Sidney eases past struggling Bearcats

Sidney made it a clean sweep, with two road wins over district opponents this weekend.

After knocking off Scottsbluff for the third time this season in a 54-44 win on Saturday, the Raiders now have a season mark of 13-6. The struggling Bearcats, who ended a 12-game losing streak the night before, slipped to 2-14.

Sarah Mahr backed up her record setting performance at Gering the night before to score 22 points. Cody Rowley added 9, Savanna Rosenbaum 8 and Katelin Cole 7.

Sidney entered the game without the services of two starters. Maddie Stafford was forced to miss the game for precautionary reasons after an injury. Center Abbi Porter was on a college visit.

"I was a little worried at the start. Missing two players can mess with the mojo a little," said Rowley. "But the best thing about this team is that we can trust anybody."

In the absence of two starters, Head Coach Tyler Shaw increased the playing time of several others. Though they usually see plenty of action anyway, Rosenbaum and Petik were inserted into the starting lineup.

Freshman Annalise Lecher also suited up for the varsity squad for the first time in her young career and spelled Rosenbaum at the post on occasion. She pulled down 3 rebounds in limited duty.

"I was a little more nervous for the start," said Rosenbaum, a junior. "Even when we're playing for junior varsity the coaches prepare us for how to do things at a varsity level. We're a pretty deep team and that showed tonight."

Mahr opened the game where she left off the night before. Just 22 seconds in she completed a three-point play. From there the Raiders never trailed and were tied only once. A 4-0 mini run with baskets by the Bearcats' Aubree Ford and Chesney Walker drew the home team even at 8-8 midway through the first.

Mahr broke the tie with 5-straight points and the Raiders never again looked back.

Though Ashley Stafford dropped a free throw and Emily Mahr a couple more, Sidney went cold from the floor. They did not score another field goal until more than three minutes had elapsed in the second quarter.

Sarah Mahr eventually banked a short shot off the glass to reginite Sidney's offense. When the halftime buzzer sound Sidney had increased their lead to 32-21.

Rowley opened the second half with a three-point play and Sarah Mahr followed by sinking a pair of foul shots to give Sidney their largest lead of the game at 37-21.

A 6-0 run by the Bearcats was terminated when Petik fed Rosenbaum underneath for an easy two pointer. By the end of three the visitors had extended their lead to 42-29.

While the Bearcasts managed to creep back to within 10 points early in the fourth quarter, baskets by Cole and Rowley turned them aside. With 15 seconds left Scottsbluff's Chloey Reifschneider drained a three pointer, but it was far too late by then.

"Coach (Matt) McKay made the comment that this team is 19 deep which includes the whole junior varsity team," said Rowley. "I think that showed tonight."

In the absence of Stafford and Porter - two excellent defenders - Cole (4), Rosenbaum (2) and Lecher (1) helped the defensive cause by blocking 7 shots. Porter is the school record holder in that category.

Rowley led the team in steals with 4 while Cole (3) and Sarah Mahr (3) contributed to the theft total as well.

Rowley was tops in rebounding with 12 while Rosenbaum and Sarah Mahr each had 7. Rowley and Petik had 3 assists apiece.

Sidney takes their act on the road again on Friday when they travel to Chadron. Tip-off time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball

Sidney 54

Scottsbluff 44

Saturday