HUXLEY — Host Ballard outscored Perry 24-7 in the first 12 minutes of the second half to break open a tied game and record a 56-39 Raccoon River Conference victory Friday.
Perry (8-3, 3-2) trailed, 11-8, after one frame but managed to pull into a 21-all tie at the intermission.
Ballard (7-2, 4-1) took full advantage of their much deeper bench and rotated 10 players in and out of the lineup to slowly wear down a Perry team that relies almost exclusively on their starting five. The greater size of the Bombers began to take affect as well, with Abby Carlin, Olivia Vier and Aubrey Bartleson scoring repeatedly off of offensive rebounds in the second half.
The hosts held a 38-28 lead after three frames, and added the first seven points of the fourth quarter to open a 17-point advantage, at 45-28, with four minutes to play. The gap remained unchanged over the remaining minutes as Perry fell for just the third time in 11 games.
Jo Diw had 12 points and Molly Lutmer 11 to lead Perry, with Emma Olejniczak adding nine points and Grace Marburger seven.
Carlin paced Ballard with 16 points, with Jenna Moody adding 13 points and Madison Smith seven while Bartleson and Vier had six points apiece. Charity Ransom’s four points, three from Emma Ray and one from Juliana Vier capped the Bomber scoring.
Perry visits Boone Tuesday and will host Bondurant-Farrar Friday.
