ADEL — A defensive switch to a 3-2 zone — which may at times may have been closer to a 1-2-2 — kept ADM 14 points under their team average as Perry claimed a 59-45 win Friday.
Perry snapped a five-game skid with the Raccoon River Conference victory, raising their mark to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league action. ADM dropped to 2-3, 0-3 with the setback.
The Bluejays led, 25-22, at the intermission, then used a critical 10-4 run in the middle to the third quarter to open a 35-26 advantage. Perry led, 43-33, entering the final frame, and continued to frustrate ADM’s shooters, with the hosts coming no closer than 45-37 down the stretch.
Rashon Ivory poured in a game-high 20 points to pace Perry. Connor Nielsen had 17 points and Drew Levan 12, with Mark Campos adding six points and Brendan Ivory four.
Koby Hardcastle’s 14 points were a team-high for ADM, with Cole Knoll adding 10 points.
Perry visits Winterset Tuesday, then hosts Ogden for a non-conference set Thursday, their final pre-holiday action. The Ogden game will be a “Pack the Gym” night, with current Jays assistant Mike Long honored between games for his 40 years as head coach for the Jayettes, who he led to the 2002 state title, three other state tourneys and 566 victories.
