Raiders tripped up in OT

Currently, Sidney High School’s boys basketball team and overtime games are anything but bedfellows.

Friday night, the host Red Raiders fell prey once more to the extra session, dropping a 60-58 decision to Cheyenne (Wyo.) South in the second semifinal of the Cabela’s Holiday Shootout.

South’s Mark DeBruyn, after coming up short on two potential game-clinching shots in regulation, sank a three-point play on an inbounds pass with 10.8 seconds remaining to account for the game’s last points.

The loss drops SHS to 5-3, with all three defeats going past regulation. More importantly, the decision denied Sidney a chance to defend its own title, and Erik Kohl’s club will have to settle for a shot at third place at 11:45 a.m. today against Gering.

The 3:15 p.m. title game will be an all-Wyoming affair between Douglas (4-5) and South (5-5).

Both teams had numerous chances to put the game in their respective back pockets in regulation, but couldn’t.

Sidney held a 28-23 lead following sloppily played first half that saw the two teams combine for 28 personal fouls. The Raiders did build a 32-25 lead early in the second half, but SHS’s inability to knock down 3-point shots against the Bison 1-3-1 zone defense allowed the visitors to go off on a long run to end the third period.

“The fact of the matter is we’ve got to make shots,” Kohl said. “We’ve got to get guys who come in before practice and stay after practice. We have two guys who do that, and until that happens we’re not going to make outside shots. We have to get ball movement and we settle for two passes and a shot and play out of rhythm.”

Keyed by six points from center Isiah Sims and 3-pointers from Robert Dilsaver and Khyler Cummings, South (5-5) went on a 17-4 surge to take a 42-36 lead into the fourth period.

The Raiders had no answer for Sims inside, and still trailed by four, 46-42, with 4:47 remaining.

In the final five minutes of regulation, there was plenty of action, but Sidney still trailed by four, 50-46 at 1:20.

Sidney answered with a Lane Harvey 3-pointer — just the fourth trey of the game from the perimeter-happy Raiders — at 1:14, slicing the deficit to 50-49.

SHS continued that momentum when Casey Mabey blocked Mark DeBruyn’s backdoor layup, and Paxton Ehler was fouled and made one of two free throws as the Raiders tied the game at 50.

South held for a final shot, and Mark DeBruyn hit the side of the rim from the right side, forcing overtime.

South was shot an interior player as Sims had fouled out late in the fourth period, and Sidney sensed blood, going inside to Logan Lewis twice for scores to open overtime.

Ahead 54-50, the Raiders forced a Bison miscue, but Harvey lost the handle on the basketball, giving the ball back to South.

“If they hold on to the ball there, we likely don’t get another chance,” South coach Jim Shaffer said.

South clawed back to within one point twice, but somehow Harvey answered twice with daring moves in the lane.

The lead was still three, 58-55, at 19.3 seconds, but the Raiders fouled Robert Dilsaver at 13.1 seconds, and he made both shots to leave the score at 58-57.

Following a timeout, Sidney attempted to throw-in on the baseline, but the Raiders were called for a 5-second violation that appeared to come rather quickly.

The turnover gave the ball back to the Bison, who went to the well one more time with Mark DeBruyn. DeBruyn slipped backdoor, scored a layup and was fouled. DeBruyn completed the three-point play, and Harvey’s potential game-winning 3-pointer from the left wing fell off.

Sidney will meet Gering, one of three previous overtime culprits.

“It’s an opportunity for us to play,” Kohl said. “I know we’re disappointed that we aren’t playing for the championship, but we have a lot of things to work on, and it can start (today).”

South 60, Sidney 56

South 12 11 19 8 10-60

Sidney 13 15 8 14 8-56

SOUTH (5-5)

Dilsaver 4 4-5 13, Cummings 3 4-6 12, Sims 3 4-4 10, Mark DeBruyn 3 3-5 9, Michael DeBruyn 3 1-3 8, Haberkorn 2 0-1 4, Fawcett 1 2-2 4. Totals 19 18-26 60

SIDNEY (5-3)

Harvey 6 3-4 17, Mabey 1 2-3 4, Vowers 1 2-2 5, Wintholz 1 2-2 4, Lewis 3 2-6 8, Arterburn 1 0-0 2, Rosenbaum 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 14-23 58

3-point goals — South 4 (Cummings 2, MiDeBruyn, Dilsaver); Sidney 4 (Harvey 2, Vowers, Ehler). Team fouls — South 25, Sidney 25. Fouled out – Sims, Arterburn, Mabey.