No Spell Check Necessary

Want an idea of just how little Domnique Roberson craves the spotlight? The Springstead High senior doesn't even bother to make sure everyone correctly spells his first name.

Since Roberson transferred from Tampa-King High right at the beginning of the last school year, the football roster has listed his first name as Dominic. The basketball roster spells it Dominique.

He has made local headlines the past two years as both a standout wide receiver on the gridiron and star forward on the court, yet not a single peep about the misspellings, unless he's asked.

Even then, he'll only provide the correct spelling, without a single gripe.

To anyone that has watched the 17-year-old, who resides in Spring Hill with his father and stepmother, Bobby and Claretha Roberson, contribute to the Springstead basketball team the past two seasons, such an attitude should come as no surprise.

Team player

In breaking down the 28-0 Eagles, who host Hudson High in a Class 4A, Region II semifinal on Tuesday at 7 p.m., senior teammates Isaiah Mason and Dante Valentine certainly have gaudier numbers and play with more flash.

For Roberson, that's just fine. He admittedly enjoys passing the ball and facilitating the offense more than boosting his own scoring average.

"I'm just a team player," Roberson said. "Coming up in AAU my whole life, you play teams with awesome defenses. You can't just do what you want. You have to learn how to pass."

Of course he can score when the need arises, such as in the first round of the 4A-8 Tournament at Sunlake two weeks ago. With Hernando focusing in on Mason and Valentine, Roberson posted a game-high 18 points in an 83-48 victory.

That night he also grabbed 14 rebounds, the same amount he pulled down in Thursday's 71-57 regional quarterfinal win over Kissimmee-Poinciana.

"He was relentless on the boards," Springstead Head Coach Pat Kelly said, "and defensively, too."

Kelly pointed to Roberson's six steals in the game, specifically two on back-to-back plays that he turned into two lay-ups.

This came on the heals of his two free throws, giving him six points within 10 seconds and the Eagles an 8-0 lead at two minutes in, part of a critical 15-0 run to start the game in front of a hyped-up home crowd.

Roberson finished with 15 points helping ninth-ranked Springstead earn its first regional win since 2000 and only the second one in school history.

"The last couple of Springstead teams didn't make it out of the first round and we wanted to make (advancing) a big part of what we're all about," Roberson said. "We're not here to have fun. We're here to win it all; 27-0 don't mean anything right now. We're 1-0 now."

The numbers truly do tell the story of Roberson's all-around play. As a junior in 2007-08, he averaged 11.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.0 assists, earning Hernando Today All-County honors.

He'll go into Tuesday's contest averaging 9.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.4 assists this season. Not bad for a guy who two years ago was a brand new face on campus thanks to his family's relocation.

"At first it was losing my friends (at King), I didn't like it at first," Roberson said. "But I've got new friends. They've adjusted to me, I've adjusted to them. They're like brothers to me now.

"It's been a challenge. Coach Kelly, he'll push you now. There hasn't been one practice that I haven't been yelled at. But it helps me in the game."

Decision looms

In football, Roberson caught 31 passes for 373 yards and six touchdowns in Springstead's run-oriented option offense.

He has talked to colleges about both sports, and at this point doesn't know which one he'll participate in at the next level. Nor does he have a preference.

"I'm going to figure out who's interested and who's not," Roberson said. "Then I'll decide what game to play in college."

He certainly hopes to have a few more weeks left in his prep basketball career. Though the Eagles have already matched the school record for wins and advanced as far as any team in school history, they have higher aspirations.

"It's in all of us," Roberson said. "We want a state (championship) ring, but we all realize we can't get there without winning the next game. We're not looking at any other game. We'll face Hudson and that's our state championship game right there.

"I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, play hard every game. If I'm not scoring, go out and play all-out on defense."

BY THE NUMBERS: DOMNIQUE ROBERSON
Year PPG RPG SPG APG
2007-08 11.4 7.7 4.0 3.0
2008-09 9.8 7.0 3.0 2.4
TOTALS 10.6 7.3 3.5 2.7