Leisten makes presence known for C-G

Cary-Grove’s Megan Leisten (left) has “come into her own this year,” Trojans coach Rod Saffert said. (Jenny Kane - jkane@shawmedia.com)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

It was hard to know exactly where Megan Leisten stood within Cary-Grove’s basketball program last season.

The now 5-foot-7 junior guard practiced every day with the varsity team, which carried only eight players in 2011, but played much of the season with the sophomores. Leisten saw limited game action with the varsity and wasn’t on the court when C-G lost to Geneva in the sectional finals.

“We knew this season would be a different story for her,” C-G coach Rod Saffert said. “She has come into her own this year.”

Leisten has been anything but a spectator in 2012, establishing herself as the first or second option off the bench for the Trojans during the regular season and playing more than 16 minutes a game. While Leisten averaged less than two points a game, she was fourth on the team in assists and steals.

When freshman Katie Barker sprained three tendons in her thumb against Crystal Lake South in the regional semifinals, Saffert immediately turned to Leisten to fill the starting spot against Prairie Ridge in the regional finals and South Elgin in the sectional semis.

“It was a lot different,” Leisten said of playing against South Elgin. “I definitely felt the pressure, but I had to stay focused and keep my head in the game.”

Leisten recorded four points, seven rebounds and five steals combined in the two C-G victories. Along with Paige Lincicum and Joslyn Nicolson, Leisten was instrumental in helping limit South Elgin guard Becca Smith to only 10 points Tuesday.

“Megan is one of the best defenders we have,” Saffert said. “She started to play very smart and wise on offense as well.”

While Leisten watched the closing seconds of last year’s season-ending loss to Geneva, fellow junior Olivia Jakubicek was right in the middle of it.

Jakubicek hit two free throws late in the fourth quarter to put C-G up by two, but Geneva rallied to score the last four points of the game and claim a 55-53 win.

“I remember being in that game and how exciting it was and how we came and made a comeback,” Jakubicek said. “I definitely do use it as motivation, it was a tough loss, and it basically made me want to work even harder.”

Jakubicek made sure C-G got back to the sectional championship with her play Tuesday in a similar situation. Her two free throws with 7.1 seconds gave the Trojans a two-point lead.

Fittingly, it was Leisten who defended Smith on the last possession and forced her into a fadeaway jumper that missed.

Now Leisten, Jakubicek and the rest of the Trojans (21-8) will get another chance to win that elusive sectional championship against DeKalb (27-4) and put an end to a 22-year title drought that is older than any of the girls on the roster.

“We’ve been working really hard in practice to get to this point,” Leisten said. “This has been our goal the whole year to get to the sectional game.”

NOTES

Although there is only one local team left in contention for a state championship, eight individuals have advanced to the sectional finals in the Three-Point Showdown.

In Class 3A, Johnsburg sophomore Kayla Toussaint, Richmond-Burton senior Erin Thomas, Woodstock North junior Kaitlin Chamberlain, Hampshire senior Michelle Dumoulin and Crystal Lake Central sophomore Kelsey Schmitt remain in the competition. The Class 4A contestants are Cary-Grove junior Olivia Jakubicek, Prairie Ridge sophomore Sarah LeBeau and Dundee-Crown senior Ali Sanders.

All eight athletes will compete today at their respective sectional final sites.