FEEL THE 'BIRN'

The Sidney boys' basketball team started the 2015 Cabela's Holiday Shootout tournament with a big win Monday, defeating the Torrington (Wyo.) Trailblazers, 77-46, in front of a packed house at Sidney High School.

There was never a doubt Sidney would win the game; the Red Raiders never trailed and had a 36-15 lead at the half.

It was also a game where six Sidney players – Brady Radcliffe, Jake Burke, Ryan Birner, Yeager Price, Mitch Porter and Cutter O'Connell – would hit three-point shots that were crucial in either keeping or extending the Red Raider lead.

'Feel the Birn'

The first game of the tournament was a standout night for Birner; the 6-foot-2-inch Sidney senior amassed 16 points in the game off five baskets, a three-pointer that opened the game and a 3-of-4 performance from the free throw line.

Birner also snagged a double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds against the Blazers.

He said his jumper has grown in importance over the past few days, especially given that Nebraska high school teams were under a practice moratorium during the holiday break.

"Today we kind of had a shoot-around in the morning and my jumper is really all I worked on, so I'm not surprised I got those five," Birner said. "I've been working on those jumpers and they fell tonight."

The Tyler Wintholz factor

At the start of every Red Raiders game, senior Tyler Wintholz taps his chest twice, right over his heart – in a symbolic gesture meant to mean "one heart" – a signal that is not lost on his teammates as they use the phrase as motivation.

The heartbeat of the team against Torrington was in rebounding.

The Red Raiders proved that point by outrebounding the Blazers 19-5 in the first half and 11-6 in the second half.

Wintholz double-doubled with 10 points and 11 rebounds of his own. He also was one of the biggest motivators on the floor as he pushed and cajoled his teammates all night.

"We just had to have heart tonight," Wintholz said. "This was all about a team effort and we really are just one heart out there, no matter who we play."

It's a new year

O'Connell, a senior who scored nine points and was key in dishing assists most of the night, said the team was growing in major ways this season and that teamwork is everything, even in a tournament setting.

"It's a brand new year, man, and we have to stick together against tough teams like Torrington," O'Connell said. "Our teamwork matters against teams like them and we can never overlook them. Every day gets a little tougher and I'm sure we'll face some more strong teams in this tourney."

Another major force for the Red Raiders, on both sides of the ball was Price.

Although he only scored only a single trey in the second period, he was stifling on defense and was also an intense motivator on the court.

"I think we all play for each other and we all have big heart and love the game so it's easy to try hard and win," Price added.

When it came to three-pointers no one was bigger and badder on the boards than Radcliffe; the senior dropped three treys in the game and racked up 13 points. The biggest play of the game for Radcliffe came on a deuce, however, as he grabbed a steal in the opening minutes of the third and went coast-to-coast for an easy layup.

Other scorers for Sidney were: Zack Means (11), Porter (5), Jon Smith (4), Burke (4) and Seth Trost (2).

The win by Sidney (8-0 overall) sets up a second-round game against Wyoming's Class-A Laramie Plainsmen tonight at 7:15 p.m. in the high school gym. The Plainsmen made it to the second round after beating Hershey, 56-37, on Monday.