Sidney’s Friday basketball fortunes were reversed on Saturday night at the Cabela’s Athletic Facility. On Friday the Lady Raiders came from behind to edge Gering 58-52 while the Red Raiders enjoyed a blowout win over the Bulldogs 66-33. Saturday saw the Scottsbluff Lady Bearcats come from behind in the fourth quarter to steal a win from the Lady Raiders, while the Red Raider were held to a season low in a blowout loss to the Bearcats.

With the exception of the outcome, Saturday’s much anticipated girls basketball matchup at the Cabela’s Athletic Facility between Sidney and Scottsbluff lived up to expectations. Both teams entered the only game of the season between the Western Conference rivals with 14-5 records.

The Lady Bearcats started strong behind 5 first-quarter points from junior Mariya Avila to take a 14-9 lead after one period. Sidney’s defense stepped up in the second period, holding the Cats to just 3 of 15 from the floor while forcing 6 turnovers and closing the gap to 22-20 at the half.

For the second night in a row, the Lady Raiders emerged from the locker room at halftime with determination. Sidney got four points from senior Karly Sylvester in the period, while controlling the glass to take a 33-31 lead into the final stanza.

However, Sidney did not make a field goal in the last 9:39 of the game. Scottsbluff’s Emma Foote tied the game with a jumper from the free throw line with 6:05 to go. Sidney made 3 of 4 free throws to regain the lead at 36-33. After Bearcat sophomore Sabrina Harsh made a free throw to cut the lead to 36-34, Jersie Misegadis stepped to the line and gave Sidney their biggest lead of the final period 38-34 with 3:51 to go in the game. That would be the last points the Lady Raiders would score. Sophomore Anna Kelly made a three pointer and Mariya Avila hit 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to secure the 41-38 win for the Bearcats.

Sidney was led by Karly Sylvester’s 8 points. Jersie Misegadis had 7 points while Brynna Ross, Morgan Jaggers, and Alecca Campbell all pitched in 6 points. Mariya Avila paced Scottsbluff with a game-high 12 points.

In the boys game, Scottsbluff’s Kellon Harris hit a jumper just nine seconds into the game, to fuel a 5-0 start for the Bearcats, who never looked back. Sidney fought back with a Micah Schneider three pointer and a Sawyer Dickman free throw to cut the lead down to one at 5-4, but that was as close as the Red Raiders would get all night.

Leading 14-9 after one quarter, the Bearcats held Sidney to only one field goal and 5 points in the second period while pouring in 17 points to take a 31-14 halftime lead. The second half was all Scottsbluff as the Bearcats steadily pulled away for a 64-29 win.

Sidney was led by Sawyer Dickman who finished with 10 points. Scottsbluff was paced by Tate Talkington and Izaiah Mendoza with 11 points each. Tyler Harre added 10 points for the Bearcats.