Sidney tops Bison on the road

Despite the slower pace from the night before against Gering, the Raiders won their fifth game in six tries following the Christmas break Saturday night, with a 47-32 take down of the McCook Bison in a District B6 matchup.

Going back to before the vacation period the Raiders (8-3, 4-1) have won seven of their last eight. For the Bison (6-5) it was their first challenge this season from a district opponent.

In addition to showing they can adapt to different game paces Sidney also proved they could handle life on the road. Though the Raiders opened their season at the Western Conference Invite in Scottsbluff the McCook game was the first time the Raiders were faced with playing a scheduled game in an opponent's home gym. And the McCook gym was raucous and loud, with an energetic pep band that spurred on a large student body garbed in 1950s attire.

The Raiders have also shown a wealth of depth since they returned from the break with big games from many sources. Sidney has had three different players finish a game as high scorer including Paxton Ehler, Lane Harvey and Tyler Wintholz.

"We're working the ball really well and our team chemistry is really high right now," said Harvey. "It's really clicking now. We got tired of losing so we've had some hard practices and they've paid off."

On this night the Raiders offense was led by a hot shooting Ehler who drained six three pointers on his way to 20 points. During one stretch in the second quarter Ehler scored 9 straight points on three downtowners, which tuned a close 15-11 affair into a 24-11 blowout.

The Raiders were never again in danger after the Ehler outburst. Wintholz and Harvey added 9 and 6 points, respectively, while Jake Sager, Logan Lewis and Rosenbaum each tacked on 4.

Though the Ehler run provided some separation, Sidney never trailed in the contest. Lewis dropped in a layup 26 seconds into the game. Wintholz followed with a personal 4-point stretch, the first being the conclusion of a fast break led by Ehler. When Lewis scored the final points of the first period, Sidney had a 7-point advantage at 13-6.

Five points by McCook's Mack Alspaugh early in the seond quarter helped offset a Rosenbaum bucket. But when Ehler dumped in his 9 the Bison were in trouble--and remained there the rest of the way.

The Raiders held a 27-14 lead at the break.

"We've been playing really well as a team. Teams are finding out they can't just key on any one guy like Pax," said Lewis.

By the time the third quarter was over the Raiders established their largest lead of the game at 19 points. Ehler opened the scoring in the third with a three and later hit another from beyond NBA distance. Harvey concluded the third period scoring when he dropped in two free throws after being fouled on a hard drive to the hoop.

The fourth quarter was the tamest of the night with only 12 points being scored by both teams, combined. With a basket apiece, Rosenbaum and Sager were responsible for all the Raiders scoring in the fourth.

With the win over the Bison, the Raiders completed an important three-game stretch in which they knocked off a previously undefeated Class C2 Kimball team and two district opponents in Gering and McCook. While it was necessary to focus on three opponents during the prior week of practice, Sidney was never trapped by thinking ahead.

"We just took it one game at a time - one quarter at a time. Let's just try to win every quarter," said Ehler. "As a group out team is playing the best it's played all year. But we have to keep improving because other teams will be."

The Raiders will again need to prove themselves on the road with a trip to Ogallala on Friday at 7 p.m. On Saturday they return home for a date with Lexington at 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball

Sidney 47

McCook 32

Saturday