THORNTON – A slow start on Feb. 3 proved to be too much for the Horizon High School girls' basketball team.

The Hawks couldn’t overcome an early 17-point deficit as they fell 56-46 to Fossil Ridge.

“I’m proud of our group,” Horizon coach Dan Doehler said. “We came out like game-busters in the second half to put ourselves in position, but we just ran out of gas.”

Morgan Ives scored the opening basket, and Madyn Kassatly hit a trey to give Horizon an early 5-3 advantage. But after that, it was an uphill battle for Horizon in the first half as the Hawks went into halftime down 33-18.

However, the Hawks answered back in the second half. Natalie Thornton led the charge, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to open the third and to give Horizon momentum. Thornton and Kassatly each scored off of offensive rebounds to help close the quarter on a seven-point run and cut the lead to 39-37 after three.

Lindie Holland tied the game at 39 with seven minutes left, but Fossil Ridge regained the momentum to seal the victory.

“We made adjustments at the half and won that third quarter. We put ourselves right back in position to win,” Doehler said, “just made key errors at the end.”

Horizon (10-7 overall and 6-2 in Front Range League at the beginning of the week) had a game plan early to slow Fossil Ridge’s top two scorers – Ella Lavigne and Kaycee Steinke. But that proved to be a challenge. The duo had nine points in the first half, and Fossil Ridge closed the first two quarters strong. Fossil finished the first quarter with a 16-point run to go up 20-7 and closed the second on a seven-point run.

Thornton led Horizon with 16 points, while Ives and Kassatly each added 12. Kassatly also led Horizon with 11 rebounds.

The schedule isn’t going to get easier for the Hawks. The Fossil Ridge game was the first of four games that Horizon has to play in five days – all against league opponents.

“It’s going to be hard, but If we play as hard as we did (Friday) we will be completely fine,” the coach said.

After two trips to Fort Collins and a home game against Brighton earlier this week, the Hawks host rival Legacy Friday, Feb. 10. Tip time is 5 p.m.