The Sidney Lady Raiders continued to roll along with a pair of hard-fought wins against ranked opponents over the weekend. The Lady Raiders pulled off a 42-38 win over Class C-1 number 9 Gothenburg at the Cabela’s Athletic Facility on Friday night. Then went on the road and took down Colorado Class 3A number 3 rated Yuma 46-37 Saturday afternoon. With the wins, Sidney improved to 15-0 on the season.

A match up with a very athletic Gothenburg team Friday turned out to be everything that was anticipated. Both teams applying full-court pressure defense. The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but the Swedes answered with a 9-0 to take their biggest lead of the night 10-5. Leading 16-11 after the first period, Sidney began the second quarter with an 8-2 run to stretch their lead to 24-13 only to see Gothenburg trim it to four points at half, 25-21. The Lady Raiders led 37-32 at the end of the third quarter and had to rely on defense to keep them in the game. Sidney did not score for the first 6:59 of the fourth period. The Swedes tied the game at 37-37 with 2:41 remaining and took the lead on a Clara Evert free throw with 1:24 on the clock. A few seconds later, Karsyn Leeling hit her second three pointer of the night to put Sidney back up to stay.

Sidney committed 23 turnovers and made only five of 17 free throws but held the Swedes to just 27 percent shooting for the game. Karsyn Leeling paced the Lady Raiders with 11 points and five rebounds. Kala Westby chipped in nine points while Payton Schrotberger had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Saturday at Yuma was a different story. Sidney Stormed to a 20-8 first-quarter lead against the Outlaws, and stretched the advantage to 16 points at the half, 29-13. Sidney’s biggest lead was 19 points in the third, but took a 16-point lead into the final period 39-23. Although the Lady Raiders nearly squandered a game they were in control of, Sidney made enough free throws to escape with a 9-point win.

Karsyn Leeling led the way once again with 10 points. Katie Ramsey hit three of four free throws, all late in the fourth period to tally nine points,

Sidney will be back on the court Thursday as they open play in the Western Conference Tournament in Scottsbluff.