Coach's legacy touches many

Story published on July 10, 2011.

There are scores of reasons why Stephanie Phillips' fight with cancer resonated with so many. The tree of her basketball playing and coaching career branched out throughout the area and state, crossing nearly every path in the current hoops community.

And the story of Phillips' fight and, ultimately, a young life taken too soon, touched thousands she never met.

Although the fight inspired and she was mourned by many, it's those closest to the former Kickapoo High School girls' basketball coach who still deal with the loss front and center every day.
Phillips died from colon cancer a year ago today after a nearly three-year fight.
"It was unbelievable," her husband, Scot, said this week of the support. "I can't think of very many schools around that didn't do something one way or another.

"That's what made her maybe more determined. 'Look at all these people fighting for me. I need to fight for them.' It was part of what drove her."

In nine years at Kickapoo, Stephanie had a 214-38 record, and earned two Class 5 state championships (2003 and 2005).

Stephanie was inducted to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in January.

"I'm never going to be inducted, but yet I'm getting to hang around Tommy Herr and Priest Holmes," Scot Phillips said.

"That's what I probably regret the most is that she wasn't here ... she wasn't able to be there to enjoy that. I was, her family was, but she didn't get to.

"That would've been really neat for her. I wish she could've been there to thank them."

Scot, along with their kids, close friends and former players, will gather today at the home of Cheryl and Kenneth Giddens in Ozark, where the family spent much of last summer during Stephanie's last days.

Friend Chrissy George, the Giddens' daughter, chronicled Stephanie's fight at stephsgonnawin.blogspot.com.

George still maintains the blog, but not as much as before.

"I can't really find the words that I need," George said. "It takes everything I have to just get through it."

Wednesday, George posted a video of pictures from the past year set to music. In the blog George says the pictures of Stephanie's loved ones capture moments "she would have loved," but missed, the year following her death.

Scot said the couple's two boys have fought through the year and flourished.

Drew, 7, was named a Husky of the Year at Harrison Elementary, a prestigious citizenship and leadership award given to a pair of students in each class.

The morning of the ceremony, Drew found a penny after being dropped off for school.

Later, Drew concluded the penny was a reward that his mom had sent for him.

"It was such a sweet moment," George said. "When my mom was telling me about it, I just lost it."
Drew attended a couple basketball camps this year and Scot takes Drew and Levi, 4, out golfing at the Rivercut Golf Course kids' course from time to time.

The boys love to swim with the neighbors and George's kids throughout the summer. Levi also played soccer this spring.

Scot said the Harrison school community helped tremendously during the year, and has three sets of families helping -- his family, Stephanie's and the Giddens' crew.

Scot, who finished his first year as coordinator of site interventions in Kickapoo's administration, said being at the school after a few years at Republic, was a comfort.

Holidays were designed as joyous occasions for the groups, and Stephanie was always a part of them, George said.

Each gathering, including on Stephanie's birthday, featured balloons being released to Stephanie.
Scot and the boys, along with members of Stephanie's family, will take their first trip to Disney World in Florida later this month.

"The boys are doing great," Scot said. "The kids are tough, just like their mom."

That toughness inspired Stephanie's players on and off the floor. One player was compelled back to the court because of her memory.

"I've never really told anyone this, but I think it a lot had to do with her," said Amanda Landolt, who took a year off from the sport this year.

Landolt was the point guard of Stephanie's last team, which took third at state.

She went to Missouri State and served as the coach of a Carver Middle School seventh-grade team this winter.

But that wasn't enough.

"Thinking of her made me think of basketball," Landolt said. "That family and bonding of playing on a team is like no other."

So, Landolt will join former teammates Jordan Graham and Jessica Pickett as members of Evangel University's basketball team this winter.

Landolt said she was driving this week over the new freeway overpass in southeast Springfield, which overlooks Stephanie's resting place at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens.

Then, "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas came on the radio and Landolt remembered Stephanie opening her final season with that song. Stephanie saw dancers perform to the song on "Oprah" and was drawn to its upbeat message.

Also this week, Pickett asked the Lady Crusaders during team prayers to keep Stephanie and her family in their thoughts.

Landolt said she still feels her presence when she works out at Kickapoo.

"The gym is usually empty, but I feel like she is in there," Landolt said. "I know she's still watching over us."

Coach Jim Pendergrass, who took over Kickapoo's program after two stints as an assistant under Stephanie, said being in the basketball office was a daily reminder of his close friend.

"We think about her all the time," Pendergrass said.

The Lady Chiefs went 17-9 this year, sharing the Ozark Conference championship.

Zoe Allen and Annie Armstrong will be the only players on this winter's Kickapoo roster that played for Stephanie.

Many former players will be among those on hand today at the Giddens' house for the celebration.

The plan is to laugh, swim in the pool and for loved ones to share memories of their coach, mother,
wife, friend.

"It doesn't seem like it's been that long," Landolt said. "I think about her all the time, but I know that she's in a better place."