Sidney's '81 team honored at state

LINCOLN, Neb. – While the 2015 version of the Sidney Red Raiders boys' basketball players made it to the Class B NSAA state tournament, they just may have benefitted from some positive karma coming from the stands at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

In attendance for the Raiders run at a state championship was a group of men who knew just what the present-day Sidney players were going through. Four members of the 1981 Sidney Red Raiders state championship team were in Lincoln to be honored by the NSAA at halftime of a Class A semifinal game on Friday night.

State champions' Tom Christjans, Jeff Einspahr, Doug O'Connell and assistant coach Bob Moderow rooted on their mates along with hundreds of other Red Raiders faithful. As the four men gathered to reminisce about their extraordinary accomplishment 34 years earlier, they were also given the added bonus of watching their alma mater attempt to do just as they had done.

When the four originally accepted the invitation, however, the Raiders participation in the 2015 tournament was still long from settled. Sidney activities director Mike Brockhaus had made the arrangements for the reunion weeks in advance at the request of the NSAA.

All were hopeful of seeing Sidney win its first championship since 1981. The '81 Raiders were one of only two boys' basketball championship teams in school history. The Maroons, as they were known before the late 1960s, won a title in 1945.

"I'm so impressed with this 2015 team," Christjans said. "The games against Scottsbluff and Beatrice were so exciting. I'm really looking forward to [Saturday]. It should be a great game no matter who wins."

Christjans, who led the team in scoring and had 27 points in the opening game of the 1981 state tournament against Albion, is a now a pilot for Delta Airlines. He and his wife Lisa have two grown daughters.

O'Connell, a junior in 1981, had to step up in the championship game in relief of Einspahr, who came down with strep throat after the semifinal game against top-seeded Crete. Einspahr had been a starter in the backcourt all season. He played just a few minutes in the championship game before being removed.

"I was fine in the Crete (semifinal) game, but then I woke up that night with a fever and sore throat," Einspahr said. "I started the game and finally coach (Dale Rein) saw me out there and knew I didn't have it. But we had good backups like Doug. He came in and filled the position, no problem."

After the championship game, Einspahr was taken to a Lincoln emergency room.

O'Connell is now a general manager for Mutual of Omaha Rocky Mountain Division and has three sons.

Einspahr and his wife, Ingrid, live in Sidney and he teaches at Potter-Dix and coaches the varsity girls' basketball team.

Watching the 2015 Raiders run for a state title meant more to O'Connell than just rooting on his alma mater. His nephew, Cutter, is a key member of the present Raiders' team. So he naturally keeps close tabs on the Raiders from his home in Eaton, Colo.

"It's great having SRTV because I've been able to watch some of their games," O'Connell said. "It's been fun to watch them throughout the season. I don't think anybody wants to play them right now."