Lady Raiders split the weekend with a win, loss

The Sidney Lady Raiders basketball squad spent Friday and Saturday splitting a win and a loss against Chase County and Sterling, Colo., upping its overall record to 3-2 overall (1-0 in B-6 conference).

Sidney 53, Chase County 38

The weekend started with a 53-38 home victory over the Lady Longhorns in which freshman Janay Brauer's command performance led the way.

Brauer, in her first varsity start, dropped four three-pointers for 12 points – two of which were back-to-back in the closing minutes of the second half.

Brauer's command of shooting from beyond the arc was complemented by Maddi Porter's 13-point game, which came off six buckets and a free throw.

Missed free throws were a big factor in the game for Sidney; none of the five Lady Raiders that went to the line made more than a single one-pointer and the team shot 5-of-18 from the foul line.

While foul shots were not dropping like they should have for Sidney, the three-point shots were finding their way from the outside.

In addition to Brauer's four from distance, Emily Mahr and Kelsey Knight both drained treys in the game.

The three-point shot from Mahr opened the game, while Knight's three-point shot came at 1:40 left in the first half and helped put Sidney up 24-20.

The Lady Raiders went into the locker room up 25-24 after a pair of buckets from Chase County were good – though a free throw from Porter kept Sidney in the lead. The second half was where Sidney came up big, however, as the Lady Raiders outscored the Lady Longhorns, 28-14.

After the win, Brauer said the three-point shot is one she has worked to master – and that she was glad she could showcase it in her start.

"During the summer I practiced shooting the three-pointer a lot," Brauer said. "I've been working on them and they are way better this year than last year. They were pretty bad before. I'm really excited and happy that I got those shots during my first start too, and I got to go out there and show what I can do."

Annalise Lecher finished the game with nine points, while Knight added eight points. Katelyn Sylvester put up two buckets and a free throw for seven points, with Mahr scoring three. Natalie Radcliffe drained a bucket for two and Jasmine Jallen scored one from the line.

Sterling 72, Sidney 40

In the game against Sterling, the Lady Raiders were outgunned and essentially stripped of their offensive prowess as the No. 6-ranked Lady Tigers won the match, 72-40.

Sidney started out well, keeping up through the first period, which ended with Sterling up 14-10. The Lady Tigers extended that lead to 33-24 at halftime and then never looked back. The Colorado team outscored Sidney, 39-16, in the second half.

Knight led the scoring effort for Sidney with 12 points off three treys, a bucket and a free throw, with Lecher adding six on three buckets.

The trio of Brauer (5 points), Meaghan Ross (5 points) and Mahr (3 points) each made a three-pointer in the game.

Other scorers for Sidney were: Porter (5), Jallen (2), Sylvester (1) and Abby Heller (1).

Next up, Sidney will play a two-game homestand as the Lady Raiders host Fort Morgan, Colo., on Friday and Alliance on Saturday.