A rough-and-tumble matchup between old rivals, now in the Chagrin Valley Conference, on Friday. Perry (4-0, 2-0) and Jefferson (2-2, 1-1) girls spent decades meeting in some memorable post-season contests. This time a now regular season, conference showdown included no less hustle, just not as pretty. The teams combined for 33 fouls, as the Pirates emerged victorious 40-34.

Each team lost a player to penalty before games end. Ask Perry sophomore guard Jaidyn Newsome who sacrificed half of a tooth to the floor, during one battle for the ball. Fortunately, she returned to the contest after missing barely one quarter of play.

Jefferson which led a good portion of the first half, later trailed by as many as 10 points in the second before paring down the game in the final moments. With only four points as a team to begin the second half, no stat can be more glaring for Head Coach TJ Furman than the nine missed free throws (3-of-12 for the game), compared to Perry’s output which was not much better but enough to win (6-of-14). Both sides were physically exhausted by the end of the contest.

Perry was led by junior shooting guard Victoria Lynch (18 points). Her 4-for-4 performance at the foul line is slightly overshadowed by four three-pointers scattered across each quarter. Junior power forward Rosalyn Tharp tacked on nine more points.

The Falcons were led by the tandem of Tatum Bordeaux and Kennidie Rogers with 10 points apiece.

Despite the late night, Jefferson looks to reverse their fortunes on the road Saturday at Girard (0-3), a 2:30 pm tipoff. Perry gets a little time off before visiting neighboring rival Madison on Tuesday, Dec. 12th at 6:45 pm.