Fossil wins top ten matchup against Horizon at the buzzer
Junior Ty Brown after making the game-winning shot.
February 9, 2022
On Tuesday, February 8, the second ranked Fossil Ridge High School defeated the eighth ranked Horizon High School 61-59, thanks to a last second shot from Ty Brown.
The Sabercats struggled early, as they were outscored 11-5 in the first quarter. This lack of offense came from tough defense combined with plenty of turnovers from Fossil. The team turned it around during the second, clawing their way back into the game, trailing by only one point heading into halftime.
“We just needed to come back with a lot of energy. In the first half they wanted it more than us, so we had to come out and want it more than them, and that’s what really helped us out in the end,” Brown said.
Fossil came out of halftime with strength and willpower. They controlled the game and dictated the pace, a feat which they had been unable to accomplish during the first half. The Sabercats gained the lead early in the second half, and held on tight, leading the game 59-51 with two minutes remaining. However Horizon fought back, scoring eight consecutive points to tie the game with thirty seconds left, giving Fossil one final chance to score.
With the entire crowd on their feet, giddy with excitement and anticipation, Fossil passed the ball around, looking for an open shot. They finally swung the ball around to junior guard Ty Brown. Brown’s initial shot was blocked, but was able to collect his own rebound and huck up an off-balance shot at the buzzer, scoring the game-winning basket with zeros on the clock.
“Definitely knew I needed to shoot it, [the Horizon player] came out and blocked it cause I looked up at the clock…I ended up getting the shot up at the last second, it was pretty lucky,” Brown said.
Brown finished the game with 11 points, marking the third time he has scored double digits this season. Those points could not have come in any bigger game, with Fossil on the road against another top ten opponent.
“It felt amazing, we might have to put a banner up after this game…it felt great to me,” Brown said.
The road does not get any easier for the Sabercats, as they prepare for back-to-back matchups against conference opponents Rocky Mountain and Legacy on February 11-12.
