Basketball Game Preview: Fossil Ridge SaberCats vs. Fort Collins Lambkins

Fossil Ridge is 9-1 against Fort Collins since January of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Fossil Ridge SaberCats will challenge the Fort Collins Lambkins at 6:00 p.m. Fossil Ridge is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 55 points per game this season.

Fossil Ridge took a loss when they played away from home on Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They blew past Loveland 67-31. Given the SaberCats' advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado basketball rankings (they are ranked 39th, while the Red Wolves are ranked 176th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Fossil Ridge got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Elli Johnson out in front who dropped a double-double on 20 points and ten boards. Johnson has been hot, having also posted two or more steals the last five times she's played. Maddie Kubat was another key player, dropping a double-double on 17 points and ten rebounds.

Fossil Ridge was working as a unit and finished the game with 14 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Loveland only racked up eight assists.

Meanwhile, Fort Collins lost to Rocky Mountain on the road by a 61-42 margin on Friday. The Lambkins have struggled against the Lobos recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost matchup.

Fossil Ridge pushed their record up to 12-6 with the victory, which was their eighth straight at home. Those victories came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 27.8 points per game. As for Fort Collins, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-12.

Fossil Ridge beat Fort Collins 63-53 in their previous matchup back in January. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Fort Collins' Annika Vandalen, who went 8 for 15 on her way to 18 points along with six boards and four steals. Now that she's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Fossil Ridge still be able to contain Vandalen? There's only one way to find out.