Trey Hinote is the only senior on either Greene County High School basketball team. He played his final game in front of the home crowd on Friday night and did he ever make it count. Hinote scored 44 points for a new single game scoring record, not just in the seven seasons playing as Greene County, but for as long as Jefferson-based boys’ basketball has been played. He went 18 of 38 from the floor including eight goals from three-point range and did not attempt a free throw for the record night as the Rams won 88-70 in the middle school gym in Jefferson over the Saydel (Des Moines) Eagles. Coach Chris Nelson’s team improved to 7-12 on the season and 4-8 in Heart of Iowa Activities Conference play while the Eagles fell to 4-12 and 0-12.
The previous single game record of 43 points was established at Jefferson High School by 1957 graduate Ken Sanders. Jeff Kundrat scored 43 in the 1966-67 season. Mike Waugh, playing for Jefferson-Scranton, equaled that mark during the 1991-92 campaign. Current Greene County assistant coach Trey Tucker had 43 of his own in 2017 playing for Greene County. That quartet shared the single game mark until Hinote put two points through the hoop with just over two minutes remaining in the game, then he exited to the cheers of the crowd. The lone Ram senior now has 1,265 career points with three more regular season games and the postseason yet to play.
Hinote wasn’t alone in setting a career scoring high. John Rosado crushed his 3.2 game average by scoring 17 points. In addition, he had some nifty passes and numerous steals after getting one of his few starts this season. Carter Morton was also in double figures with 12 points.
Saydel had 19 points from Colton Myers. The Eagles have scored 74 (in overtime) and 70 in their two meetings with the Rams. They average just over 50 points against all other teams, and far less than that in the conference.
Greene County is on the road today at Carroll High. The girls play at 5 p.m. with the boys to follow. Coverage on KG98 and streaming on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com