A three game winning streak was on the line for the Alliance boy’s basketball team Monday in a match up against Sidney. Using a huge fourth quarter, it was the Raiders ending the streak by downing the Dogs 62 to 48. The contest was played in Sidney as Alliance fell to 4 and 3 on the season. Sidney also got the W in the JV game, defeating the Bulldogs 60 to 52. Senior Espen Lanik paced the Dogs in the varsity affair with 19 points. Alliance led by three going into the fourth but were outscored by 17 in falling to the hosts.
Midway through the first, the ball game was tied at 9. Alliance got early three pointers by Lanik and Devin Graham plus 3 tallies by Jaden Guerra to stay close. Two more treys by Lanik and a hoop by Lexton Salcido concluded the period with the Bulldogs out in front by 4 at 17 to 13.
Play slowed in the second with Alliance only tallying 9 points and Sidney netting just 6. The squads traded buckets early in the second with Alliance getting score by Lanik and Braeden Clarke. Two free throws by Lanik at the 2 minute mark gave the guests the lead at 23 to 17. After a Raider goal, the half came to a finish with a Clarke 3 at the buzzer. The teams went to halftime with the Dogs leading 26 to 19.
Sidney would pull close in the third, outscoring the visitors 18 to 14. Action began with a Raider 3 and a two pointer by Clarke. Later in the quarter, Alliance increased its lead to 6 following another Clarke deuce. Five straight by the Raiders ensued as Sidney cut their deficit to 1. Alliance responded with Bulldog Creighton Fritzler nailing back to back threes that gave the guests a 7 point cushion with 3 minutes remaining in the period. The clubs then swapped scores with AHS getting tallies by Graham and Lanik. Period 3 ended with Alliance ahead by three, 40 to 37.
Six consecutive points by Sidney is how the finale started. Down by three, Alliance got another bucket by Lanik to stay in striking distance. The Raiders then used the three pointer to extend their advantage. Sidney would sink 3 threes in a row by build an 8 point margin. Alliance would points in that stretch by Salcido and Guerra to get within 6 with 3 minutes left. The Dog deficit stayed at 6 following another Red Raider hoop and 2 free throws by Lanik. It would be as close as Alliance would get. Sidney sealed the contest by scoring the game’s final 8 points. The hosts had a 2 plus 6 free throws to go on for the win 62 to 48.
All 17 9 14 8 48
Sid 13 6 18 25 62
Scoring for the Dogs. Lanik 19. Clarke 9. Fritzler 6. Graham 5 Guerra 5. Salcido 4.
Alliance will play Broken Bow on Tuesday in the holiday tournament played at Boone Central high school in Albion.