Raiders Power Past Chadron

Sidney’s Red Raider Basketball team had faced the Chadron Cardinals twice this season, and both contests ended in losses for the Sidney squad. But the Red Raiders went up to Chadron Friday night ready to play, and delivered a Valentine’s Day upset to give Sidney it’s third win of the season.

Chadron started the game hot, with 6’5” Chadron senior Cooper Huesman hitting from the outside to build up an early Chadron lead. But Sidney fought back with senior Eli Ahrens and sophomore Sawyer Dickman controlling the offense while juniors Dylan Gunkel and Zach Burke played tight defense on the inside.

After falling behind 20-to-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Raiders roared back with a great defensive second quarter, clamping down on the Cardinals’ offense while generating points of their own to narrow the deficit, and the the Red Raiders went into the half down by three, 30-to-27.

Sidney was able to keep up the defensive pressure in the second half, again limiting the Chadron attack while continuing to pass effectively and getting good looks on the court. The Raiders kept battling and went into the fourth quarter tied 39-to-39.

A wild fourth quarter ensued, with Sidney eventually taking the lead only to have Chadron fight back and retake the lead going into the final minutes. But the Sidney defense kept up the pressure, and the Red Raiders were able to again outscore the Cardinals in the period, and the visiting Sidney team was able to pull out the win, 52-to-50. After being down by eight in the first quarter, Sidney’s defense gelled and was able to hold down the Cardinal offense, and the Red Raiders outscored the home team in the last three periods of the game.

The win soothes an early season loss against Chadron when the Raiders were in position to win the game, and gives Sidney much needed momentum going into their final game, a road contest against Alliance on Friday.