Lady Raiders' defense sparks fourth quarter winning surge

FORT MORGAN, Colo. - For three quarters, the Sidney girls basketball team suffered shooting nearly as cold as the temperatures throughout the region Friday, finding themselves in a 24-24 tie with Fort Morgan going into the final period.

But the Lady Raiders came out strong defensively in the fourth quarter, and the increase of intensity also sparked the offense on the way to a 42-26 win.

Sidney got what proved to be the lead for good when Annalise Lecher converted both shots of a one-and-one, then on the next trip up the court added two more points off an offensive rebound. Kelsey Knight then...