Height, accuracy overcome strong Raiders effort

Chadron invaded the Cabela’s Athletic Facility and came away with a 62-53 win over the Raiders Friday night.

Despite Sarah Mahr’s outstanding night, which included 23 points, the Cardinals were led by a pair of 6-1 twin sisters. Ashlea and Bailea Kerr provided matchup difficulties for Sidney all night, as Ashlea scored 17 points while Bailea dropped in 11 more. But another senior, Peyton Hinn, proved the biggest challenge for the Raiders as she drove in 24 points.

After a short jumper by the Raiders’ Cody Rowley early in the first quarter tied the game at 2-2, Sidney never again held a piece of the lead. Bailea Kerr hit from downtown in answer to Rowley to give the Cardinals a lead they would never relinquish. Hinn later hit another trey.

Though Rachel Petik and Mahr later responed with threes of their own, the visitors still led 21-12 after eight minutes.

“We knew coming in this was going to be very tough,” said Rowley. “They have some height that gives us matchup problems. They like to put their bigs on the outside and they had a good shooting night.”

The Raiders prepared for the Cardinals by practicing against some of the taller male coaches. But with Hinn hitting 7 of 11 shots, that became difficult to defend. Hinn was also 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Still, Sidney refused to concede. They managed to pare their 9-point deficit down to 6 at the half.

Katelin Cole helped get Sidney off to a positive start in the second quarter with a free throw and a three pointer from the left side. Rowley scored the final 6 points leading to the half. Her second of three layups came after she returned her own miss. With only seconds to go, Rowley benefitted from a Mahr pass leaving Sidney 6 points back at the half, 30-24.

“Playing against the coaches helped prepare us for this team, but they shot really well,” said Cole. “This won’t slow us down. We know our capabilities. We just need to bring it every night.”

From the right corner Cole opened the second half with another three pointer to cut the deficit in half. But only 15 seconds later Chandler Hageman erased the Raiders momentum by draining a three of her own.

The closest Sidney would come was a promising 2-points, at 33-31, after a Mahr deposited a Rowley assist.

A 12-0 Chadron spurt followed, however, and Sidney was again in a deep hole.

“We really needed to keep them from getting on runs,” said Abbi Porter. “They would get away from us and then we would get back into it.”

Mahr helped lead another Raiders comeback by scoring 5 points late in the third, but Sidney still trailed 47-36 after three periods.

A 7-0 Sidney run opened the final quarter to bring the Raiders again within striking distance. Cole and Mahr began the run while Porter finished it by completing a three-point play.

Chadron had a response, though. Hinn put together a 5-0 streak, hitting from inside and outside the arc.

Rowley also crafted a personal 5-0 run in the fourth, but the Cardinals always had answers.

Cole hit another three with 30 seconds left, but by then the game was out of hand.

Including Mahr’s 23 points, three Raiders finished the game in double digits. Cole had 12 and Rowley 10.

The Cardinals advanced their record to 12-4 while Sidney finished the game at 10-6.

Sidney heads to Grant Tuesday night to take on Perkins County at 5 p.m. The Plainsmen have struggled so far this season with a 1-15 mark.

Girls Basketball

Chadron 62

Sidney 53

Friday

Sidney Girls

Chd 12 12 12 17 - 53

Sid 21 9 17 15 - 62

Raiders Scoring

Sarah Mahr 23

Katelin Cole 12

Cody Rowley 10

Rachel Petik 3

Abbi Porter 3

Ashley Stafford 2

Hrs 2 4 6 4 – 16

Sid 7 2 8 10 – 27

Raiders scoring

Katelin Cole 9

Sarah Mahr 7

Rachel Petik 3

Abbi Porter 2

Cody Rowley 2

Maddi Stafford 2

Ashley Stafford 2