Raiders Defeat Kimball, Gering

Sidney's Red Raider basketball teams had great success on Thursday and Friday nights, sweeping all four of their contests in impressive fashion at home.

The Lady Raiders started the impressive run on Thursday against Kimball with a dominating 62-23 win against the Lady Longhorns, taking advantage of a Kimball squad weakened by injuries. After starting fast with a 19-6 first quarter, the Lady Raiders ratcheted up their defense pressure, stifling Kimball's offense, and pulled away with an easy 62-23 win. Sidney's Meaghan Ross led all scoreres with 13 points in the victory.

The boys squad continued Sidney's dominance, easily dispatching the Longhorns 61-26. Again, Sidney capitalized on a fast start, opening up a 19-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Sidney's swarming defense kept Kimball's scoring output in the single digits in the first three quarters, and iced the game by the midway through the third period. Red Raider senior Mitch Porter led all scorers with 18 points in the victory.

Friday's match-ups versus Gering promised to be more of a challenge, but the Sidney teams were more than up to the task. It was Senior Night at Sidney High, and the departing seniors put on a tremendous show for the Sidney faithful.

The Lady Raiders started the action against the Gering Lady Bulldogs, with both teams playing very solid basketball. It was outside shooting versus inside shooting as the Lady Raiders scored by firing bombs from outside, and the Lady Bulldogs battled for their points under the boards. By the end of the first quarter, Sidney held the advantage 13-9.

Sidney opened the second period hot with a 6 point run, but then cooled off offensively allowing the Lady Bulldogs to fight back into the game. After missing four outside shots in a row, Sidney had allowed Gering to tighten the game to 19-6. However, Lady Raider Meaghan Ross ended the second period with four unanswered points to give Sidney a 23-16 advantage at the half.

Gering opened the second half with an aggressive full court press that Sidney had difficulty solving at first. That tough defense combined with Sidney going cold from the field allowed the Lady Bulldogs to tighten to the game to 30-29 near the end of the third period.

But Gering was unable to take the lead. As the fourth quarter played on, both defenses battled hard with Sidney getting the best of the matchups. The Lady Raiders scoring touch returned, and was the difference in the game.

A tough fourth quarter saw Sidney prevail in the end, 46-35.