DES MOINES — Des Moines North scored the final four points in Friday’s season opener to claim a 54-52 win over visiting Perry in non-conference girls basketball.
The game appeared unlikely to be headed to additional time as the Jayettes trailed by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but the visitors rallied to force overtime with the score 50-50 after regulation.
Perry trailed, 13-7, after one quarter and faced a 30-21 halftime deficit. The Jayettes fell into a 35-24 hole midway through the third quarter and faced a 38-29 deficit with one period to play.
Though scoring only 29 points in the first 24 minutes of the season, Perry erupted for 21 in the final eight minutes of regulation, including the only four points put on the board in the final three minutes to force overtime.
Freshman Jayna Kenney scored to give Perry a 52-50 lead, but Nya Mach sank 1-of-2 at the foul line to bring the Polar Bears to within 52-51. Laphine Campbell converted a traditional three-point play in the waning seconds to deliver victory for the hosts.
Campbell finished with 20 points to lead North, with Ihari Oromo adding 13 points and Kapri King nine. Junice Sibley had nine points, Jakhia Heard two and Mach one. Campbell and Sibley made three 3-pointers apiece, with King connecting once behind the arc for the hosts, who were 5-of-12 at the foul line.
Junior Molly Lutmer led all scorers with 28 points for Perry. Gabby West added nine points, Quinn Whiton and Kenney six each and Ainsley Marburger three. Lutmer sank a trio of 3-point shots, with Whiton splashing two triples and West one. The Jayettes were 6-of-9 at the charity stripe.
Perry hosts Newton Tuesday for a girls-only junior varsity/varsity non-conference set beginning at 6 p.m.
