Lady Raiders Roll With Hot Start

Sidney's Lady Raider Basketball team has had a great start to the 2021-22 campaign so far, going 2-and-1 one and earning runner up honors at the Western Conference Tournament last weekend, then following up with two big wins at the end of this previous week.

With some questions and a few holes to fill in the starting lineup, Head Coach Tyler Shaw has again found a way to match his talent against the competition in the most advantageous way. On Friday night, Sidney hosted the 2-and-0 Chase County Lady Longhorns, a disciplined and well coached team with good defense and loaded with talented outside shooters. For the first half, the game was a battle with the teams trading scores and keeping it close through the first two quarters. Sidney was able to gain a slight advantage at the half, 27-to-25.

After a slow start to the third period, Sidney started to hit on their shots, and started pulling away with a 35-to-30 lead. But Chase County fought back, forcing bad shots by Sidney and getting good looks at the basket to tie the game at 35-to-35 with less than three minutes left in the third period.

The Lady Longhorns continued to score while the Lady Raiders rushed their shots and pressed offensively. The Sidney miscues contributed to a 10 point swing over the course of two minutes at the end of the third period, and after sinking a few free throws as time would down in the third quarter, Sidney was down 37-to-42 going into the final period.

But this is where coach Shaw got his squad to tighten up and get patient with their shots. The Lady Raiders crept back into the game as the fourth quarter progressed, chipping away at the deficit with solid defense and controlled passing. Patient against the tough Chase County defense, the Lady Raiders waited for their shots and were able to narrow the gap and tie the game when junior Reese Riddle sank two free throws to knot the game 48-to-48 with 2: 19 left in regulation.

Sidney then forced a turnover, but were unable to capitalize, then sophomore Tristan Nordhausen put in two points from the right side of the free throw line to put Chase County up 48-to-50. Sidney got the ball back and used great passing to work the ball around the perimeter then back outside to Alecca Campbell who sank a three point shot from just beyond the arc to give Sidney a 51-to-50 lead with about a half minute left. Chase County took a time out and set their offense, and it was obvious the Lady Longhorns were pressing on offense around the perimeter looking for a foul to get to the line and win the game with free throws. But the Sidney defense didn't bite, and kept the pressure on.

Finally a shot was attempted, but Sidney had the boards covered well, and after a short scrum, Riddle emerged with the ball and passed it deep to a streaking Gabby Fortner who put the ball in for a layup as time expired, giving the Lady Raiders the 53-to-50 win.

Sidney followed up this thrilling win with a solid performance on Saturday at Bayard, when they took down the previously unbeaten Lady Tigers. After building a four point lead to start the second period, Sidney exploded for 23 points in the second quarter to build a 10 point 36-to-26 lead at the half. Senior Brynna Ross was lights out from the field, scoring 10 points in the first quarter followed eight more in the second on her way to a 27 point game total.

The Tigers mounted a comeback in the third quarter with a run, but Sidney was able to keep Bayard from seriously threatening, then Ross drained her fourth three pointer followed by a few free throws to nail down the 55-to-46 victory for the Lady Raiders. Ross led the scoring with 27 points, followed by Gabby Fortner with 9 in the victory. Sidney moves to 4-and-1 on the year and next host Alliance on Saturday, Dec. 18.