LONGMONT — Time will tell if Frederick’s solid start to the girls hoops season is a fleeting moment and out of mind by the time league play hits its stride in the new year.
Perhaps, though, this is the makings of a long-awaited new foundation for the program — a sturdy build in what has been a long search for consistency.
“I sure hope so, I sure hope so,” said second-year Frederick coach Jake Hansen, whose team is 4-2 as the program is searching for just its second winning season since 2011. “If we’re competing every day in practice, it doesn’t matter if you’re a starter or a JV player, you’re going to grow as a player.”
That’ll help in the “long run.”
Thursday at Skyline, a program rising up stayed in character under Hansen in a 78-41 rout of the Falcons.
Savanna Staff scored 13 of her 19 points in a decisive second quarter that saw the Longs Peak League team outscore Skyline 27-14. The junior connected on three 3s in the frame and Megan Majeres added five points as Frederick upped its lead to 42-23 by half.
Majeres ended up hitting three times from deep and finished with 15 points as she helped the visitors push its advantage to 31 on a 12-0 run to start the third. Frederick’s starters came out midway through that quarter before returning in the fourth, keeping the lead in the 30s before returning to the bench with about 4 minutes remaining.
“I think as a team we kind of feel each other (out), and when we’re on, we’re on,” Staff said.
It’s been a solid six-game open for Frederick, and one that could be seen as a positive accumulation of what has transpired so far under Hansen.
A year ago, the coach took the job for a program that had gone 11-35 the prior two seasons. His team went on to win seven of its final eight games during the pandemic regular season to claim its first playoff berth since 2018. Then this winter, it kicked off play with an impressive third-place finish at the Centaurus tournament.
“Every day in practice we probably have 14, 15 girls that just compete,” Hansen said. “My 15th girl is pushing my No. 1 as hard as she can every day, and I think that has helped these past two years.”
Thursday, Frederick hit nine 3s and shot roughly 44% from the field.
Zoe Wittler added 11 points in the win and Peyton Pack and Ali Davis each had seven. Ten different players scored.
“My first two seasons were rough,” four-year varsity player Davis said. “We didn’t have a very good team and a lot of girls there didn’t want to be there. As I’ve gotten older these past two seasons I’ve played with girls who have really wanted to be there and are good teammates.”
Skyline was led by Abbie Anson’s 14 points and Charlee Neb’s 13. Natalie Weathers added six while no other player scored more than two.
The Falcons fell to 2-6 in nonconference play under their third coach in four years, Jason Maguire.
Next, Frederick will continue its nonconference slate at home against Silver Creek Monday.
Skyline won’t play again until Jan. 5 against Prairie View.
