SIDNEY – A pair of undefeated girls basketball teams tipped off Saturday afternoon at Sidney High School. The Bayard Tigers entered the Cabela’s Athletic Facility with a 5-0 record, three players averaging over 13 points per game, and four starters over 5’10” tall. The 3-0 Sidney Lady Raiders sported one player averaging in double figures and their tallest starter is listed at 5’9”. When the dust settled, the Lady Raiders had scored almost as many points off Bayard turnovers as the Tigers put up in a 48-30 Sidney win.

Both teams opened the game with full-court pressure, and each forced seven turnovers in a scrappy first period. A Karsyn Leeling three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in the first gave Sidney a 9-6 advantage heading into the second quarter. The Lady Raiders held the Tigers to single digits scoring in each quarter while steadily building a 22-point lead. Sidney’s defense forced 25 Bayard turnovers while holding the Tigers to 32 points under their season average.

Sidney had 10 players score in the game led by senior Karsyn Leeling’s 11 points. Junior Ryan Dillehay went three for three from behind the arc to finish with nine points. Bayard was paced by Joslyn Hopkins with seven points. Danika Hassel, Scarlett Norman, and Lexi Fiscus all chipped in six points.

Sidney improves to 4-0 on the season as Bayard suffers their first loss to fall to 5-1.

The boy’s game was never in doubt as a driving layup by Landon Riddle just 26 seconds into the game put the Red Raiders up for the rest of the day. Sidney scored the first 14 points of the game on the way to a 65-17 win over Bayard. Sidney held the Tigers to just one field goal through the first three quarters of basketball.

Ten Red Raiders scored in the game led by Matthew Danch’s 14 points. Landon Riddle added 12 points as Sidney improves to 4-0 this season. Bayard falls to 2-6.

The Lady Raiders and Red Raiders travel to Torrington Wyoming for a matchup with the Trailblazers on Friday before returning home Saturday when they host Western Conference foe Alliance.