Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sidney freshman Tyler Wintholz cuts to the basket for two of his 10 points in Friday’s 56-43 Raiders win at Bridgeport.
Sidney juniors Nick Castner and Paxton Ehler (on ground, center) scramble for a loose ball between Bridgeport’s John Pappas (35) and Luke Linch Friday evening. Sidney freshman Tyler Wintholz cuts to the basket for two of his 10
Paxton Ehler drives for two of his 15 first-quarter points in Sidney’s 56-43 win Friday at Bridgeport.scramble for a loose ball between Bridgeport’s John Pappas (35) and Luke Linch Friday evening.
BRIDGEPORT – Paxton Ehler carried the Sidney High School boys basketball team early, and it was enough for the Red Raiders to hang on for a 56-43 road victory Friday night.
Ehler scored a game-high 22 points, including his team’s first 13 points. But it was a sequence of three consecutive 3-pointers from the junior that turned the tide for good after the Bulldogs had taken an 8-7 lead.
“Paxton came out hot for us,” SHS coach Erik Kohl said. “We knew Bridgeport would come out pumped up for this game, and once Paxton got us the lead, we started seeing other people that were open.”
Sidney led 21-14 after one quarter, and while things cooled in the second frame, the Raiders were still able to stretch the margin to eight points, 29-21, at halftime.
Mabey scored a basket to open Sidney’s second-half scoring, and Ehler followed by converting a long rebound and a 3-pointer that punched the Raiders’ command to 36-23. Even more impressive for SHS was the play of freshman reserve forward Tyler Wintholz. Wintholz, who along with Nick Castner filled in for injured starting center Logan Lewis (foot), was strong once again, adding 10 points off the bench.
Wintholz has scored 28 points in the last three outings, which has caught the eye of his coach.
“Tyler is an example of what happens when you listen in practice and work hard,” Kohl said. “He’s getting more minutes now, and he should continue to play more.”
On one play, Wintholz weaved his way through traffic in the open floor before splitting the defense for a layup.
By the end of the third period, Sidney (9-5) was in full control, 48-31.
Ehler finished with 22 points, Casey Mabey adding 13 and Wintholz 10.
Junior Jaime Gonzalaz paced Bridgeport (8-5) with 14 points.
“Gonzalaz is a great player,” Kohl said, “and (Bridgeport coach Nick Broz) is one of the top offensive coaches around. They run a lot of wrinkles at you, and they are tough to defend.”
Sidney returns home tonight to face Sterling, Colo., at Cabela’s Athletic Facility.
“Sterling has a lot of size, and they will present a challenge for us,” Kohl said. “We were outrebounded again tonight, and that problem continues to hurt us. Sterling will battle us on the boards (tonight).”
SIDNEY (9-5)
Mabey 6 1-3 13, Harvey 2 0-0 4, Ehler 9 0-0 22, Wintholz 5 0-0 10, Arterburn 1 0-0 3, Rosenbaum 2 0-0 4. Totals 25 1-3 56
BRIDGEPORT (8-5)
Franklin 2 0-0 4, Amarels 2 0-0 4, Baxter 1 0-0 2, Pappas 3 2-2 8, Gonzalaz 6 0-4 14, Freeze 1 0-0 2, Pankowski 4 1-2 9. Totals 19 3-8 43
SHS 21 8 19 8-56
Bridgeport 14 7 10 12-43
3-point goals – Sidney 5 (Ehler 4, Arterburn), Bridgeport 2 (Gonzalaz 2). Team fouls – Sidney 11, Bridgeport 9
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