Raiders earn split in Scottsbluff

The Red Raiders were a little like Jekyll and Hyde over the weekend, as they split the final two games of the Western Conference Invitational in Scottsbluff.

On Friday evening, Paxton Ehler led the Red Raiders (1-2) with 37 points in a 79-72 defeat of district rival Alliance. On Saturday morning Sidney struggled with its shooting touch against a Scottsbluff Bearcats team that had no such issues. Scottsbluff ran away with a 63-41 victory to even the Raiders district record at 1-1.

The Omaha Skutt Catholic SkyHawks (3-0), who spoiled the Raiders opener last Thursday, took home the tournament crown by easily defeating the Gering Bulldogs 65-49 in the title game. The SkyHawks also blew out Chadron on Saturday 59-35.

Ehler batters Alliance

With a foul-line jumper early in the first quarter at Scottsbluff High School, Ehler didn't waste much time getting on the score sheet against the Bulldogs. But he saved his best for the final 3:05 of the fourth quarter.

Ehler also had plenty of help from his teammates, with Logan Lewis being the most conspicous offensive abetter. He found a nice touch from in close and from long range.

Though Lane Harvey's jumper and and Cutter O'Connell's three pointer twice gave Sidney a 17-point lead in the third quarter, the Dogs made a run at them. With eight straight Alliance points to close the quarter the Raiders lead shrank to 9 at 55-46 entering the final eight minutes.

"They have some good shooters and tonight they were making a lot of outside shots," said Head Coach Erik Kohl. "We've always had competitive games with Alliance so we know what to expect when we face them. We can play better. We have some things to work on."

With a nice feed from Harvey, an Ehler two helped put the Raiders back in charge with a 16-point advantage (65-49) in the final eight minutes. But again Alliance came back at them with a 13-point run to narrow the deficit to just three.

That's when Ehler proved to be his best.

In a span of 1:04, Ehler scored the next 8 Sidney points and all from the foul line. During the Ehler run the Dogs managed only one two from Sage DuBray. By the time the Bulldogs had drained a couple of late threes it was already too late. Fouling the Raiders best shooter with such regularity late in the contest had already undid the Bulldogs.

The game was more of a back-and-forth affair in its opening stages. The teams traded jabs before Sidney found themselves down by four points nearing the close of the first eight minutes. Tyler Wintholz picked up a pair of assists late as Sidney closed the period with a 4-2 edge. He kicked a pass out to Lewis who drained a three and then fed Jake Sager underneath who then dropped in a layup.

"I can't remeber the last time I hit a three and tonight I hit two," said Lewis afterwards. "But I was wide open when I got the ball so their was no way I could pass them up. I don't know what it is about this building. I always seemed to play well here."

The Raiders began to separate themselves from the Bulldogs in the second quarter. Though they trailed by three early in the frame, Lucas Rosenbaum started the momentum change. He followed the path of his missed jumper, grabbed the rebound and put a layup.

The Rosenbaum put back began a 12-0 run that gave Sidney the lead for good. Harvey followed Rosenbaum for two, Ehler for three and Lewis for two to give Sidney a lead they would never again relinquish. The run was capped by Ehler who completed a three-point play.

The Raiders hot streak was interrupted by one two pointer before they scored another five. By the end of the first half, Sidney had jumped out a 40-29 lead.

The Raiders had a strong start to the second half, which was highlighted early by two baseline drives by Wintholz. He scored five straight points when his second bucket was made depite a foul. He completed the three-point play. Shortly thereafter Harvey and O'Connell made their shots that gave the Raiders their 17 point leads.

"For parts of the game we got on some nice runs, but then they got some flow too," Ehler said. "I think we helped them out at times by making too many fouls."

An off day

Though Sidney looked to have their backs to the wall from the start against the Bearcats after falling into a quick 5-0 hole, they rallied with a 7-point run. Buckets by Lewis, Ehler for three and Harvey helped Sidney go on to a first quarter lead.

The Raiders earned their biggest lead of the game after scores by Rosenbaum and O'Connell put them ahead 11-7. Though they still led by 2 after eight minutes, the Raiders success was short lived.

When the Bearcats Dillon Hernandez opened the second quarter with a three pointer for a 14-13 lead, the home side never again trailed. Scottsbluff outpointed Sidney 22-7 during the second eight minutes to take control.

"If we don't shoot well it's not going to go well for us. I don't know that that's any different for us than any other team," said Harvey. "The next time we play these guys it's not going to be the same."

Two late Bearcats threes in the third quarter helped them extend the lead to 18 at 52-34. But Sidney played the middle portion of the quarter like a team that doesn't give up easily.

Ehler began a 9-0 Raiders run with five points before Lewis and Harvey each added a duece. The Bearcats staved off the charge and took back control with a deft shooting touch.

In addition to the Bearcats solid shooting, their sophomore center, Austin Clarkson (6-6), was also a handfull in the paint.

Clarkson opened the fourth frame with a layup on his way to five points in the final eight minutes. The Raiders meanwhile could only manage another 7-point quarter.

"I don't think we really played well as a team. It seemed lot of individuals out there," said Lewis. "That's a good team though. They always make shots so we have to play more aggressively on defense."

The Raiders have most of the week off before facing Chase County on Friday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. or after the girls contest against the same high school.

Boys Basketball

Sidney 79

Alliance 72