Perry used a 12-3 run in the middle of the second quarter to open a 41-28 halftime lead en route to a 74-59 dismissal of visiting Ballard in Raccoon River Conference boys action Friday.
The Bluejays had a 19-18 lead after one quarter but suddenly surged midway through the second stanza. Senior guard Rashon Ivory helped fuel the spurt, sinking 3-of-4 free throws after being fouled while shooting, with a technical foul whistled on a Ballard player who, apparently, had a differing opinion of the infraction.
The sudden jolt of emotion seemed to aid Perry more than their guests, allowing the hosts to open the aforementioned 13-points halftime gap. Perry (4-7, 2-3) held a 56-40 lead entering the fourth quarter, with Ballard (4-6, 3-2) never able to trim the gap to single digits in suffering the loss.
Perry finished 17-of-23 at the foul line, with Ballard connecting on 11-of-19 free throws.
Four players scored in double-digits for the Jays, with Rashon Ivory’s 20 points a game high. Tanner Duffy splashed three 3-pointers in the first half to spark the hosts and finished with 15 points, with fellow senior Drew Levan also scoring 15 points while senior Connor Nielsen provided 10 points.
Nine points from sophomore Brendan Ivory and five from senior Mark Campos capped the Bluejay scoring.
Connor Drew’s 15 points led Ballard, with Isaac Schafbuch tallying 12 points. Trey Drummond and Kegan Odden had eight points apiece, Chase Winterboer six, Nate Briggs four points and Reece Huen and Isaiah Deason three points each.
Perry will host Boone Tuesday and then visit Bondurant-Farrar Friday. The Bluejays will then play a boys varsity-only game at Cedar Rapids Xavier Jan. 13, with tip-time set for 5:15 p.m.
