Perry and visiting Newton engaged in a low-scoring but tense non-conference battle Tuesday, with the Cardinals handing on to slip past the hosts, 37-35.
The Jayettes trailed by five points for most of the fourth quarter, but drew within a point in the waning seconds and had a chance at a potential tying or game-winning shot with less than 10 seconds left, only to turn the ball over.
Perry (0-2) nearly overcame a glaring disparity at the free throw line. The Jayettes sank 6-of-7 at the line, but Newton (1-1) was awarded 26 foul shots, though they made only 12.
The hosts were out to a small first quarter lead of four points, but the Cardinals closed to within 12-11 after eight minutes of play, then scored late to enter the intermission with a 19-18 advantage.
Newton slowly opened a lead after the break, eventually leading by as many as five points on numerous occasions. The guests led, 28-23, to start the fourth quarter, with Perry closing to with 31-29, where the score remained for over four minutes as the Jayettes missed a pair of open shots and turned the ball over while the Cardinals misfired at the foul line and on a pair of attempts close to the basket.
The Cardinals led, 34-29, when junior guard Molly Lutmer sank the third of her three 3-point shots. Newton scored again for a 36-32 edge, with Lutmer fouled while attempting a triple. She calmly sank the first two of her three free throws off the foul, then splashed the third after a timeout to bring the score to 36-35.
Newton went 1-of-2 at the line for a 37-35 lead with 7.4 seconds to play. A Perry turnover cost the team one chance to win, with a desperation attempt to inbound the ball from the far end of the court with one second to play also going awry as the guests slipped off with the win.
Lutmer led all scorers with 20 points, with Gabby West adding four points on a 3-pointer and a free throw. Quinn Whiton, Hannah Peterson and Ainsley Marburger each made a 3-pointer as each finished with three points, with Jayna Kenney adding two points. Perry made four two-point shots in the game against seven 3-pointers.
Peyton Maher led Newton with 11 points, with Mackenzie Baker adding eight points and Kameron Nehring seven. Abby Barr and Mackenzie Brown had four points apiece, with Brooklyn Cupples scoring two points and Emily Valtman one.
Perry returns to action when they join the Bluejay cagers in hosting Greene County Nov. 27 for a twin bill beginning at 6 p.m. Both Perry teams visit Carroll Nov. 30 for a Raccoon River Conference set starting at 6 p.m. while Des Moines Christian will be the guest Dec. 1 for a double billing that will begin at 1 p.m.
