STATE CENTER, Iowa — Host West Marshall turned back both Perry teams in conference basketball Tuesday, with the Class 3A No. 7 Trojans (14-1, 8-1) a 68-38 winner over the Jayettes (5-9, 2-7) while the Bluejays (0-12, 0-9) dropped a 72-55 decision to West Marshall (6-9, 3-6).
Perry trailed just 15-14 after the first frame of the opener, but West Marshall was able to enter the locker room with a 26-18 edge. The hosts dominated play in the second half, with superior size fueling a 22-10 third quarter that moved the score to 48-28 en route to the victory.
Lydia Olejniczak hit four 3-pointers as part of a 19-point effort for Perry. Maci Tunink hit two treys for a season-high 11 points, with Jayna Kenney adding six points and Callie Steva two.
Katy Reyerson had 19 points, Bella Borgos 18, Lily Zahnd 13, Kiki Pfantz 12 and Olivia Gradwell six for veteran head coach Fred Zeller’s team.
Perry struggled to keep pace in the nightcap, falling behind 20-12 and 36-22 at the end of the first two quarters. West Marshall owned a 61-31 as the fourth period began.
Drake Levan led the Jays with 18 points, with Holden Smith adding 11 points and Owen Myers 10. Geren Kenney had six points, Matthew Booker five, Kaelen Davis three and Caden Steva two.
The 55 points were the most scored by Perry since a season-opening 80-55 loss to Boone. Kenney had two 3-pointers, with Levan, Davis and Smith also scoring beyond the arc.
Kinnick Christensen led the Trojans with 25 points while Joey Tollefson provided 14 points.
Perry will play HOIAC coed twin bills at Roland-Story Tuesday and against visiting PCM Jan. 28. The Bluejays will play boys-only junior varsity/varsity sets at home against Woodward Academy Thursday and against visiting West Central Valley Monday.
