It only happens a few times a year, however, with pride and reputation on the line, rivalry games are what high school student athletes live for. On Tuesday, January 30, the Fossil Ridge High School SaberCats took on their biggest rival, Fort Collins High School, in the City Championship game. After four quarters of neck-in-neck play, aggression, and excitement, the Cats fell to the Lambkins, for the second year in a row, (50-53).

Seniors Brandon Lambrecht, Garrett Ripsam, and Blake Bodnar, along with juniors Tommy Croft, and Holdyn Kawcak started the game for Fossil. In the first few minutes of play, neither team completed any shots, but both the Cats and Lambkins transitioned fast, and began with high energy.

Collins got the first points of the game, as a Lambkin took a deep three point shot. On the Lambkins next possession, Ripsam came up with a huge block, preventing Collins from another early score.

The Lambkins made another shot, but Fossil was able to answer back, as Croft made a leaping save under the Lambkin hoop, finding Lambrecht for an easy layup. With around four minutes remaining in the first quarter, Collins held a (5-2) lead.

With just about two minutes left in the first, Calvin Marley battled under his hoop against a Lambkin post-guard, and was able to get his hands around the ball and find Ripsam on the top of the paint. Ripsam took the ball down the court, completing the layup. Collins was ahead, (7-4).

In the last seconds of the first quarter, the Cats worked the ball around the Lambkins’ paint quickly and creatively. Drew Cornmesser drove to the basket on that play and secured Fossil another two points.

On the Cats’ next possession, Ripsam completed a shot just inside the three point line, pushing Fossil ahead, (8-7).

However, that one-point lead didn’t last long; as the clock ran down signaling the end of the first, a Lambkin drained a shot giving Collins a (9-8) lead.

As the second quarter began, it was clear that this was going to be a neck-in-neck game until the final whistle blew. In the first minute of play, Ripsam pump-faked a Lambkin and sunk a shot.

On Fossil’s following possession, Marley drove through two Collins defenders for a layup. With that said, the Cat’s were still behind Collins,  (14-16), with four minutes left in the half.

After quick ball movement in the Lambkin paint, Fossil was able to complete another shot, tying the game up (16-16) with three minutes remaining.

In the last two minutes of play Collins took a four point lead after executing on two of their possessions. Kawcak made one out of two shots from the line to make the score (17-21).

By the time the first half ended, Collins held a (26-17) lead over the SaberCats.

Once the third quarter was underway, Ripsam drove to the hoop again, both completing the layup and drawing a foul. He completed his one shot from the line, but Fossil was still behind (20-31) with six minutes left in the third.

Collins, wasn’t able to score on their next possession, but once the ball was back in the hands of the Cats, Cornmesser hit a three point shot. With four minutes remaining in the third, Collins held a (31-25) lead.

Play went back and forth and with three minutes left before the fourth quarter, Fossil was down (26-35).

The physicality between these two teams was off the charts. The student sections, cheerleaders, parents, and fans, were all completely zoned into the game. The volume in the gym was somewhat chaotic, and the energy was literally buzzing off of the walls.

Croft drove through Collins’ paint, completing the layup and drawing a foul. He made his one free throw, but Fossil was still down by eight points (33-41).

At the end of the third quarter, Fossil Ridge was behind Collins (33-43).

With a quarter left, and a ten point difference, the Cats left it all out on the court in the fourth. After some aggressive play between the teams, Lambrecht found himself on the line, where he completed both of his free throws. The Lambkins were ahead by four points, (41-45).

As the Collins point-guard attempted to complete a long pass across the face of the court, Croft propelled himself into the air and came up with a huge steal, leading to a score. Fossil was down by one basket (43-45).

Three minutes remained in the game, and Ripsam sunk another deep three point shot, and on Fossil’s following possession the boys completed again. The Cats took the lead, (48-47).

Within the two minutes to follow, Collins answered with a three point shot, and then Fossil answered right back. With two minutes left in the game, the score was tied (50-50).

At the beginning of the second half, the SaberCats were down by ten points, and had comeback to tie the game; You can image how wild those last few minutes were. And if that wasn’t enough, in the last 45 seconds the Lambkins hit the game winning three point shot.

In the last ten seconds of play, Fossil had two three point shot attempts but just couldn’t find the back of the net. After an extremely hard fought game, Fossil fell short (50-53). In an interview after the game Ripsam commented, “We were focusing on our game, and not worrying about Collins, that way would could execute the things we needed to. It was hard to lose but we have learned to forget about our mistakes so we can focus on our next game.”

On Friday, February 2, the boys will take on Fairview High School at home at 6:30. Come show your support and follow @frhssportsnews on Twitter for more updates.