Heeren returns as Raiders roll to win against Longhorns

An undefeated Sidney High School boys' basketball team controlled, from tipoff to final buzzer, Thursday's game against the Kimball High Longhorns (3-4, 1-3).

On offense and defense, the Red Raiders (11-0, 1-0) dominated, winning 82-46.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle of the night for the Sidney players was when an off-target Kimball shot caused the ball to become stuck between the rim and backboard. It took Sidney senior Jake Heeren three attempts to free the ball.

Once the task was completed, and the basketball liberated, the Red Zone student section at the Cabela's Athletic Center cheered.

Partly because the game could resume, but also because Heeren was back on the court.

Heeren suffered an ankle and foot injuring during a Raider football game last fall, forcing him to miss the rest of that season and the first part of the basketball season.

After Tuesday's victory, he said it was good to be competing again.

"I've been waiting for this all year," he said. "Finally, I was able to come in and get into the game. It feels good."

The 6-foot, 4-inch senior said he is looking forward to the rest of season.

While his playing time was limited against the Longhorns, he scored 4 points.

Classmate Brady Radcliffe led Sidney with 13 points, followed by Ryan Birner (12), Tyler Wintholz (11) and Mitch Porter and Cutter O'Connell (10 apiece).

Thursday's game was the first of a 3-day, 3-game series. Sidney takes on Gering at home Friday at 7 p.m., and travels to McCook on Saturday.

Raider head coach Erik Kohl said the game against Kimball was a chance for his entire roster to see playing time.

"Everybody contributed, which is important," he said. "And then now, we've got to get ready for our next game."

Consistency is essential to the team's success throughout the season, he said.

"If you want to be a good team, especially at the end of the year, you have to be good the whole time," Kohl explained. "You can't have up and down moments, because those teams that are inconsistent, they're going to lose games they shouldn't lose."

With Heeren back on the court, Kohl said the team will look to him to be a big physical presence.

"Tonight, he did some good things for us, and he really rebounded well," the coach said.

"It was fun to see him back on the court."