OGDEN — Playing their best eight minutes of the season helped winless Perry hold an 8-7 lead over host Ogden in their non-conference boys cage meeting Thursday.
Perry (0-9) is the lowest-scoring team in Class 3A, and devastating first quarters have consistently put the Bluejays in deep holes before half of the first half of a game has elapsed.
Such was not the case Thursday, as a hustling defense cleared numerous rebounds after forcing hurried or awkward shots from Ogden (7-3). Limited turnovers aided the cause and gave the Jays the early 8-7 lead.
Unfortunately the scare simply woke up a dormant Bulldog attack, which rattled off a 28-6 second quarter that allowed the home team to enter the intermission holding a 35-14 advantage.
By the end of the third quarter the margin had grown to 51-18, with a 19-8 fourth period creating a final of 70-26.
Kato Dougan led Perry with 10 points, all of them coming in the first half. Mario Cruz added seven points and Mohamed Abdelnabi six, with Keghan West scoring two points and Colin Malmberg one.
Ogden hit 6-of-13 3-pointers, with Ben Heeren leading the way with 22 points while Ethan Snedden had 13 points and Kaleb Badker 11. Kayden Kruse had eight points and Griffin Diggs seven, with three points apiece from Jacob Craven and Sam Christensen, two from Abraham Christensen and one from Ethan Haberer closing the Bulldog scoring.
Heeren had 10 rebounds, Kruse six boards and five assists and Diggs four steals.
Perry will resume play Jan. 4 with a visit to Ballard.
