Lady Raider freshmen get past Alliance to push record to 8-1

The Sidney High Lady Raiders' freshman basketball team continued its outstanding season Monday with a 38-26 win over the Lady Bulldogs of Alliance at the Cabela's Athletic Facility. The win advanced the Raiders' record to 8-1.

Sidney was led in scoring by Christina Gay with eight points. A trio of Raiders disturbed the twine for five points, including Emily Secrest, Carissa Radtke and Ashlyn Christian. Marque Crowe was the top scorer for Alliance as she matched Gay's eight points.

"I'm very pleased with the effort," said Raiders' head coach Dan Dorwart. "We've improved quite a bit since the beginning of the season and that's one of the main things we look for."

Though the Raiders spent much of the game in the lead, the Lady Bulldogs stayed with Sidney throughout much of the first half. The Raiders, however, managed to keep their nose in front throughout the first eight minutes. After the Raiders took a 12-9 lead into the second quarter, Crowe opened the second frame with a foul shot and layup to tie the score at 12.

The bucket that finally put Sidney ahead to stay came off the finger tips of Lorelei Heineman, who hit a jumper for a 14-12 advantage. Secrest added an insurance bucket shortly after. Christian and Gay concluded the half for Sidney with a 4-0 run for a 22-14 Raiders' advantage.

Sidney established its largest lead of the game in the third period when Charlie Brockhaus began a 5-0 burst. Kylie Rosdail finished the run and Christian sank a free throw in between for a 13-point advantage.

The Bulldogs managed to narrow the gap to seven in the final quarter at 31-24. But when the Raiders responded with a another 5-0 stretch, Alliance couldn't get any closer.

"At this level, the most important thing we want to do is make sure we get better every day," Dorwart said. "We also want to get them familiar with Coach (Tyler) Shaw's system so that they'll be ready to play varsity ball down the road."

While the Bulldogs stayed close with Sidney early, Radtke and Radcliffe helped keep the Raiders on top with a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers. Though Radcliffe's three gave Sidney a 10-5 lead with 2:41 to play, Alliance was quick to respond with four points in 36 seconds. Gay, however, gave the Raiders a little breathing room after she corralled a rebound and turned it back up for a pair.

The Raiders are next in action on Feb. 2 when they play host to the Scottsbluff Lady Bearcats. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m at Cabela's Athletic Facility. Scottbluff handed Sidney its lone loss this season.

The Raiders will also be playing Feb. 9, against Torrington, Wyo. While the the game was originally scheduled as a road game, the venue has been changed to the Cabela's Athletic Facility with 4:30 p.m. start.