Doubling the point output of your opponent in the fourth quarter will, more often than not, translate into a victory.
Thursday’s boys non-conference scuffle between Perry and visiting Ogden was a “not” rather than a “more often” as the hosts, despite a 22-11 surge in the last eight minutes, were unable to overcome a 54-38 deficit entering the fourth quarter and fell, 65-60.
Ogden (4-5) led almost the entire way and possessed leads of 18-13 after one frame and of 37-27 at the intermission. The Bulldogs sank six 3-pointers in each half, with the Bluejays hitting just one in each half. Ben Heeren and Kayden Kruse connected on three triples apiece, with Noah Snedden, Jade Thompson and Jacob Craven hitting landing two bombs each.
Perry (2-7) yielded a 17-11 third quarter that proved the difference in the game, but an impressive run from the hosts to start the final period cast doubt on whether Ogden could hold onto a 16-point lead.
Senior Connor Nielsen had not scored before accounting for seven quick points, and Rashon Ivory and Drew Levan two each, as Perry charged to within 57-49 after just three minutes.
Perry further trimmed their gap to 57-53, but Craven rattled home a trey to push the Bulldog edge to 60-53. The hosts refused to yield, adding a pair of baskets to bring the game to within 60-57 at the two-minute mark, but the guests were able to add a final 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to keep Perry at bay as time ran out.
Ogden hit 7-of-10 from the foul line in the win, with Perry connecting on 12-of-15.
Heeren had 17 points, Snedden 12 and Kruse 10 for Ogden. Griffin Diggs and Craven each had eight points and Thompson six, with Charlie Lake and Jacob Hinman adding two points apiece.
Ivory poured in 28 points to lead all scorers, with Levan adding 16 points. Nielsen had nine points — all in the fourth quarter — with Tanner Duffy providing six points and Mark Campos one.
Perry will conclude the pre-holiday portion of their schedule tonight with a freshman/junior varsity/varsity boys-only set at Greene County. The frosh game starts the action at 4:30 p.m.
