The Greene County boys’ basketball team makes its 2017-18 debut tonight in the middle school gym in Jefferson. The Rams host Gilbert in a girl/boy doubleheader with the girls playing at 6 p.m. and the boys to follow. Both games can be heard on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com with coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Coach Chris Nelson starts his second season heading the program with a good share of experience. Back are junior Trey Hinote, a first team all-conference selection last season in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference. Senior Wade Adcock is back after being named to the second all-conference team as a junior. Junior Lance Hughes was honorable mention all-conference last season and he also returns. Senior Joe Towers is a transfer from Paton-Churdan who twice was all-conference in the Rolling Valley Activities Conference. The Gilbert boys also return quite a bit of experience and they are 0-1 after opening with a 66-60 loss at perennial power Pella on Tuesday.

The Greene County girls are 2-0 after non-conference wins earlier this week at Ogden and home vs. Perry. The Rams were 0-10 against Perry since 2008 before Tuesday night’s win. Gilbert has had a similar stranglehold on the Rams for the past decade. Senior Laurin Lyons leads the Rams with an 18.5 scoring average through two games. Gilbert is 2-1 on the season with wins over Class 5A Ottumwa and usual powerhouse Ballard (Huxley). The Tigers’ loss is to Class 2A top 10 rated Panorama.