Red Raiders Cagers Split Versus Gothenburg Sidney

GOTHENBURG--The Sidney Red Raider Basketball teams traveled to Gothenburg on January 24, 2025, for a match-up against the Swede teams, and had to settle for a split in their games, with the Lady Raiders falling to the Lady Swedes while the Red Raider boys team continued their strong play.

In the girls match-up, the Lady Swedes were coming off their first loss of the year, as they fell to Broken Bow on the road the night previous. The match between Sidney featured two top-ranked teams that battled the whole way through, however Gothenburg had just a bit more offense in this relatively high-scoring game. In fact, the Lady Swedes scored their most points of the season in this contest, putting up 68 points against the tough Lady Raider defense. Sidney kept close the whole way, but needed a few more shots to fall, which was the difference in the 68-to-60 loss. The loss ended a six-game win streak, and was the Lady Raiders first loss of 2025. The Lady Raiders go into the Western Conference Tournament and then have a bit of a layoff until returning to action on February 7 when they host the Gering Lady Bulldogs at Sidney High School.

The Red Raider boy's team had a better showing then the Lady Raiders against Gothenburg, and started strong with a 14 point first quarter while the defense held the Swedes to just 9 points. Sidney extended their lead to 30-to-21 at the half, and then held off the Swedes, matching their scoring in the third quarter, and then keeping pace with Gothenburg through the fourth quarter to come away with a 57-to-50 win. It was Sidney second straight win after going through a four-game losing skid.

The Western Conference Tournament opens at WNCC in Scottsbluff on January 30 with the number one seeded Sidney Lady Raiders matching up against the number eight seeded Alliance Lady Bulldogs at 4 pm. The number two seeded Red Raider boys' team opens on January 30 at Scottsbluff High School against number seven seeded North Platte at 5:30 pm.