Lady Raiders kick it in, earn 10th win by popping Tigers

All it took was just one look from coach Tyler Shaw Monday night, and the Sidney High School girls basketball knew instinctively what to do.

Having a big lead against Ogallala shaved to single digits midway through the second period, Shaw got off the bench and stopped play. Following the timeout, the Lady Raiders (10-3) got the message, going on an 11-4 run to close the first half, en route to a 66-35 victory at Cabela’s Activities Facility.

“I think we got a couple layups after that timeout,” Shaw said. “I’m really proud of the girls and the way they responded.”

On a night SHS donned their pink, cancer-awareness uniforms, the Raiders had to deal with adversity. Leading scorer Karissa Segelke found herself in foul trouble early, and headed to the bench with her third personal foul at 4:48 of the second frame.

The Lady Tigers were able to cut the lead to 26-17 at 3:04, but Sidney answered the challenge, led by Sarah Mahr.

Mahr beat the press for a layup out of the timeout, then came up with a steal that lead to a Katelin Cole layup. Jeni Herren, who led all scorers with a season-high 18 points, scored a pair of baskets around an Abbi Porter rebound basket and three-point play.

In less than two minutes, SHS stretched a 26-17 lead into a 37-21 halftime command.

“We got into some foul trouble, but we made adjustments,” Shaw said. “We were a bit overzealous there for a bit.”

Sidney kept pouring it on in the second half, outscoring Ogallala 29-14. In fact, after the second-period timeout by Shaw, SHS put up 40 points the rest of the way.

“We’re starting to put up points,” Shaw said.

Shaw praised Herren, who stepped up in Segelke’s absence.

“This was Jeni’s best effort of the season.” Shaw said. “She does a lot of things on the floor that people don’t notice. She is always hedging screens and helping out here and there.”

Shaw said reserves Cody Rowley and Porter also played well.

“Porter gave us some great minutes and scored nine points,” Shaw said. “Cody came in and threw the ball in for us a couple times. Kylee Price and Madi Malzahn also came in and hit some 3-point shots for us.”

Heeren finished with 18 points, Porter adding nine and Mahr eight.

Saturday afternoon, SHS rolled past host Kimball, 51-34.

Segelke scored all of her game-high 14 points in the first half, and the Lady Raiders led 34-15 at the break. Mahr pitched in eight points, Malzahn and Price a half-dozen apiece.

Sidney travels to Bridgeport Friday evening.

Monday’s game

SHS 66, Ogallala 35

OGALLALA (4-7)

Giesert 3 0-0 6, JePaloucek 1 3-6 6, Kay 1 3-6 5, Berg 3 2-2 8, Arensdorf 0 1-4 1, Welsh 1 0-0 2, Voycheske 3 1-2 7. Totals 12 10-20 35

SHS (10-3)

Porter 4 1-1 9, Mahr 3 2-3 8, Krueger 2 0-0 5, Rowley 0 1-2 1, Malzahn 1 2-2 5, Segelke 2 2-5 6, Price 3 0-1 7, Riley 1 1-3 3, Herren 8 1-2 18, Linneman 1 0-0 2, Cole 1 0-1 2. Totals 26 10-18 66

Ogallala 7 14 6 8—35

SHS 20 17 16 13—66

3-point goals — Ogallala (JePaloucek), SHS 4 (Krueger, Malzahn, Price, Heeren). Team fouls — Ogallala 14, SHS 13

Saturday’s game

SHS 51, Kimball 34

SHS (51)

Segelke 6 2-6 14, Mahr 4 0-0 8, Porter 0 2-2 2, Krueger 1 0-0 3, Malzahn 2 1-3 6, Cole 2 0-2 5, Price 3 0-1 6, Rowley 0 1-2 1, Linneman 1 0-0 2, Heeren 1 2-2 4. Totals 20 8-18 51

KIMBALL (7-3)

Hayes 4 0-0 11, Daum 4 1-1 9, Klinkhammer 1 4-7 6, Hanks 0 3-4 3, Biesecker 1 0-0 2, Vogel 0 2-4 2, Wismer 0 1-2 1. Totals 10 11-19 34

SHS 14 20 12 5—51

Kimball 6 9 11 8—34

3-point goals — SHS 3 (Krueger, Malzahn, Cole), Kimball 3 (Hayes 3). Team fouls — SHS 14, Kimball 19.