FORT COLLINS — Of course, Chris Hansen worries about his next jump step. And why not? He did one a couple of years ago, broke his right femur at an instructional camp and couldn’t compete as a junior.
However, he’s still in position to savor his senior season, and he is, as Fossil Ridge, after a 59-36 drubbing of crosstown rival Poudre in the Class 5A Front Range League on Friday night, moved to 9-0 overall, 2-0 in league.
“Yeah, I think about it,” said Hansen, who has three nasty scars, including one on his hip. “But playing with these guys makes it easy.”
Hansen, who had led 5A in scoring at 31.9 points entering the game, had his season-low output, 16 points, but added 15 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple-double. While Poudre (3-6, 0-2) seemed intent on getting the ball out of his hands — Hansen took only 10 shots — he was willing to pass it or go get it on missed shots.
And all of this in front of Colorado State coach Tim Miles.
“You saw it,” SaberCats coach Matt Johannsen said. “Sure, it was (Hansen’s) lowest total, but he doesn’t care. He wants to win.”
And so do all the SaberCats, who moved up to No. 4 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll this week.
“We have a way to go and get better,” Hansen said. “But we hope to do something.”
Fossil Ridge trailed only briefly in the opening minutes. The SaberCats led 27-13 at halftime and pulled away down the stretch. Their lead crested at 26 points.
Cody McCoy, who scored Fossil Ridge’s first seven points, finished with 12.
“I think it showed that when they try to lock (Hansen) down, we have other guys to step up,” the coach said. “And I thought our defense was good.”
The SaberCats outrebounded the Impalas 39-19 and were never seriously challenged after the opening quarter.
Poudre 8 5 10 13 — 36
Fossil Ridge 13 14 12 20 — 59
Poudre — Travis 1 0-0 3, Cole 3 0-0 8, Throgmorton 1 0-0 2, Gronewoller 3 2-2 9, Carlson 0 4-4 4, Clute 3 0-0 7, Rodarmel 0 0-0 0, Seng 1 0-0 2, Burkhart 0 1-2 1, Romero 0 0-0 0, Maxey 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-8 36.
Fossil Ridge — .McCoy 5 0-0 12, Tynan 2 0-0 4, Baeverstad 1 2-2 4, Blum 2 0-0 4, Hansen 5 5-5 16, Bryant 5 0-1 10, Quaid 1 0-0 3, Brashear 0 0-0 0, Kuchta 2 0-0 4, Soflas 1 0-1 2, Dowd 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 7-9 59.
3-point goals —P: Cole 2, Travis, Gronewoller, Clute; FR: McCoy 2, Hansen, Quaid. Total fouls — Poudre 12, Fossil Ridge 11. Fouled out — None. Technicals — None.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
