Host Perry had the scoreboard humming Tuesday in an 86-67 win over Bondurant-Farrar in their Raccoon River Conference boys basketball meeting.
Perry (6-5, 4-2) scored 25 points in the second quarter and another 34 in the third to fend off a B-F squad that showed resolve throughout the contest but simply could not keep pace with the hosts in a battle of the only two teams in the state nicknamed “Bluejays.”
B-F (5-5, 2-4) held a lead late in the first quarter, but Perry rallied to take a 12-11 advantage after eight minutes of play.
The hosts erupted to a 24-14 lead midway through the second period, but the visiting Jays slowly cut into the gap, only to have their rally thwarted by a long 3-pointer from Ryan Rathje, a Conner Nielsen block and a twisting Shammond Ivory layup that helped the home standing Jays enter the locker room in front by 13 points, at 37-24.
B-F countered with what under normal circumstances would be an impressive 24-point quarter after the break, but Perry was busy stretching the nets for 34 points over the same span for a 71-48 lead entering the final frame.
Perry had two high-paced runs in the period, with two Nielsen 3-pointers, a Kyle Nevitt layup and a thunderous two-handed dunk from Nevitt off a delayed break capping a surge that all but decided the outcome.
Head coach Ned Menke emptied the home bench early in the fourth quarter, with the reserves seeing one of their longest runs of varsity action so far this season as the hosts easily held on for the win.
Dylon Storey had 21 points and John Carlson 10 to lead the guests, with Bobby Wright and Payton Duit scoring eight points apiece.
Ivory poured in 31 points for Perry, with Nevitt adding 21 and Janier Puente 14 despite spending long stretches on the bench in foul trouble. Nielsen had a career-best 10 points, with Rathje providing four points while Solomon Pierce, J.R. McCord and Grant Eklund added two points apiece.
Perry visits Boone Friday and will step outside RRC play Monday for a boys-only JV/varsity set against Woodward Academy. Neither Perry team will play Tuesday, with the Jays and Jayettes reuniting Jan. 22 for a trip to Carlisle before Ballard visits Jan. 26.
