Cabela’s Holiday Shootout

As long as Sidney High School boys basketball coach Erik Kohl can figure his own team out, the Red Raiders are likely to put up more struggles.

“Right now, if I am coaching against us, I’d play a zone against us,” Kohl said after watching his club fall 52-49 to Gering in Saturday afternoon’s third-place game in the Cabela’s Holiday Shootout. “We are going to have to keep guys in the gym later than they have been recently in practice.”

In dropping successive games to close out their own holiday tournament, the Raiders (5-4) did not shoot well from the floor, and came up just short at the finish twice.

The first narrow defeat came Friday night in overtime against Cheyenne (Wyo.) South, then Saturday’s loss was just as frustrating.

SHS fell behind 24-23 early in the second quarter, and had to play catch-up the rest of the way. Gering (7-4) scored 12 unanswered points to wipe out a 23-17 lead.

Randy Plummer’s Bulldogs were able to kick the ball inside to Taylor Nelson, who was fouled on several occasions.

“We can’t shoot outside either, but we do have size,” Plummer said. “Therefore, we have to get the ball inside.”

Christian Groskoph, Gering’s 6-foot-3 swingman, scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, when the Bulldogs took a 34-29 lead into intermission.

Sidney simply couldn’t shoot itself to within striking distance in the third period, and Gering got enough good looks inside to score with Nelson and fellow post player Austin Ferguson.

The Bulldogs built a 44-36 lead after three quarters, then punched the advantage to 48-36 before Sidney finally woke up.

Still trailing 50-38 midway through the final period, the Raiders began scrapping back on back-to-back scores from Casey Mabey, followed by Logan Lewis’ successive baskets, making it 50-46 with 2:09 remaining.

In the meantime, Gering was either turning the ball over, or missing free throws. A 3-pointer from Sam Arterburn out of the left corner sliced the deficit to 50-49 at 55 seconds, and Lewis came up with a steal on the floor and SHS called time at 36 seconds.

With a chance to take the lead, and surviving the possession arrow on an ensuing tie-up, Sidney was holding for a shot when Lewis dribbled to the center of the key and was then called for traveling with 9 seconds showing.

“We were trying to free open a shot there,” Kohl said. “Logan dribbled to the center of the floor and Gering did an outstanding job collapsing on the ball and forcing the turnover.”

Sidney was forced to foul Gering, and Zac Bibb sank a pair of free throws at 6.5 seconds to account for the final score.

Down three points, Sidney did a final look, but Paxton Ehler dribbled up the right sideline and launched a 3-pointer that kicked off the strong side, allowing Gering to escape.

“We only had four team fouls at that point,” Plummer said. “We were trying to foul and get a throw-in there, but it didn’t happen. We went on a big run to get the (12-point) lead, and Sidney went on a huge run and almost won it. They are a ferocious defensive team, and we got back on our heels a bit. Finally (Bibb) went up to the line and made two free throws to help ice it.”

Groskoph scored 16 points and Ferguson 15 for Gering, while Arterburn put up a dozen and Lewis 11 for Sidney.

“We’re not a great shooting team, and we have been out-rebounded the past three games,’” Kohl said. “Rebounding is more about heart than height, and it seems like we’re always going to be the shorttest team. Give Gering credit, they played a great defensive game and they were always hustling back and stopping our transition game.”

Neither team will have much time to prepare for a rematch, as the Raiders will make the trip to Gering Friday. It will be the third meeting between the two rivals, and the Bulldogs hold a 2-0 season series edge.

Boys third-place game

Gering 52, Sidney 49

Gering 17 17 10 8-52

Sidney 21 8 7 13-49

GERING (7-4)

Palomo 1 0-0 2, Britsch 0 3-5 3, Groskoph 7 1-2 16, Wilson 2 4-6 8, Ferguson 7 0-1 15, Nelson 2 4-5 8. Totals 19 12-19 52

SIDNEY (5-4)

Mabey 3 0-0 6, Harvey 2 0-0 5, Vowers 2 1-2 5, Ehler 2 0-1 4, Wintholz 0 0-1 0, Lewis 4 3-5 11, Arterburn 5 0-2 12, Rosenbaum 1 0-0 2, Castner 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 4-11 49

3-point goals – Gering 2 (Groskoph, Ferguson), Sidney 3 (Arterburn 2, Harvey). Fouls – Gering 12, Sidney 20