Sidney boys excited for tipoff

The Sidney High School boys' varsity basketball team opens its new season on Thursday night at home with a challenge: Greeley West, a 5A team from Colorado.

Greeley will be a test in the first round of the Western Conference Tournament for the Red Raiders, who will be searching to find some early season chemistry with a largely retooled roster. Don't let the Spartans' 7-16 record from last season fool you-this is a strong team that is used to playing with the big boys.

"Greeley is a big Colorado school," Sidney head coach Erik Kohl said. "They are three or four times our size. They were very young last year and the majority of their scorers are back this season. They have a lot more experience and scoring back than we do. We have to be excited to play at home and I think we will be. It's going to be great start for us."

Greeley's leading scorer from last year – junior guard Cordell Gillingham – averaged 13.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 2013-14. He'll be a point of focus for Kohl's defense on the perimeter.

The Spartans also have a talented young duo in 6-foot, 3-inch sophomore forward Darren DeLaCroix, who averaged 8.4 points and four boards last year as a freshman, and 6-5 junior forward Preston Marion, who was good for 8.3 points and 5.9 boards a year ago.

Together, those two could create problems inside for Sidney if the Red Raider interior defense isn't on point. Sidney has the bodies to contain them, but they are talented scorers.

Kohl said his team could get some extra motivation from being the "little guy."

"They're going to come in here have the mentality 'hey, we're playing a small school – we should steamroll these guys' and I think our guys are going to be prepared and are going to battle," Kohl said.

Kohl and his team wants a good start and everyone in the gym knows whom the Red Raiders will be leaning on for leadership in a big moment.

Senior guard Lane Harvey, a four-year starter at point guard, says his team has looked great at practice. But he knows that with a new roster comes a certain requirement of patience for it all to gel together as planned.

"We're getting better each day," Harvey said. "But if we want to do some damage, we're really going to have to step up our defense this year."

Harvey says his team is ready and he believes his guys can get the job done even with a bit of pressure.

"We don't have to tell them anything – most of them know pretty well," Harvey said. "They just need to play basketball – don't think about it. Do the things you're good at and don't force anything."

Junior forward Tyler Wintholz, who will be Sidney's primary presence in the paint, also expects success and is charging himself with the responsibility of making sure his team has the best chance to be as good as it can be.

He was sidelined during Sidney's home Gatorade scrimmages on Saturday after he stepped on a nail earlier last week. He says he'll be good to go for Thursday night.

"I expect myself to lead the team and keep others up – making sure I'm doing my part," Wintholz said. "If we play the best we can, we'll be pretty good."

Win or lose on Thursday night, the Red Raiders will travel to Scottsbluff to play a 6:30 p.m. Friday game. If they win, they'll play at the Western Nebraska Community College campus. With a loss to Greeley, they'll play at Scottsbluff High School.

On the side, Harvey said winning in that building – known as "Cougar Palace" – is a "definite" team goal, since no player on Sidney's roster have ever won there. Of course, Harvey is hoping for the win in the opener against Greeley and the positive energy that would come from the win.

"We need to start off the season well – we usually start out the season slow," Harvey said. "We're going to try to go win the whole thing."

Western Conference Tournament

Boys’ Division

Thursday, Dec. 4

Greeley West (Colo.) at Sidney, 7 p.m.

Chadron at Gering, 7 p.m.

Omaha Gross at Alliance, 7 p.m.

Mitchell at Scottsbluff, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 5

At Western Nevada C.C.-Scottsbluff campus

Greeley West (Colo.)-Sidney winner vs.

Chadron-Gering winner, 6:30 p.m.

Omaha Gross-Alliance winner vs.

Mitchell-Scottsbluff winner, 8 p.m.

At Scottsbluff High School

Greeley West (Colo.)-Sidney loser vs.

Chadron-Gering loser, 6:30 p.m.

Omaha Gross-Alliance loser vs.

Mitchell-Scottsbluff loser, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6

At Scottsbluff High School

7th-place game, 11:45 a.m.

At Western Nevada C.C.-Scottsbluff campus

5th-place game, 11:45 a.m.

3rd-place game, 3:15 p.m.

Championship game, 6:45 p.m.