The first four games of the 2016-17 basketball campaign served as a rude awakening for the Perry boys, who had played well down the stretch and reached the state tournament last season.
Perry (2-4 overall, 2-3 in conference) lost games by 18, 8, 12 and 25 points, against Carroll, DC-G, Carlisle and Norwalk, with the third loss at home. Since then new head coach Dennis McDonnell’s squad has found their rhythm, demolishing visiting ADM by 23 points and visiting Winterset by 12, with strong second-half play the key to both wins.
The Jays are averaging 27.3 rebounds per game, a number that has grown as the season has progressed. The team has offset 74 turnovers with 75 assists, 36 steals and 16 blocks.
Improved shooting would definitely help, as Perry is hitting just 39.7 percent from the floor and 59.6 percent at the foul line. The Jays have attempted far fewer 3-pointers this year as compared to last and has connected on 20-of-81 (24.7 percent) a clip that the coaches would also like to see improve.
Senior 6-4 post Janier Puente has 63 rebounds — 15 more than anyone else in the Raccoon River Conference — and his 10.3 rebounds per game easily leads the RRC. He is tied for second in scoring average at 19.5 ppg, a number helped by a 57.1 shooting accuracy.
Senior forward Kyle Nevitt averages 11 points per game and has 29 rebounds while sinking 11-of-36 3-pointers (30.6 percent),
Starters Rashon Ivory (8.6 ppg, 24 assists), Connor Nielsen (5.2 ppg, 19 assists, 22 rebounds, eight blocks) and Drew Levan (4.5 ppg) have also had strong performances in the first half of the season.
Perry returns to action with girl/boy sets at Ballard (Jan. 6), Roland-Story (Jan. 7) and Boone (Jan. 10) before finally returning home Jan. 13 with a visit from Bondurant-Farrar.
