The Sidney Lady Raider basketball team finished a busy week of action on Saturday afternoon by falling to Class A #8 North Platte 44-39 at the Cabela’s Athletic Facility at Sidney High School. The night before, Sidney toppled Class C1 #2 Ogallala from the ranks of the unbeaten with an impressive 59-40 win on the Indians home floor. It was the end of a week that the Lady Raiders played 3 games in 5 days.

Coming off a 49-20 win over Mitchell at home on Tuesday evening, Sidney traveled to Ogallala to face the undefeated Indians. Ogallala, sporting an 11-0 record, hit a pair of three pointers to start the game off with a bang. But it would be about all the noise the #2 ranked Indians made on the evening. The Lady Raiders responded with tough defense and 17 first quarter points for an 8-point lead at the first break.

Sidney’s in-your-face defense continued to frustrate Ogallala in the second quarter as Mattie Johnson pumped in 6 points in the stanza to extend Sidney’s lead to 31-20 at intermission.

The Lady Raiders picked up where they left off coming out of the locker room as Johnson added 7 more points to her tally in the third quarter. The Lady Raiders posted their second 17-point quarter of the game and led 48-29 heading into the final period.

For the game Sidney shot a blistering 64.9% from the floor, led by Mattie Johnson’s game high 24 points and 6 rebounds. Nicole Birner added 10 points and 5 rebounds while sophomore Brynna Ross chipped in 9 points.

Prior to the game with North Platte on Saturday afternoon, Head Coach Tyler Shaw voiced concern about how his team would react after the emotional win at Ogallala the night before. His apprehensions turned out to be more of a prophesy than a worry. Although the Lady Raiders led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, turnovers and unforced errors plagued Sidney.

That trend continued into a disastrous second period. Sidney, who averages 16.3 turnovers per game, finished the first half with 17 turnovers and made just 2 of 10 at the foul line. North Platte meanwhile poured in 18 points to take a 31-20 lead at intermission.

Sidney battled back in the second half, outscoring North Platte in both periods, but it was not enough. The Bulldogs made 8 of 12 free throws in the final period to keep the Lady Raiders in check.

Mattie Johnson finished with a game high 17 points while Nicole Birner added 7 points for the Lady Raiders.

Sidney

17

14

17

11

59

Ogallala

9

11

9

11

40

Sidney - Jaylee Shaw 3, Brynna Ross 9, Morgan Jaggers 1, MJ Johnstone 2, Nicole Birner 10, Rheagan Stanley 0, Kendra Nesbitt 0, Reagan Biesecker 2, Reese Riddle 0, Mattie Johnson 24, Leigha Wachtel 0, Jersie Misegadis 0, Emilee Wieser 0, Karly Sylvester 8

Ogallala – Tearyn Trumper 5, Jaedy Commins 15, Kaylee Wach 9, Addison Shaw 0, Naedelin Dominguez 0, Milan Coggins 3, Taylor Trumper 0, Harley Hiltibrand 5, Jill Kelly 2, Elyce Talavera 0, Gabby Caskey 1

Sidney

17

14

17

11

59

North Platte

9

11

9

11

40

Sidney - Jaylee Shaw 0, Brynna Ross 5, Morgan Jaggers 0, MJ Johnstone 4, Nicole Birner 7, Kendra Nesbitt 1, Reagan Biesecker 0, Mattie Johnson 24, Jersie Misegadis 0, Karly Sylvester 5

North Platte – Gracie Haneborg 6, Callie Haneborg 6, Rylee Kurth 3, Carly Purdy 17, Jaycee Hipwell 0, Sedina Hayes 2, Shelby Berglund 0, Abby Orr 10