The second of three meetings in 15 days with top 10 rated Nevada started better for the Greene County girls basketball team, but the result was another one-sided loss. The Cubs, ranked ninth in Class 3A, out scored the Rams 33-6 in the second half en route to a 56-25 Heart of Iowa Activities Conference victory on Monday night in a game heard on KG98. Nevada won in Jefferson on Jan. 31 by a 57-22 score, and the teams meet again on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in Nevada to open 3A regional tournament play.

The victory gave the Cubs the outright conference championship at 17-1 and they end the regular season at 17-4. Greene County is 9-11 overall and they finished the HOIAC season at 8-10. Coach Chad Morton’s team ends the regular season tonight in Panora vs. Class 2A number 12 Panorama in a girls’ JV/varsity doubleheader.

The Rams were within a point at 20-19 late in the first half on Monday and trailed by 23-19 at the half. But the third quarter saw the Cubs open up a 36-20 lead just two minutes and 10 seconds into the period. By the time the stanza was over, the score was 44-20. Nevada led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter. Senior Jessica Helton scored 20 points on Senior Night to lead the Cubs. No Greene County player had more than six points. Nevada made nine baskets from three-point range while the Rams were just seven of 41 from the field with no three-pointers.

There is basketball on KG98 tonight from the middle school gym in Jefferson as Greene County hosts Saydel (Des Moines) in HOIAC boys’ action. Approximate air time for the varsity game is 7:15 p.m.