LINCOLN, Neb. — The Sidney girls basketball team survived a late rally from Grand Island Central Catholic to win 37-35 in the C-1 semifinals.

Sidney’s defense forced GICC’s Bryndal Moody into a difficult game-tying shot attempt in the final seconds to secure the victory. The win puts the Red Raiders in the state title game for the first time since 1984. Sidney has never won a girls basketball state championship.

The Raiders stymied the Crusaders in the first quarter with their full-court pressure and grabbed a 12-2 lead. GICC cut the deficit to seven entering the fourth quarter and surged to make it a one-point game with less than 10 seconds left. After, Karsyn Leeling made one out of two free throws for Sidney, Moody raced down the court and couldn’t get the leaning shot to drop.

Sidney will face Lincoln Christian in the state finals at 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on radio on 98.8 The Big Boy. It will be a rematch of a game played at the Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase in January, which the Red Raiders won 57-54.

Sidney… 12, 7, 12, 6 = 37

GICC… 2, 10, 12, 11 = 35

Sidney: Leeling 9, Schrotberger 8, Ramsey 7, Dillehay 5, Westby 5, Black 2, Denovellis 1

GICC: Maser 15, Herbek 9, Tibbetts 4, Moody 4, O’Boyle 3