Sidney Splits Doubleheader with Cheyenne East
SIDNEY – Sidney hosted Cheyenne East for a throwback match-up in the Sidney Middle School Auditorium on Saturday. Sidney won five of the six games with their only loss coming in overtime. The games were moved to the Middle School Auditorium and the West Elementary gym due to the Sidney-Bridgeport Wrestling Tournament taking place in the Cabela’s Athletic Facility.
The Lady Raiders squared off against the top-rated Class 4A girls’ team in Wyoming. The Lady Thunderbirds entered the game looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, a last second 43-41 loss to St. Thomas More out of Rapid City on Friday.
Sidney came out firing on all cylinders. Kierra Schrader and Carli Black combined for 11 Lady Raider first quarter points to take a 16-12 lead after one period. Sidney hit a trio of three pointers while scoring 21 second quarter points to extend their advantage to 37-32 at the half.
The second half was a different story. Defense dictated play for both teams. The Thunderbird outscored Sidney in the second half 19-14 to tie the game at 51-all at the end of regulation. The Lady Raiders could only muster a lone free throw in overtime, suffering their third loss 56-52.
Sidney, who falls to 4-3 on the season, was paced by Carli Black with 16 points while Kierra Schrader added 13. Chyenne East improves to 6-1 and was led by Peyton Hall with 17 points.
In the nightcap the Red Raiders faced a Cheyenne East team reeling from back-to-back losses to Scottsbluff and St, Thomas More on Thursday and Friday. But just like the Lady Raiders, the Sidney boys started quickly, bolting to a 22-17 first quarter lead. However, the Thunderbirds responded behind 10 second quarter from junior Kaenen Zowada to help East take a 36-35 lead into intermission.
Junior Alek Doty’s seven third quarter points propelled the Red Raiders to a five-point advantage heading into the final stanza, 54-49. Sidney, with three starters on the bench with four fouls, answered every Thunderbird rally to remain unbeaten with a 67-63 win.
The Red Raiders, who head into the Christmas break with a 6-0 record, were led by Alek Doty with 25 points. Keian Kaiser chipped in 14 points and Landon Riddle added 13 points.
Sidney will host the Sidney Holiday Shootout on December 27th and 28th in the Cabela’s Athletic Facility. The Lady Raiders will open the tournament at 1:30 p.m. on Friday against Lexington, followed by the Red Raiders and Lexington at 3:00 p.m. Chase County will square off against Filmore Central with the girls tipping at 4:30 p.m. followed by the boys at 6:00 p.m. Consolation games on Saturday will be played at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. followed by the championship games at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.