Sidney Girls End Season With A Loss

A season to remember ended on a night to forget as the Sidney Lady Raiders fell to the Beatrice Lady Orange in the quarterfinals of the State Championship Tournament in Lincoln by a score of 52-38.

This is the second year in a row the number one seed was bounced out of the class B tournament in the quarterfinals.

Sidney (21-4) had faced Beatrice (13-8) earlier in the season at the Cabela's Shoot Out Tournament, besting the Lady Orange by 13 points en route to winning the tournament crown. But the Lady Raiders knew the Beatrice team had improved and changed many of their schemes, and prepared accordingly in the nearly two week period between their last game against Roncalli Catholic and the State Tournament.

"Beatrice changed some of their defensive schemes. They were more of a pressing and trapping team earlier in the season, but have went to a more half-court defense team", said Sidney head coach Tyler Shaw.

Thursday night's game started well for the Lady Raiders, going up 3-0 quickly on junior Meaghan Ross' three pointer. Ross scored nine points in the first period for the Lady Raiders, ending the period with Sidney up 12-9.

In the second period sophomore Mattie Johnson hit two quick buckets, followed by another from Taylor Dormann to give Sidney an 18-9 lead. Beatrice was unable to hit any shots or get any rebounds, prompting Lady Orange coach Dennis Coudeyras to call a time out and regroup his squad. And after that timeout, the game completely changed.

Beatrice took possession and Lady Orange senior Haley Sexton hit a three point shot to cut the lead to 18-12. Then Jones was fouled while shooting by Sidney senior Natalie Radcliffe and made one of her free throws, cutting the lead to 18-13. The Beatrice run continued with Sidney only scoring one additional point in the quarter, ending the half tied 19-19.

Sidney coach Tyler Shaw recalled, "We were doing a good job attacking until they switched to the zone defense. We really struggled hitting our shots against it."

The third period started with Jones blocking a shot by Sidney junior Janay Brauer, but MJ Johnstone was able to get the ball back and score, putting the Lady Raiders back up 21-19. Points would be very few for Sidney after that, as Beatrice then went on a tear, scoring nine unanswered points as the Lady Raiders missed field goals, three pointers, and foul shots. At the end of the third, the Lady Orange were up 31-26, and the Lady Raiders knew their shots had to start falling or they would have a quick exit from the state tournament.

In the fourth period Sidney continued to be ice cold from the field. For the rest of the game, Sidney pressed to make shots with very little success, while Beatrice continued to convert their opportunities and make their free throws when sent to the line. Sidney's Janay Brauer and Meaghan Ross tried trimming the lead by firing three pointers, but only one of them fell by Ross, while Brauer was held scoreless the entire game.

Sidney was forced to foul to get the ball back, but the Lady Orange were sharp on the line, hitting 15 out of 16 free throws in the final four minutes of the game.

The game ended with a final score of 52-38, and Beatrice advanced to face South Sioux City, while the Lady Raiders had a long trip home to think about what might have been.