Cold-shooting Raiders bounced for B-6 semis

SCOTTSBLUFF — It didn’t take long for Sidney High School boys’ basketball coach Erik Kohl to realize what his team was in for at Monday’s District B-6 semifinals against McCook.

“On our first possession, we ran an offensive set that had been good for us all season,” Kohl said. “We typically have up to six looks on it. Tonight, we had none, and I turned to our assistants and said, ‘It might be a long night for us.’”

And a long evening it was: Sidney struggled to score all evening, and the Bison poured it on with a 75-36 romp at Western Nebraska Community College.

For Sidney, its shortcomings inside WNCC’s Cougar Palace might as well had been a bad night at a Caesar’s Palace.

The Red Raiders (15-8), known for their shooting prowess and up-tempo game, had their strengths served right back at them: McCook (18-6) zinged the cords for 11 3-pointers, while SHS misfired on all 21 of its tries from behind the arc.

Sidney owned two leads, at 4-2 and 6-4, but after McCook coach Jeremy Yilk called a timeout with 2:37 left in the opening quarter, McCook went on a 13-4 spree.

The Bison swished a trio of 3-pointers during the span, the biggest being Cody Wudtke’s 40-foot, 3-point, buzzer-beating bomb which produced a 17-10 deficit for Sidney.

“Early on, both teams were trying to feel each other out, Yilk said. “We were fortunate to hit a couple shots to get us going. We practice those type shots the day before the game, so it’s not unusual to see us hit one like that. But it did give us a ton of momentum.”

Wudtke’s basket keyed a 19-0 run into the second quarter, and Sidney could not get untracked, trailing 33-13 at the half.

The second half was more of the same, with McCook outscoring SHS 42-23.

McCook made a 200 mile-plus, one-way trip for Monday’s game, but it was Sidney which looked like it had just stepped off from a five-hour bus trip. For the second time this season, the Bison held Sidney to its season low of 36, having won by 11 points Jan. 5 at Cabela’s Athletic Facility.

“McCook has a great team with five seniors,” Kohl said. “Tonight, we got thrown to the wolves. We got looks inside but couldn’t finish around the hoop. Without question, of all the teams we played, they are the toughest defensively. There’s such a huge gap between them and the second-best defensive team, I couldn’t tell you who the next-best team was.”

The Bison, which rested its starters down the stretch, placed five players in double figures: Mackenzie Alspaugh put in 16, Austin Cherry 15, Zayne Gillen 13, Sean Backer 12 and Wudtke 10.

Sophomore point guard Layne Harvey led the Raiders with eight points.

“If you would have told me Sidney wouldn’t hit a 3-pointer tonight, I would have thought you were crazy,” Yilk said. “We are long and tall and we did want Sidney to take deeper shots.”

Kohl reflected on a season that at one point, saw SHS clinging close to the .500 mark.

“We were 6-5 after the holiday tournament, and I didn’t know which way we were going,” the first-year Raiders coach said. “To win 15 games, I am very pleased. We did win nine of our last 12.”

Kohl also praised his seniors, Casey Mabey, Sam Arterburn and Paul Beyer.

“Casey Mabey ... what a blessing to have that kid, unbelievable leadership.” Kohl said. “Sam worked real hard, and for Paul, it was a tough break tearing his ACL and not having a chance to play the full season.”

McCook will meet top-seeded Scottsbluff tonight for the B-6 title.

Scottsbluff B-6 District semifinals

McCook 75, Sidney 36

McCOOK (18-6)

Cherry 4 5-5 15, Wudtke 3 3-4 10, Gillen 5 0-0 13, Post 3 2-2 8, Backer 5 0-0 12, Alspaugh 6 1-2 16, Midkiff 0 1-2 1. Totals 26 12-15 75

SIDNEY (15-8)

Mabey 2 2-4 6, Harvey 4 0-0 8, Ehler 1 0-0 2, Vowers 1 0-0 2, Wintholz 1 0-0 2, Lewis 3 1-4 7, Arterburn 1 0-0 2, Rosenbaum 1 2-2 4, Heeren 1 0-0 2, Castner 0 1-2 1. Totals 15 6-12 36

McCook 17 16 22 20—75

Sidney 10 3 19 4—36

3-point field goals — McCook 11 (Alspaugh 3, Gillen 3, Cherry 2, Backer 2, Wudtke). Team fouls — McCook 10, Sidney 12.