BOONE — The new basketball season began on a difficult note for both the Perry Bluejays and Jayettes Friday, with host Boone rolling to a pair of easy victories in Raccoon River Conference play.
The margins were nearly identical, with Boone winning the boys contest, 70-23, after claiming a 71-20 win in the girls game.
The Toreadors led, 11-4, and 41-14, after the first two quarters of the nightcap. The Bluejays were outscored, 18-3, in the third frame to fall into a 59-17 hole as a continual clock ran for most of the second half.
Perry shot poorly, hitting only 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) shots from the field and just 8-of-18 (44.4 percent) at the foul line. The team struggled to bring the ball up the court, and were guilty of 33 turnovers in the loss.
June Rey Riesberg led Perry with seven points, with Sincere Johnson adding five. Jeremy Mateso and Kaelen Davis had three points apiece, with Jordan Ochoa and Matthew Booker each tallying two points and Brandon Mahler one. Davis sank a 3-pointer for Perry.
Mateso pulled down five rebounds and Riesberg four, with Johnson grabbing three caroms for the Jays.
The Jayettes were off to a slow start in their game as well, falling behind, 24-9, after one frame and facing a 46-15 halftime deficit, from which they could not battle back.
Lydia Olejniczak had nine points for Perry and Jayna Kenney seven. Three points from Quinn Whiton and one from Kennedy Tunink capped the scoring. Kenney and Whiton each had a 3-point basket.
Perry hosts Carlisle Tuesday before visiting West Central Valley Thursday and Carroll Friday. Their fourth boys/girls set of the week will be Saturday, when Greene County visits, with the girls game beginning at 2 p.m.
