After beating Rocky and Collins last week, the girls’ Varsity basketball team lost their in-town game winning streak, losing to Poudre last night 43-48.
The Sabercats battled every minute of the game, trying to pull ahead and create a comfortable lead. However, the competition was so tight and the score was always close. With starter, Britton Mishak leading the team in points, scoring 2 baskets and 1 free throw, the game was tied 17-17 at the end of the first quarter.
The team came out strong in the second quarter, determined to pull ahead. Sami Steffeck and Regan Wess drained one three pointer each early into the second quarter, causing the team to lead 23-22. With 1:39 on the clock Ashley Steffeck blocked on of Poudre’s shooting guard’s shot, preventing Poudre from tying the game. The first half ended with Fossil ahead 29-26.
“We played good pressure defense and in the first half our shooting and execution was great,” says Wess, who had 3 points and 1 rebound in the first half.
The third quarter had low energy and intensity for the Sabercats, only scoring 4 points in the entire quarter. Poudre didn’t go down without a fight, they managed to pull ahead, ending the third quarter 33-36.
“We started to panic when Poudre went on their run. It became more of an individual game, we weren’t sharing the ball as well as we could have on offense,” says shooting guard and point guard, Sami Steffeck.
The Sabercats started to relax and play their game more in the fourth quarter, pulling ahead of Poudre 37-36 with 5:40 left in the game. Ashley Steffeck played a huge part in helping the team begin the run, she had 4 points and 2 steals in the fourth quarter. With 4:10 left in the game, Poudre held the lead 37-41 but the Sabercats didn’t give up and fought to keep the game close. The Steffeck sisters worked together to help the team catch up to Poudre with second left in the game. Ashley had a huge steal that resulted in a made layup and Sami made a hard drive to the basket that made the score 43-45 with 24.7 seconds left in the game. With the Sabercats’ last attempt to win the game Mishak fouled a Poudre player that put her on the line with 14.5 seconds left in the game. The Poudre player made her free throw, ending the game with Fossil losing 43-48.
Fossil basketball season is coming to an end, the girls have two more games left for league play. One game against Fairview away and the other against Boulder at home. You’re chances to support your girls’ basketball team is cutting down so try to catch their last home, league game on Thursday, February 18 at 6:30 pm.
