Raiders open strong

Sidney's boys basketball team ran Torrington, Wyo. off the court early to open play in the Cabela's Holiday Shootout, notching their fourth win of the season, 55-43.

Torrington scored evenly with the Raiders to a 6-6 tie early, then Sidney rolled off nine unanswered points, including two big three-pointers by Mitch Porter and Jake Burke, to build a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Sidney continued to build on its lead in the second quarter, putting in 22 points, many of those off of offensive rebounds, while Torrington struggled to find the hoop.

Torrington mounted a small comeback in the third period, scoring 14 points, while Sidney suffered through its own scoreless streak. The Raiders didn't score in more than six minutes to open the half, until Arik Doty made a three pointer with 1:48 left in the period.

Porter and Zack Means led Sidney scoring with 13 each, Means using his height advantage underneath the basket, while Porter attacked from both inside and outside. Jon Smith chipped in another nine points for the Raiders, and Doty had seven.

Sidney's win set the Raiders up for a contest Thursday evening against Gothenburg.

Torrington 6-6-14-17-43

Sidney 14-22-5-14-55