Red Raiders set for weekend challenge

You can hear the excitement radiating from the voice of Sidney boys' basketball coach Erik Kohl when he talks about the upcoming Cabela's Holiday Tournament in Sidney.

As a man who loves well executed basketball, he's looking forward to the challenge of playing in a bracket with three other quality teams.

"This is a fun tournament for us and we're all really excited by the quality of the teams here," said Kohl after a morning practice this week. "It's going to be great fun because we're facing some outstanding basketball teams."

Unlike in past years, the 2015 edition of the Cabela's tournament will have two champions. With New Year's Day falling on a Thursday, the tournament will start a day later than usual on Friday. That allows for only two games for each team. The 2015 format includes eight schools divided into two brackets.

In the Angler's grouping with Sidney are Gothenburg, Wheatland (Wyo.), and Chase County. All games in the Angler's bracket will be played in the Cabela's Athletic Facility at Sidney High School.

"It's important for us to defend our home court," senior guard Lane Harvey said. "One of our goals this year is not to lose at home. It's a real challenge here. This is the toughest tournament we've had so far."

The Hunter's include Gering, Hershey, Laramie and Central City. This foursome will play all their games at Sidney Middle School. Gering and Hershey will face off at 3:45 p.m. on Friday with Laramie and Central City to follow at 7:15. The Hunter's championship is set for Saturday at 3:15 with the consolation preceding at 11:45 a.m.

The Raiders first test is against the Swedes of Gothenburg on Friday at 7 p.m. Wheatland and Chase County will open the tournament at 3:45. The winners will square off for the championship on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. The consolation matchup is scheduled for 11:45 a.m.

The Raiders will have their hands full contending with a team that has gone 5-1 so far this season while playing in Class C, District 10. The Swedes only blemish so far was a 57-52 overtime loss to St. Patrick's (8-0) on Dec. 19. Gothenburg features a 6-9, 270-pound center in Tanner Borchardt.

"Borchardt is a load and he's very physical. He's great at setting the screen and immediately posting up," Kohl said. "He uses his body well and he's very smart. The guards will usually just throw the ball towards the rim which is a turnover for most teams. But he just catches it and when he gets the ball within five or six feet of the basket he scores."

The assignment of guarding the big man will fall largely to Jake Heeren and Jared Ross. Heeren, who missed practice on Tuesday due to strep throat, is a likely go for Friday. Heeren is certainly familiar with Borchardt from track season. He finished third to Borchardt in the shot put at states.

But Kohl is also well aware that Gothenburg is not a one-dimensional team. They also have two exceptional sophomore guards in Dawson Graham and Colin Hahn who scored 17 and 16 points respectively in a win over Class B Holdrege on Dec. 18. They also start Ty Clement, a 6-7 sophomore, at the four.

The Wheatland Bulldogs are a high-octane offense that averages nearly 74 points-per contest. They are led by Kendrick Jackson – son of former NBA player Bobby Jackson. The elder Jackson played for 13 seasons professionally while averaging nearly 10 points-per game. He also played at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff.

Perhaps a chip off the old block, Kendrick Jackson leads Wyoming's Eastern Conference in scoring at 27 ppg. He also averages seven rebounds-per outing and 4.3 assists. The Bulldogs also feature Kyle Pollock (5.7 apg) and Trace Douglas (2.3 apg), who are often the abettors of Jackson's offense while showing an ability to score themselves.

The Raiders will counter with their top two offensive weapons in Cutter O'Connell and Tyler Wintholz while Harvey will man the point. Ross, Harvey and Cody Frerichs are the only seniors on the Sidney roster. Like Harvey, Frerichs is capable of scoring from inside or outside.

"He's just lighting it up over there," Kohl said of Jackson. "They're a great scoring team. We'll have our hands full trying to keep them down."

Of course Chase County (Class C1, District 12) is a team the Raiders are already familiar with. The Raiders knocked off the Longhorns 63-54 on Dec. 12, at Imperial.

Jeff Dickey (17 ppg) and Travis Luhrs (15 ppg) lead Chase County in scoring.

"Chase County is very solid. It was a four-quarter battle at their place and we'll have to play hard again if we face them," Kohl said. "No matter what happens on Friday, we're going to have a great opponent on Saturday."

Cabela's Holiday Tournament

Girls' Division

Friday, Jan. 2

At Sidney High School

Angler's Division

Wheatland (Wyo.) vs. Chase County 2 p.m.

Sidney vs. Gothenburg, 5:30 p.m.

At Sidney Middle School

Hunter's Division

Gering vs. Hershey, 2 p.m.

Laramie vs. Central City, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 3

At Sidney High School

Angler's Division Consolation, 10 a.m.

Angler's Division Championship, 1:30 p.m.

At Sidney Middle School

Hunter's Division Consolation, 10 a.m.

Hunter's Division Championship, 1:30 p.m.

Boys' Division

Friday, Jan. 2

At Sidney High School

Angler's Division

Wheatland (Wyo.) vs. Chase County 3:45 p.m.

Sidney vs. Gothenburg, 7 p.m.

At Sidney Middle School

Hunter's Division

Gering vs. Hershey, 3:45 p.m.

Laramie vs. Central City, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 3

At Sidney High School

Angler's Division Consolation, 11:45 a.m.

Angler's Division Championship, 3:15 p.m.

At Sidney Middle School

Hunter's Division Consolation, 11:45 a.m.

Hunter's Division Championship, 3:15 p.m.