Girls' basketball: Positive signs in Cottage Grove

Katya Leick helped direct last week's painting project in the locker room at Park of Cottage Grove High School, advising teammates where to place logos and slogans.

Tina Fisher showed keen interest in the painting of a heart.

Basketball coach Stephanie Tolkinen expects them to play similar roles on the court. The athletic and energetic Leick will handle the ball and direct the offense more often this season. Fisher, whom Tolkinen called an "un-noticed worker who is third in everything," will put her heart into rugged post play and defense.

The graduation of Jackie Voigt thrust the seniors into a co-starring role this season.

"I think we're ready to take the No. 1 and No. 2 roles," Leick said. "And our relationship allows us to switch roles when we need to."

Leick elevated her game last season, leading the team in scoring (14.5 points per game) and steals (2.3) while placing second in rebounding (5.5) and third in assists (3.0). A 6-foot guard with quickness and leaping ability, she gave several teams match-up problems.

She ended the season as a Star Tribune All-Metro second-team selection. Voigt, currently playing for the Gophers, made the third team.

Fisher made her presence felt on defense. She drew 19 charges last season, a number good for first in the state, according to Tolkinen.

"And she doesn't flop," Tolkinen said. "She takes a hit."

Fisher, a 6-foot forward, possesses the courage to stand her ground as opposing players barrel into the lane. But she only recently developed her confidence as a shooter playing AAU basketball this summer. She hopes to expand her range and her numbers. She averaged 9.8 points per game last season.

Leick already knows Fisher has an element of flair to her game, citing Fisher's ability to surprise defenders by spinning out of post moves and creating an open shot.

"I'm excited for the chance to step out and show what I can do," Fisher said.

Leick also worked on aspects of her game this summer. She brought the ball up the floor and ran the offense during the AAU season, learning to look for teammates and then working off them by running and cutting to open areas. She is relishing her role as a coach on the floor who can dictate the action rather than waiting for it to begin.

While still learning to run an offense, she is a heady defender adept at reading opponents' tendencies.

"Usually after seeing their plays a couple times I've got it," she said. "And I communicate with the team because defense is a huge part of our game."

Leick and Fisher -- who will play college basketball at Nebraska and Ohio -- respectively, are the two returning starters from last season's 25-3 Wolfpack team that won the Suburban East Conference championship but lost to Eastview in the Section 3 title game in Class 4A.

The duo combined for 16 points in the 51-35 loss, the memory of which still nags at Leick.

"We weren't flowing like we could have been," she said. "We didn't represent ourselves well and that's what was so disappointing. We had a great team and a great season and I think we still have the players. As a team we can step in and fill the shoes of the players we lost together."

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574