CARLISLE — The result was the same, but most everything else felt differently for the Perry girls Friday.
Host Carlisle was a 48-33 winner in their Raccoon River Conference meeting, completing a season sweep after having defeated Perry, 50-27, in December.
In that game the Jayettes fell into a 12-2 hole after one quarter and trailed, 30-8, at the half before being outscored just 20-19 in the second half.
The second meeting took an entirely different path, as Perry stayed within striking distance until late in the final period. The Jayettes (2-13, 0-8) trailed, 12-8, after one quarter and faced only a 24-19 deficit at the intermission.
The guests scrapped throughout the game, and their hustle helped offset several 3-pointers that might otherwise have blown the contest open for the Wildcats (8-5, 6-2). Instead, Perry closed to withing 32-29 and were down only 37-31 with eight minutes to play.
Unfortunately, the energy left the offense at the most critical of moments, with a series of turnovers and an inability to work an open shot kept Perry off the scoreboard for six crucial minutes, allowing Carlisle to open a 42-31 lead en route to the win.
Perry hit 5-of-10 free throws in the loss, with Carlisle making 7-of-13 at the stripe.
Molly Lutmer had three 3-pointers in leading all scorers with 20 points. Perry also received five points from Isabel Saemisch and five from Grace Stewart, with three points tallied by Gabby West.
Meredith Hoffman had 15 points and Molly Hoekstra 13 for the hosts. Megan Sievers had eight points and Abby Curtis five, with Madi Hoekstra providing four points and Kennedy Preston three.
Perry journeys to Carroll Tuesday before hosting ADM Friday.
