coach Chris Nelson’s team improved to 5-1 in the conference and 6-2 overall, and the Rams are now 3-1 both on the road and at home. Greene County started well and led 13-1 at the end of the first quarter. Sophomore Trey Hinote had the hot hand and scored 11 first quarter points and 16 in the opening half. He finished with 19 points and five three-point goals. The Rams led 27-18 at intermission, but the Cubs closed the gap to 29-28 early in the third quarter. Greene County responded, and led 36-32 at the end of the third quarter, and stretched the lead to 11 points late before settling for the win by five.

Hinote had 11 of the first 13 Greene County points, and was joined in double digits on the scoreboard by junior Wade Adcock with 13, nine of those in the second half. Senior Trey Tucker had nine points on a trio of three-point goals, and sophomore Lance Hughes had eight points. Junior Ben Wilkins scored the other two off the bench. Greene County went 1-7 from the free throw line including zero for five in the fourth quarter.

Nevada fell to 2-3 in the league and 2-4 overall. Luke Merfeld, a 6′ 6″ junior, was held off the scoreboard until the second quarter, but still totaled 21 points. The Cubs also struggled at the foul line, going eight of 18, and they were zero for seven on three-point tries.

The Cubs dominated the first half of the girls’ game, leading 15-2 after one quarter and 31-5 at the half. Junior Lexy Koudelka had a game high 19 points. The 6′ 2″ junior showed her versatility by hitting a three-point goal, bringing the ball up the floor at times, and controlling the boards. She did have foul trouble with four and sat down at times. Koudelka had all six of Nevada’s free throw attempts, going two of six. The Cubs improved to 6-0 in the HOIAC and 6-1 overall. The Rams had a three-game winning streak broken and are 3-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

The Greene County girls were out scored by a point at 19-18 in the second half. Seniors Kenna Marquardt and Hannah Promes were the leading scorers for Coach Dean Lyons. Marquardt had eight points and Promes seven, and the latter made a pair of three-point goals. The Rams also had difficulty at the foul line going four of 11.

The only action left on Greene County’s December schedule is Thursday, Dec. 22 in the middle school gym in Jefferson against non-conference opponent Boone. You can hear the girls’ game at 6 p.m. and the boys to follow on KG98 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m.