Phillips taking leave of absence from Kickapoo

Kickapoo girls' basketball coach Stephanie Phillips is taking a leave of absence because of worsening health.

Kickapoo High School girls’ basketball coach Stephanie Phillips said she is taking an immediate leave of absence because of stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to her abdomen.

Phillips, who was diagnosed with with the cancer in August of 2007, said she received word from her doctors the cancer, which was thought to be retreating, had recently become life-threatening.

“It’s come time to focus on me,” said Phillips tonight via telephone, who continued to coach well after her diagnosis. “I told the kids today, I’m praying for a miracle.”

While she wasn’t given a time frame, Phillips said on the phone tonight the cancer had spread and wanted to spend more immediate time with her family. She said she will not travel with the team to their games this weekend in St. Louis against Miller Career Academy on Friday night and McCluer North on Saturday night. Assistant coach Jim Pendergrass will take over for Phillips, who is 201-37 in nine yearsat Kickapoo, including two state championships.

For past information on Phillips’ condition, check out this Web site.

(Updated): The News-Leader’s Michael Stacy has a story on her situation, too.