Fossil Ridge SaberCats basketball team gathered in a huddle at the state tournament

Fossil Ridge High School · Fort Collins, Colorado

Built on
relationships.

Competing with purpose. Growing together. Representing the Ridge.

View Schedule ↓ Explore the Program

2004Program established

3×State finalists

374Varsity wins

7×Conference champions

2026–27 season

Game schedule

HomeAway

DateOpponent / eventTimeTeams

Wed Dec 2Fossil TournamentTBDV

Fri Dec 4Fossil TournamentTBDV

Sat Dec 5Fossil TournamentTBDV

Thu Dec 10at Casteel, AZTBDV

Fri Dec 11at Pinnacle, AZ6:00 PMV

Sat Dec 12at Basha, AZ1:30 PMV

Tue Dec 15at WindsorTBDV/JV/C

Thu Dec 17ChaparralTBDV/JV/C/D

Sat Dec 19Fort Collins at Moby ArenaTBDVVarsity rivalry game at Moby Arena. The remaining teams meet Jan 22.

Tue Jan 5at BroomfieldTBDV/JV/C/D

Fri Jan 8Fairview4:30/6/7:30V/JV/C/D

Tue Jan 12HorizonTBDV/JV/C/D

Fri Jan 15at LegacyTBDV/JV/C/D

Tue Jan 19Rocky MountainTBDV/JV/C/D

Fri Jan 22at Fort CollinsTBDJV/C/D

Tue Jan 26ErieTBDV/JV/C/D

Fri Jan 29BroomfieldTBDV/JV/C/D

Tue Feb 2at Fairview4:30/6/7:30V/JV/C/D

Fri Feb 5at HorizonTBDV/JV/C/D

Tue Feb 9LegacyTBDV/JV/C/D

Fri Feb 12at Rocky MountainTBDV/JV/C/D

Sat Feb 13SeveranceTBDV/JV/C

Tue Feb 16Fort CollinsTBDV/JV/C/D

Thu Feb 18at ErieTBDV/JV/C/D

Dates and times are subject to change. Check MaxPreps for updates ↗

More than basketball

Excellence.
Everywhere.

SaberCat Basketball is built on a simple belief: relationships come first. We compete to win, but the real measure of our program is how our players lead, serve and carry themselves long after the final horn.

Discover our tradition →

A tradition of excellence

Twenty-two seasons.
One standard.

From the program's first team in 2004 to three appearances in the state championship game, each season has added a new chapter to SaberCat history.

2013–1427–1

State runner-up

2021–2226–2

State runner-up

2022–2325–3

State runner-up

2025–2619–6

State Round of 16

Varsity record book

Season by season

All-time record374–171

SeasonWL

2004–05320

2005–06915

2006–071610

2007–08196

2008–09196

2009–10915

2010–11242

2011–12204

2012–13205

2013–14271

2014–15187

SeasonWL

2015–16178

2016–171510

2017–181212

2018–191411

2019–20169

2020–21152

2021–22262

2022–23253

2023–24168

2024–25159

2025–26196

Head coach

Matt Johannsen

35th season coaching · 27th as a head coach

“Relationships are #1. I try to bring that same mentality to everything we do—on and off the court.”

Coach Johannsen has guided the SaberCat program since its inaugural season in 2004. Nine teams have reached the Sweet 16, including an Elite Eight finish and three trips to the state championship game. His players have earned eight conference Player of the Year awards.

Read full bio +

Johannsen has earned conference Coach of the Year six times and was selected Colorado 5A Coach of the Year once. A retired educator, he currently works as a real estate agent for RE/MAX Alliance NoCo in Fort Collins.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ottawa University, a master’s degree in Severe Affective Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and completed postgraduate work in Educational Leadership at Colorado State University. A product of Poudre School District and a Fort Collins resident for more than 50 years, Johannsen wants to be part of making basketball in Northern Colorado better.

2026–27 coaching staff

One program.
One purpose.

15th season

Mitch Ackelson

Varsity Assistant

A 2008 Fossil Ridge graduate and former SaberCat conference Player of the Year, Coach Ackelson returned to the program in 2013. His college career included NJCAA Region 9 all-conference honors and honorable mention all-conference recognition at Mount Marty College, where he later served as an assistant coach.

“Do the little things and play with passion.”

12th season

Luis Pedroza

Junior Varsity Head Coach

Coach Pedroza has served throughout the program, coaching Junior SaberCats, D Team, C Team and now the junior varsity. A two-time team captain during his playing career, he is a Colorado State University graduate in Exercise Science.

“WE before ME. Basketball is a platform that teaches us many life lessons.”

10th season

Spencer Roesener

C Team Head Coach

A 2008 Fossil Ridge graduate, Coach Roesener played under Coach Johannsen before returning to coach the next generation of SaberCats. He has served as an assistant and led both freshman and sophomore teams, emphasizing development, positive relationships and competitive excellence.

Roesener earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Criminology from Colorado State University in 2013.