A competitive start gave way to a long night for Perryville on Feb. 3, as Jefferson pulled away for a victory over the Pirates at the Perryville Middle School gymnasium.
Perryville came out with good energy, leading 13-10 after the first quarter, but struggled to sustain it as turnovers and second-chance opportunities swung the momentum. Jefferson closed the first half on a 16-5 run to take a 26-18 lead into the locker room, setting the tone for the rest of the game .
“I think that we battled early on and then we made some mistakes as far as turnovers,” said Perryville coach Eli Sample. “We didn’t get some loose balls that I expected us to get, gave them some second chances on offensive rebounds, and they made us pay for it.”
The Bluejays continued to build separation in the third quarter, outscoring Perryville 27-10 behind improved ball movement and steady scoring from multiple players. Jefferson’s ability to string together quality possessions prevented the Pirates from generating any sustained run.
"They put some good possessions together and made some shots," Sample said. "They just outplayed us."
Jefferson was led by junior Cooper Frisk, who scored 18 points, while juniors Colton Broadwater and Talon Watson added 14 apiece. Watson finished with a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds and helping the Bluejays control the glass. Jefferson improved to 14-7 with the win.
Perryville, now 8-10, struggled to find consistent offense. Senior Aiden Wendel led the Pirates with 9 points, the only Perryville player to score more than 6. “We weren’t at our best,” Sample said. “They made some good plays, and their players were tough. We gave them some opportunities, and they took advantage of it.”
