Raiders Drop Another To Scottsbluff

Sidney's Red Raider Boys Basketball team had won six games in a row prior to Saturday's home matchup with Scottsbluff, improving their record and positioning them well for post-season play. It was their second loss against Scottsbluff this season, a team that doesn't seem to have the overall talent that Sidney does, but knows how to match up well against the Red Raiders.

Last Wednesday, the Raiders hosted the Yuma team that was ranked number 5 in Colorado 3A and was coming off a big win the previous night against number one ranked Limon. But Sidney started hot and pulled away early, building a 24-to-9 first quarter lead off of sophomore Landon Riddle's 10 points. Sidney continued to pull away, with four players ending the game in double figures. Riddle led with 21 points, junior Isak Doty had 16 points, senior Micah Schneider had 13 points and senior Cam Leeling added 10 points in the 78-to-45 win.

Next, the Raiders hosted Gering on Friday, and the Bulldogs were hot, entering the game with a six-game winning streak. But again the Red Raider boys started sharp, led by senior Jaeden Dillehay's 9 points in the first period to open a 17-to-11 lead. Gering was able to keep the game close by riding Max Greeley's hot shooting and trailed by five at the half, 34-to-29. But Sidney had a lights-out third quarter performance, started with junior Isak Doty's two three point hits to build a twenty point lead after the third period. Sidney then kept the Bulldogs at bay in the fourth quarter on their way to a 68-to-48 win. Dillehay led the Sidney offense with 24 points in the win.

On Saturday, Sidney hosted Scottsbluff, and the Bearcats were looking to pick up another win against their rivals. Scottsbluff handed Sidney their first loss of the season by 10 points back in the beginning of December, and were looking for another win. Sidney again started out hot and built a lead through the first half, but Scottsbluff came back in the final minutes of the second period on a 9-to-1 run to trim the Sidney lead to 29-to-22 at the half. Scottsbluff opened the third quarter with a big run to take a 36-to-31 lead, out rebounding the Red Raiders and scoring on put backs and second-chance shots. Sidney battled back to trim the deficit to one point at the end of the third period, but could not re-take the lead in the fourth, and with Scottsbluff's steady shooting on the foul line down the stretch, Sidney fell by four, 54-to-50. Riddle again led the offense with 16 points in the loss.

Sidney finishes the regular season with a home stand, hosting Chadron on Friday, Holdrege on Saturday and Alliance on Tuesday.