Perry trimmed a deficit that stood as large as 16 points to six in the second half, but No. 14 Ballard responded emphatically to pull away for a 59-38 win Friday.
The Bombers (13-5, 10-2), ranked 14th in Class 4A, scored the first 10 points of the Racoon River Conference contest to help generate a 12-8 margin after one frame. The guests doubled up the Jayettes (12-6, 6-5), 20-10, in the second period to end the half holding a 32-18 advantage.
Perry went on an 11-3 run to start the third quarter, with a pair of 3-pointers from Grace Marburger fueling a spurt that closed to score to 35-29.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Taylor Larson buried consecutive treys, with Jenna Moody adding another triple as the lead suddenly swelled to 44-29 in the span of two minutes. The Bomber counter appeared to take the bounce out of the Jayettes and helped the visitors grab a 46-32 lead entering the final frame.
Ballard used a 13-6 fourth quarter to seal the victory as the Bombers scored 24 of the final 33 points in the game. The victory was similar to a 56-39 Bomber win Jan. 6 in Huxley, a victory in which Ballard steadily pulled away in the second half to top Perry.
Grace Marburger had a game-high 15 points for Perry, with Molly Lutmer adding 10 points, Jo Diw seven, Emma Olejniczak four and Grace Stewart two. Marburger had three 3-pointers, Lutmer two and Diw and Olejniczak one each.
Moody finished with 12 points, Taylor Larson 11 and Aubrey Bartleson 10 (all in the first half) for Ballard. Madison Smith added eight points and Maggie Larson, Abby Carlin and Emma Ray six points apiece. Larson and Moody each sank three treys, with Bartleson, Smith and Maggie Larson two apiece.
Perry hosts Boone Tuesday, visits Bondurant-Farrar Friday and hosts Carroll Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. in the final three co-ed games on the regular season schedule.
