Normally when a team goes on a 31-5 run, the outcome is a victory. That was not the case for Perry Tuesday night as Ballard shocked first place Perry 72-63 in RRC action at the Roundhouse in Huxley. Ballard opened the game on a 14-0 run before Perry finally scored their first point at the 3:34 mark of the first quarter. Once the Jays scored, they kept the foot on the gas as they quickly erased the deficit and turned it into a seven point halftime lead. Perry built a double digit lead early in the second half before Ballard rattled off another 14-0 run to take the lead late. The Bombers sealed the win at the free throw line converting on 31-38 foul shots including 19-23 in the second half. Shammond Ivory led the Bluejays with 23 points while Will Whiton added 16. Whiton’s basket late in the first quarter gave him 1000 for his career.
The loss could be a devastating one for Perry as the Bluejays fell from first place in the RRC along with hurting their chances for a top seed in next month’s districts. Perry falls to 11-4 and 7-2 in RRC, while Ballard wins for just the second time in the new year as the Bombers improve to 7-8. Perry will host Carroll Friday night at the Pavilion.