The Perry Jayettes will dive into one of their more difficult stretches of the season tonight when they travel to the Roundhouse in Huxley to take on number 9 Ballard.  Perry enters ranked 10th.  Both teams are off to 5-1 starts however Perry is coming off  a nice road win at Carlisle Tuesday while Ballard was pounded by number 2 Winterset 44-24 Tuesday night.  Perry Head Coach Mike Long knows tonight will be a good measuring stick for his team.

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“This will be a difficult game for us.  If our team puts forth the defensive effort, than we will be just fine.  Our problem is that we arent consistent defensively on a nightly basis.  We have to correct that.  Katy Ahrenholzt is a good player for them down low.  We have to try and contain her.”

Perry has looked good in all areas of the game this year but one….free throw shooting.  The Jayettes are under 50 percent on the season and the veteran head coach is working on ways to improve that number.

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“Right now, its part mechanics and part confidence and part concentration.  We have them doing a lot of free throw shooting during practice but this is one of the aspects of the game where they need to focus and work on 365 days a year.  We try to force concentration by making them run if they miss but a free throw is all about mechanics and concentration.  I think we will get better as the season goes along..we have too many good shooters not to.”

You can listen to Perry and Ballard tonight beginning at 5:45 with. the Perry HYVEE pregame show on KDLS.