Like a couple of stalled-out cars on a cold winter night, neighborhood rivals Perry and host Madison had trouble getting much offense going in their CVC crossover meeting on Jan. 4. The Pirates finally got their engine running with a 13-0 run in the second quarter, and that proved to be the difference in a 45-31 victory. Perry improved to 6-1 with its fourth consecutive win and snapped a five-game winning streak by the Blue Streaks, which included a 61-51 win over Chardon on Jan. 3. In a game dominated by defense and chilly shooting percentages, Perry’s edge in rebounding helped offset a deficit in turnovers. “We didn’t do any special prep,” Perry senior Vince Tomasic said. “We just played hard. It’s just hustle. That’s why we have these Hulk Hands for the player that shows the most hustle. We focus on that a lot in practice.” @Perry_Pirates senior Vince Tomasic, who had a game-high double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds in a low-scoring game, reviews Perry’s 45-31 win at archrival Madison pic.twitter.com/2OlMYu90gJ — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 5, 2025 Tomasic was referring to a pair of large green Incredible Hulk mitts that he was carrying, having been awarded them by the Perry coaches after the game, with good reason. The senior recorded a game-high 15 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. Five of those boards came on the offensive end. Six-foot-7 senior Josh Zentgraf scored all eight of his points, including a pair of 3s, during the Pirates’ 13-0 run that took their lead from 12-10 to 25-10 in three or so minutes. Madison senior Landon Tomco drilled a 3 just before halftime to end the run and cut the margin to 25-13, but the Blue Streaks were never able to recover. “That was the game,” Perry coach Al Iacofano said. “That stretch in the second quarter was the difference. We were able to hit a couple shots, and get hot. Josh (Zentgraf) and Kaden (Brewster) were able to get going a little bit.” @Perry_Pirates Coach Al Iacofano talks about Perry’s 45-31 win over rival Madison (Part 1) pic.twitter.com/UkIxKVJX8b — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 5, 2025 Madison (6-3), as it has a predilection for doing, was able to poke the ball away for turnovers at times, but couldn’t convert many of the 17 turnovers it forced for points. Despite their offensive struggles on a cold shooting night, the Blue Streaks kept pace with the Pirates until the deciding run. “Both teams were able to take each other out of their offense and what they do well,” Madison coach Nick Gustin said. “The game was like a (series of) body blows, and then when they went on that run it was like a right hook. We just couldn’t answer. We got it to two possessions in the third, but we couldn’t convert.” The second half was primarily a battle for rebounds and turnovers, with some flurries of offense mixed in, but Perry never surrendered its lead. Four consecutive free throws by Madison senior Mac Steel (team-high 12 points) in the fourth quarter, pulled the Blue Streaks within 35-28 with 6:07 left to play. But Tomasic sank 3 of 4 from the line, and found fellow senior Nick Mechenbeier for a bucket, and it was 40-28 Perry with about three minutes left. Perry won the rebounding battle, 38-31, and shot 33% from the field (16 of 49), but connected on just 3 of 15 outside the arc. But the Pirates held Madison to just eight field goals in 48 attempts, and to single digits in each quarter. “I was pretty happy with how we defended for the majority of the game,” Iacofano said. “We didn’t feel like that was our best effort tonight (offensively) for a variety of reasons. But credit to Madison, that’s part of the reason we didn’t have our best stuff. They play hard and play together, and that’s part of the reason we were disrupted.” @Perry_Pirates Coach Al Iacofano breaks down the Pirates’ 45-31 win at rival Madison (Part 2) pic.twitter.com/tQW0rC3u2r — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 5, 2025 Perry hopes to keep its winning streak alive in a CVC Chagrin Division contest at Orange on Jan. 9. Madison has a pair of CVC Lake tilts set for next week, at Jefferson on Jan. 7 and at home against Geneva on Jan.10. The rivals will see each other again at the end of the season, this time at Perry on Feb. 15. “We’ll take the 1-1,” Gustin said of his team’s first weekend of 2025. “Coming off a long rest over the holidays with no routines, and practices were different.