Linneman's dozen helps Sidney freshmen edge out win

With a balanced scoring attack the Red Raiders freshmen boys basketball team advanced its record to 2-1 with a 34-30 victory over the Kimball Longhorns at the Cabela's Athletic Facility on Monday night.

Alex Linneman paced the Sidney attack with 12 points while Kyler Cole added 8. Yeager Price and Zach Means dropped in 7 points each.

While the Raiders held the lead much of the contest the largest advantage they could manage was 7 points, on two occassions early in the second half. The Longhorns fought back later in the half, however, leaving the winner in doubt until the final minute.

"I think we did pretty well against them. They're a pretty good team," said Cole. "Maybe we could do a better job rebounding but we'll keep working to get better."

With the Raiders advantage standing at just 3 points to open the second half, Price helped give his team some breathing room. He opened the second half scoring by making a steal and charging back the other way to drop in breakaway layup. Linneman then gave the Raiders their biggest lead of the game with 4:42 left in the third. On a nice feed from Cole, Linneman dropped in the shot that gave Sidney a 22-15 cushion.

The Raiders captured their second 7-point lead moments later, when Means answered Jaden Withrow's two pointer with a pair of free throws. Trailing by 5 at the end of the the first 24 minutes, the Longhorns made their final push in the last eight minutes.

Creg Barker of Kimball returned an offensive rebound into the hoop to launch the Longhorns on a 5-1 run opening the final frame. The mini surge by the visitors brought them to within one, which is as close as they had been since the game was tied 15-15 in the first half.

Though Kimball remained with a chance to win until the end, they would never come as close as a point again.

The duo of Linneman and Pirce helped steer the momentum back Sidney's way. Linneman made a nice feed to a wide open Price underneath the basket. Price then dropped in the layup for a 27-24 lead. Shortly thereafter Linneman was fouled and sank both shots.

"With my game I try to drive to the basket whenever I can and create shots for myself," said Linneman. "I also try to create shots for my teammates so they can score."

Though Kimball's Brandon Barker answered Linneman's free throws by sinking both ends of a one-and-one, the Raiders edged out to a 6-point advantage at 32-26. A Cole three pointer with 2:13 left did the trick.

Before Cole threw it up from long range he bumped into a Kimball player who went down.

"I wanted to drive to the basket for a layup but when we bumped into each other I pulled back and tried the three," explained Cole.

Despite the Cole three pointer the Raiders found out it was too soon to celebrate. Trent Rutledge brought the Longhorns within spitting distance in the final minute with a solo 4-point run. He first sank the front end of a one-and-one then followed up by sinking a shot from behind the arc.

Still, with the seconds ticking away, Kimball was forced to foul. Cole ended the scoring by sinking a freebie.

While the Raiders opened up the game with a 6-2 lead, the Longhorns responded by recording the first quarter's final six points for an 8-6 lead. The see-saw battle continued into the second eight minutes with neither team able to build a lead of more than 3 points.

Kimball took its final lead of the game at 15-13, after a Rutledge three pointer. But Sidney had the last say in the opening half with a 5-0 run on points from Means and Linneman.

Linneman's last point came after an intentional foul sent him into the wall.

The Raiders will take the week off from competition before hosting Alliance next Friday.

The boys will follow the girls who are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Boys Basketball

Sidney 34

Kimball 30