Raiders fall just short at McCook

Despite holding an 8-point lead at halftime, Sidney was forced to make a fourth quarter comeback attempt that just fell short against the McCook Bison on Saturday night.

For the Raiders (6-5, 4-1) the 54-52 loss at McCook (7-6, 2-0) was just their first district loss of the season. The Raiders also completed a three-game stretch in as many days in which they went 1-2. But for a few breaks, they could have gone 3-0 as they lost two games by a combined 3 points. On Friday night the Kimball Longhorns edged Sidney 36-35 at the Cabela's Athletic Facility.

Despite the setback, the Raiders still hold a strong position in District B6. Already this season Sidney has beaten Gering, Scottsbluff and Alliance twice.

McCook had previously defeated Scottsbluff.

Sidney started out strong against the Bison with a 6-point advantage at 10-4 after one quarter of play. The Raiders added a couple more points by the break, building up a 27-19 halftime lead.

Trouble for Sidney came during a 24-point third period crafted by the Bison. In contrast the Raiders had their worst offensive eight mintes of the game as they scored but 8 points.

"We had too many empty possessions and they were making their shots in the third quarter," said Cody Rowley, who turned in a strong all-around performance. "We have to minimize turnovers. They're momentum killers."

Though the Raiders trailed by as many as 10 points in the third Katelin Cole hit a three pointer late in the quarter to help narrow the gap.

By the time the third was over Sidney trailed by only eight at 43-35.

"We had too many mental lapses in the third quarter," said Raiders center Abbi Porter. "We have to play a full game from start-to-finish and not just three quarters."

The comeback began in earnest in the fourth quarter when Rowley converted a Maddie Stafford pass. Sidney was aided early in its comeback attempt when McCook began to struggle from the foul line. Before Rowley finished off a three-point play.

McCook had twice missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Rowley conversion narrowed a 6-point gap to just 3 at 46-43.

With 2:58 left in the fourth, Rowley converted another free throw to bring the Raiders to within striking distance. But a 5-2 exchange followed to give back the home team a 5-point lead. The Bison finished off the mini run after Sarah Mahr made a first then missed a second foul shot. McCook's Brenleigh Daum grabbed the rebound and converted on her court-length drive.

The Raiders closed to within 3 again when Mahr scored off a Cole inbounds pass.

Cole later gave the Raiders the slimest of hopes when she put back a rebound with 0.6 seconds left. McCook called a timeout and threw up a long pass on the inbounds to negate a miracle comeback by Sidney.

"We shouldn't have been in that position, but I'm proud of how the girls kept fighting back," said Raiders Head Coach Tyler Shaw.

Sidney had a well balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures. Mahr led the way with 14 points while Rowley added 12 and Cole 11. Rowley had a big all-around game as she led the team with 19 rebounds and 4 assists. She also had 2 steals.

Mahr led the team in thefts with 3.

Three Raiders aided the offense with a pair of assists each including Rachel Petik, Stafford and Cole.

The beat went on for Porter in the shot blocking department as she turned back 7 more shots for a total of 14 in the past two games. From here on out, Porter breaks a new school record with every block she makes.

The Raiders will take to the bus again on Friday when they travel to Ogallala for a 5:30 p.m. tip off. Saturday Sidney will wear the home white with a game against Lexington at 3:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball

McCook 54

Sidney 52

Saturday