More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
DENVER — Playing in one of the tougher Class 5A girls basketball conferences has helped steel Fossil Ridge for the playoffs.
The SaberCats (20-1) turned it up a notch on Thursday, forcing 24 turnovers in advancing to next week’s state semifinals in Boulder with a 60-50 win over Dakota Ridge.
“It started from day one,” Fossil Ridge coach Chad Salz said of the mission of reaching the final four.
“Playing in a tough (Front Range) conference helped,” he said, the SaberCats’ only loss this season coming to another final four qualifier, Poudre.
More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Dakota Ridge struggled against the SaberCats’ stifling defense, which forced 24 turnovers.
On the offensive end, Savannah Smith and Kellee Willer paced Fossil Ridge, scoring both outside and driving into the paint to combine for 20 points as the SaberCats forged a 26-15 halftime lead.
Smith came out on fire in the third quarter, scoring on a pair of three-point plays within a minute of each other and producing another layup as Fossil Ridge pulled away to a 17-point lead by the end of the third.
Smith, who scored a game-high 29 points before fouling out with 4:46 remaining, said Salz set the tone in the halftime locker room.
“Coach told us to pick it up,” she said.
Her penetration into the lane was a key factor in the SaberCats’ ability to keep the Eagles at bay despite limited production from Brooke Pemberton, who is nursing a sore ankle.
“That’s always my style,” Smith said of being unafraid to attack the basket, despite often times being the smallest player on the court.
Willer helped by adding 12 points and, more importantly, eight rebounds.
Jae Ferrin paced Dakota Ridge with 18 points underneath while Caitlin Navratil added 15 from the outside.
Smith and Salz both said the SaberCats’ effort on one end of the court must improve in order for them to win their final two games.
“We’ve got to do some fine-tuning defensively,” Salz said
“For us (to succeed) we’ve got to pick up our defense,” Smith echoed.