Alliance Ends Red Raiders' Season

Sidney’s Red Raider boy’s basketball team started the 2018-19 campaign with a lopsided loss to the Alliance Bulldogs back in November, and Sidney’s season ended at the hands of the Bulldogs with a 76-to-45 loss in the semi-final round of the D2-11 Subdistrict Tournament in Alliance Monday night.

Sidney drew the number one seeded Bulldogs to start tournament play on Monday at Alliance, and the game started in similar fashion to Friday night’s contest. Sidney senior Alec Maddox’s baseline shot to open the game was blocked, and then the Bulldogs went on a tear, going up 7-to-0 before Sidney head coach Austin Lewis called a time out to stop the Bulldog’s momentum. Sidney then missed a layup, and the Bulldogs increased their lead to 9-to-0. Finally senior Zach Pettit got Sidney on the board, then Sidney was able to convert on their three possessions to close to 9-to-6.

But that’s as close as the Red Raiders would get, as the Bulldog’s offense ignited and pulled away knocking down 13 points against two for Sidney to end the first quarter up 22-to-8. 6’ 4” Alliance junior Brayden Palmer dominated under the boards while seniors Mason Hiemstra and Corbin Stark led the offensive attack. Sidney played tough on defense and were able to slow the Bulldog’s scoring, but still ended the half far behind at 33-to-14.

Sidney senior Alex Jallen played tough defense all game under the boards for the Red Raiders, taking charges and blocking shots against the Bulldog’s talented offense.

Sidney was able to get their offense into a better rhythm is the second half, but Alliance responded to every score with more of their own. Sidney could not cope with the Bulldog’s ability to quickly attack and score on offense after every Sidney point or missed attempt, and the Raiders kept falling behind. The Red Raiders were able to put down a few three pointers near the end of the game, but it was too little to change the outcome, and the Red Raiders season came to an end with the 76-to-45 loss. Sidney senior Arik Doty led the Raider’s scoring with 15 points in the loss.