Lady Raiders Win Western Conference

SCOTTSBLUFF – A harassing defense, solid rebounding, and an attacking offense propelled the Sidney Lady Raider basketball team to a 51-37 win over Scottsbluff in the championship game of the Western Conference Invitational Tournament at Western Nebraska Community College Saturday afternoon. Sidney led 14-11 after one period and blew the game open in the second outscoring the Bearcats 18-7 to take a 32-18 lead into the locker rooms.

Reese Riddle paced the Lady Raiders once again with 21 points, but the star of the game was Rheagan Stanley. The 5’4” senior guard drew the assignment of defending Scottsbluff’s Payton Burda, who made 10 three pointers on Friday in the Bearcats win over Gering. Stanley, with a little help from her teammates, not only kept Burda from shooting threes, she held her without a field goal until the fourth quarter, and only two points in the game. The win give Sidney their first Western Conference Tournament crown since 2008.

Sidney 51, Scottsbluff 37
Sidney: Karsyn Leeling 6, Rheagan Stanley,3, Payton Schrotberger 9, Cloe Ahrens 0, Reese Riddle 21, Kierra Schrader 2, Jordan Denovellis 2, Carli Black 1, Ryan Dillehay 3, Kayla Westby 2, Zoey Christensen 2
Scottsbluff: Tierra West 4, Paige Horne 17, Shae Willats 0, Taryn Spady 0, Anna Kelley 8, Payton Burda 2, Marly Laucomer 6

Red Raiders Come Up Short in Championship

SCOTTSBLUFF –Sidney couldn’t have asked for a better start to the boys championship game against Scottsbluff at Western Nebraska Community College’s Cougar Palace on Saturday. Micah Schneider buried a trio of three-pointers as the Red Raiders sprinted to an early first quarter 16-6 lead. Sidney led 18-10 after the first period.

The Bearcats turned up their defense in the second period and outscored the Red Raiders 20-9 to take a 30-27 lead into halftime. Although the game remained tight throughout, the Bearcats never relinquished their lead, winning 65-59.

Both teams had three players score double figures. Tate Talkington pace the Cats with 19 points while Kellon Harris added 18 points and Nate Kelly chipped in 15 points. Sidney was led by Isak Doty with 16 points while Micah Schneider made five threes for 15 points. Jaeden Dillehay scored seven points in the fourth quarter to end uo with 10.

Scottsbluff 65, Sidney 59
Scottsbluff: Carter Reisig 3, Kellon Harris 18, Nate Kelley 15, Tate Talkington 19, Michael Mickey 8, Landon Amundsen 0, Tyson Klein 2
Sidney: Cam Leeling 1, Landon Riddle 4, Autin Roelle 2, Jaeden Dillehay 10, Isak Doty 16, Micah Schneider 15, Luke Uhlir 0, Jacob Dowse 5, Koleman Kaiser 6