The traditional start to the high school basketball season will have a different look for the teams in the Western Conference. Not only will the crowds be restricted to household members only, but no non-conference teams will be participating in this year’s tournament.

The tournament will be played at Gering and Scottsbluff high schools beginning on Thursday, December 3rd. Each bracket was seeded using a combination of last year’s results and expectations for the coming season. The Sidney Lady Raiders are the #2 seed and will face #5 seed Gering at 6:00 p.m. at Scottsbluff High School. The Red Raiders tip off the tournament as the #6 seed and will open against #1 seed Alliance at 6:00 p.m. at Gering High School.

On Friday, all girl’s games will be at Scottsbluff while all boys contests will be played at Gering. Saturday’s games will flip-flop locations with the girls moving to Gering and the boys to Scottsbluff. Here is the schedule released by the Western Conference.

Thursday, December 3
@ Gering
BBB - #2 Scottsbluff vs #5 Chadron - 4:00 PM
BBB - #1 Alliance vs #6 Sidney - 6:00 PM
GBB - #1 Scottsbluff vs #6 Alliance - 8:00 PM
@ Scottsbluff
GBB - #3 Chadron vs #4 Mitchell - 4:00 PM
GBB - #2 Sidney vs #5 Gering - 6:00 PM
BBB - #3 Mitchell vs #4 Gering - 8:00 PM

Friday, December 4
@ Gering
BBB - Scottsbluff/Chadron loser vs Alliance/Sidney loser - 4:00 PM
BBB - Scottsbluff/Chadron winner vs Mitchell/Gering winner - 6:00 PM
BBB - Alliance/Sidney winner vs Mitchell/Gering loser - 8:00 PM
@ Scottsbluff
GBB - Sidney/Gering loser vs Scottsbluff/Alliance loser - 4:00 PM
GBB - Sidney/Gering winner vs Chadron/Mitchell winner - 6:00 PM
GBB - Scottsbluff/Alliance winner vs Chadron/Mitchell loser - 8:00 PM

Saturday, December 5
@ Gering
GBB - Consolation Game - TBD - 10:00 AM
GBB - Consolation Game - TBD - 12:00 PM
GBB - Championship Game - 2:00 PM
@ Scottsbluff
BBB - Consolation Game - TBD - 10:00 AM
BBB - Consolation Game - TBD - 12:00 PM
BBB - Championship Game - 2:00 PM

The tournament will follow the rules that schools are required to follow including both the Governor’s Directed Health Measures (DHM) and those established by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA). Failure to abide by these rules, by the schools, participants, or spectators, will result in the cancellation of activities or no spectators at activities.

The DHM states that only household members will be spectators at events and the capacity must remain under 25%. During the upcoming season, Sidney will have a list of household members at the point of entry for all home games.

The NSAA is requiring that schools, officials and spectators follow the following rules for all winter season contests:

  • Active participants are permitted, but not required, to wear face coverings during competition/performance.
  • Coaches and non-active participants (those not currently on the court, mat or stage) are required to wear face coverings at all times. Cheer and dance are considered non-active participants.
  • Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending indoor events.
  • Face coverings must cover the nose and mouth.
  • The host school may establish additional requirements in consultation with local health departments.

If schools implement any additional requirements, they must be the same for all schools, officials, judges, and spectators.

Sidney will open their regular schedule on Friday, December 11 on the road in Imperial against the Chase County Longhorns, before returning to the Cabela’s Athletic Facility to host Bayard on Saturday, December 12.