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Spoto's Fields To Miss Time

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: January 7, 2009

TAMPA - Don Fields has always been a coach who put his players and teams before himself. Now, the long-time area girls basketball advocate needs to focus on his own well-being.

Fields, the Spoto head coach, has been hospitalized since suffering a stroke on Dec. 19. Spartans athletic director Cornelius Bobo has visited Fields several times and said "he seems to be doing OK."

"They've been running a bunch of tests, and hopefully he'll be home soon," Bobo said.

One of the early area organizers of girls AAU and YBOA teams, Fields enjoyed most of his coaching success during his tenure at Armwood. He joined three-year-old Spoto to help build up its girls basketball program.

"He's been one of the pioneers of the sport in this area," said fellow pioneer, Jefferson basketball coach Tom Mosca. "He's a very good coach. He always gets his players to play hard."

Spoto travels to Bartow on Thursday to play in its first game without Fields. Junior varsity assistant Laura Olney, a former player for Fields, has taken over the varsity coaching duties.

"I was very sad when I heard he was sick," Mosca said. "We're all hoping he gets well soon."

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Antoinie Eugene,

Hillsborough,

Senior Forward

Eugene scored in double digits for the first time this season and led the Terriers with 12 points in Hillsborough's 60-20 victory against Robinson on Monday night. Eugene's previous high was nine points in a 69-49 victory against Chamberlain.

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Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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