Raiders roll past Ogallala, complete weekend sweep

The struggles have come and gone for his club, and following a weekend sweep, Sidney High School boys basketball coach Erik Kohl is hoping the tide has turned on the 2012-13 season.

“We’re now executing the little details,” Kohl said Monday night after the Red Raiders improved to 8-6 with an easy 63-35 blowout win against visiting Ogallala at Cabela’s Activities Facility. “I think we have the mindset now that we are going to compete at a high level.”

Monday’s game, postponed Friday night due to weather, capped an extended weekend that saw SHS also shut down previously unbeaten Kimball on the road, 63-44.

“We’re starting to defend and communicate well,” Kohl said. “We’re also setting screens better and making that extra pass.”

Monday’s spark was none other than senior guard Sam Arterburn. Arterburn’s early hot hand got things rolling for Sidney, which sprinted to an 8-0 lead and never looked back.

Arterburn knocked down three 3-point baskets in the opening quarter, including the final shot which jettisoned Sidney ahead 23-3 at the first buzzer.

Ogallala struggled against Sidney’s defense, and couldn’t muster a rally, By the time the first half was complete, Arterburn had outscored the Tigers himself with 16 points, and the Raiders led, 43-14 at intermission.

“Sam hadn’t been shooting all that many 3-pointers for us, but his percentage is pretty decent,” Kohl said.

The second half was all about Sidney building on its comfortable lead, which swelled to 53-17 when Lucas Rosenbaum hit a pair of free throws at 3:21 of the third period. A pair of Aterburn foul shots ended the third period with SHS owning a 55-22 command.

Kohl emptied his bench with 5:17 remaining, but Ogallala was never able to trim the spread lower than 27 points the rest of the way.

When all was settled, 13 Sidney players had scored, three in double figures. Arterburn scored 19 points in a sparkling effort, with Casey Mabey adding 11 and Tyler Wintholz 10.

“We started playing better in the second half Saturday at Kimball, and it carried over tonight,” Kohl said. “We got open looks and shared the ball, as 13 guys scoring will attest.”

In Saturday’s win, Sidney’s Lane Harvey and Logan Lewis combined for 15 points in the third quarter, when the Raiders outscored the Longhorns (7-1), 25-12, to take control.

Paxton Ehler added 12 points (all on 3-pointers) and Mabey added 10 before fouling out.

SHS on Friday travels to Bridgeport.

Monday’s game

SHS 67, Ogallala 35

OGALLALA (2-9)

Cogdill 1 2-4 4, Neill 3 0-0 6, Crandall 4 3-4 12, Folchert 3 1-2 7, Thorson 0 3-4 3, Jarusz 0 0-2 0, A.Ewert 0 1-4 1, Rivas 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 12-24 35

SHS (8-6)

Arterburn 5 5-7 19, Ehler 1 0-0 2, Lewis 1 0-1 2, Mabey 4 3-3 11, Harvey 2 0-0 5, Frerichs 1 0-0 2, Castner 2 0-0 4, Wintholz 4 2-4 10, Heeren 1 0-0 2, Onstott 0 2-2 2, Rosenbaum 1 2-2 5, O’Connell 1 0-0 2, Linemann 0 1-2 1. Totals 23 15-21 67

Ogallala 3 11 8 13—35

SHS 23 20 12 12—67

3-point goals — Ogallala (Crandall), SHS 6 (Arterburn 4, Harvey, Rosenbaum). Team fouls — Ogallala 16, SHS 20.

Saturday’s game

SHS 63, Kimball 44

SHS (63)

Mabey 5 0-0 10, Harvey 7 0-0 16, Ehler 4 0-0 12, Wintholz 4 0-0 8, Lewis 3 1-3 7, Arterburn 2 0-2 4, Rosenbaum 2 2-3 6. Totals 27 3-8 63

KIMBALL (7-1)

Daum 9 4-6 24, Reuter 3 2-3 8, Reader 2 3-4 7, Rockhold-O’Brien 2 0-0 4. Totals 16 10-17 44

SHS 12 7 25 19—63

Kimball 10 12 12 10—44

3-point goals — SHS 6 (Ehler 4, Harvey 2). Team fouls — SHS 16, Kimball 13. Fouled out — Mabey.