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Longtime leaders
By KRISTEN LEIGH PORTER INVERNESS -- Citrus' backcourt has been playing together forever. Or maybe it just seems that way since senior guards Katie Steelfox and Alycia LePage have been in the role since they were Junior Hurricanes. "In our second year we were on an all-girls team that always whooped up on all the boys, and me and Katie always led the team together," LePage said. "We were probably about 8 or 9 years old." The only team they could not beat included future Citrus boys star Jamaal Galloway, a Times All-Citrus/Hernando first-team pick last season. Need proof? Hurricanes assistant Al LePage, Alycia's father, probably has it on tape. Fast forward to 2002, and Steelfox and LePage are back to lead the Citrus varsity to similar success. The skills they developed side-by-side will be one of the reasons why the 'Canes could be the county's best. Steelfox, the left-handed point guard, picked up all-area first-team honors last season after averaging better than 15 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds. LePage, the off guard, was an honorable mention choice who averaged 10 points. They hope the experience and leadership will strengthen Citrus' playoff potential and improve on a 16-8 finish last season. "If they cheat to one of them, the other one scores, and vice versa, so they're going to be tough to handle for anybody and everybody all season," Nelson said. "They have started since they were in ninth grade and in my years I think I had three other girls who started since ninth grade," he said. Steelfox is a little taller at 5-foot-4 while LePage measures 5-3. They are similar players, although LePage said her counterpart is a better shooter (Steelfox shot almost 50 percent last season) and ball-handler, while Steelfox said LePage is quicker. Despite the physical differences, the two feel like they share the same brain on the court. "We definitely know how each other plays," Steelfox said. "Like on fast breaks, if I get a rebound than I automatically know she's going to be on the other end so I just kind of throw it down there and vice versa." "We know exactly what we're going to do," LePage said. "We're always there for each other to pass the ball if we get stuck. We're always trying to set each other up for a shot, give and go's and everything." Their fast hands and feet have resulted in countless take-aways and scoring opportunities. And they are just as adept at putting the ball in teammates' hands as they are taking it away from opponents. One of the recipients is senior forward/center Brittney Doyle, who has been playing with the pair since middle school. "They know each other's moves like they were sisters or twins," Doyle said. "They see the court really well and so when they're coming down, one of the first places they look is down low for me or Tacara (Watkins) or whoever is in the 4 or 5 positions. "They tend to get that pass off really well because they're quick and they're good at what they do. I just kind of stand there and wait for the ball." Nelson said Steelfox and LePage are both among the all-time leaders in assists at the school,and it is easy to see why. "I told (Doyle) she's got to take the guards out for dinner or buy 'em pizza because they made her look real good out there," Nelson said. But the duo that still remembers playing together during recess back in elementary school will be broken up after this season. Steelfox, who is being looked at by Flagler College and Florida Southern, will be headed to college to play basketball. LePage will pursue her favorite sport, softball, and is considering the University of South Florida. "We have so much fun, we've become pretty good friends over the years," Steelfox said. But for both competitors, the only way to go out of the Citrus basketball scene is the way they came in. As winners.
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