Baskipedia Podcast: Evan Massey- Grinnell System Years at GHS

 

Several years ago I had the opportunity to talk with Marc Hart on his Baskipedia Podcast. He does a fantastic job of promoting the sport of basketball with his podcast and his clinics. If you don’t follow him on social media or belong to his clinics- you are missing out. 

Baskipedia Podcast

System Basketball- Check Streaks Resources

 

Everything on System Basketball has been organized into one spot. If you look in the upper right side of Massey Basketball Blog, you will see “Streaks Resources.” Scan down under “Streaks Resources” and click on “System Basketball.” 

It has essays that I wrote on System Basketball, interviews with System coaches, and articles written about the Streaks teams who ran the System. 

Aliyah Boston Coaches Caitlin Clark

 

Caitlin Clark had a tough first half. Aliyah Boston, the veteran leader didn’t wait to get to the lockeroom to “coach” Caitlin Clark, the rookie. Whether she was giving her tough love, encouragement or tips- she was being a leader. 

Too often as coaches, we act as if a player is either a leader or not a leader. We design drills in practice to help players become better shooters, better screeners, and better defenders. Why shouldn’t we be using practice to help players become better leaders? What Boston was doing was not complicated and not difficult- with practice any player could do this. 

When things are going bad, too many players become self-absorbed or filled with self-pity. In this situation, Boston stepped out of herself and thought “team first.”

In practice would it work to have 3 seniors or 3 captains, have a “leadership task?” Maybe it as simple as each coach takes one “leader” and instructs them that they are to 5 times in practice purposely on the sideline when out of drills or on the court during a drill give a specific assigned player 10-20 seconds of “coaching.” It can be physically reaching out and giving them a fist bump, giving them praise, giving them some tips, or giving them tough love. Then after practice that “leader” needs to talk to their assistant coach- debrief and describe what they did and what they could have done better.

The objective would be to work on specific leadership behaviors in practice vs yelling at the players during halftime to step up as leaders. Train ball handling, shooting, and LEADERSHIP!!

And players don’t need to have this organized by a coach. A player could set out a “leadership goal” in each practice. Maybe it is a senior recognizing a sophomore on the varsity is lacking confidence. So the senior could set out to make sure to give the sophomore 5 fist bumps, encouragements, praises, etc. Then after practice, reflect on the specific examples of leadership and evaluate yourself. And it doesn’t have to be a senior- any player can work on their leadership. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO. 

BOSTON COACHES CLARK

Players Building Culture

Some say “culture” is an over used word in sports. I would disagree, “culture” is at the heart of any team’s success. “Culture” is what makes any business or organization successful. Culture is a set of shared values, beliefs, and norms for behavior. When everyone is “on the same page,” “buying in,” “rowing the same direction”- a group or organization works. 

In basketball, culture evolves around several things-

1- How players treat each other.

2- How players feel about the team in general and how important the team is to them. 

3- Players belief in the coaches and desire to be coached.

4- How players approach practice.

5- How players approach competing.

6- How players handle winning and losing. 

A coach can guide and encourage players behavior, and then a coach can reinforce positive behaviors. But it is the players who create the culture with their behaviors. While each team is unique in some ways, often the culture is passed down from one team to the next. Individuals and teams have the ability to add onto the existing culture and to make the culture stronger. 

Greatest Galesburg Player of All-Time- My Opinion

 Over the years, people have asked who would be my all-time starting five in Galesburg girls basketball, or who I think is the all-time best player in GHS history. Usually I respond with something like,”There are too many good players to decide on that.” 

After I respond by saying I really can’t decide, they precede to tell me who the greatest player of all-time is, or who the starting five would be. And it is not unusual for them to also tell me who the best GHS team of all-time is. While appreciate their interest in Streaks girls basketball, many of the people who give me their answers are people who probably have watched maybe ten years of GHS basketball. 

For me as the coach, I have a bunch of all-time favorite teams and I have a bunch of all-time starting fives. When it comes to all-time best GHS player- it is obvious to me who the all-time best player has been. While I know a coach should not share their opinion, I am willing to tell you who I think is the all-time best GHS girls basketball player!!

1978-2024 Book from 2024 Team

 2024 Streaks gave me a wonderful book filled with pictures from the last 46 years of Streaks Basketball. It is as thoughtful and as meaningful of a gift as anyone could possibly give me. Thanks to the 2024 Streaks for your thoughtfulness!!!

Focus on the Process- Part 2

Becoming a successful athlete does not just happen by dreaming about it, it takes commitment and hard work. There are many opportunities that exist today for a young athlete that did not exist 20 years ago. Some older people groan and wish we could go back to a simpler time with less activities being organized for young people by adults. 

Several years ago I was at a get together and fell into a conversation with a man who had played football at Galesburg High School in the 1950’s. He asked me what the girls basketball players did in the summer. It was a conversation I was somewhat hesitant to delve into, I anticipated he would be critical of the amount of summer activities I had organized for the girls. To my surprise, his reaction was the opposite. He said,”I am glad you have them doing a lot, it seems like too many teenagers just sit around today.”

Focus on the Process- Part 1

Athletes in general and basketball playersin particular need to have goals and need a vision of what they want to achieve. A player can dream of becoming all-state, of averaging so many points per game, or winning a championship. All of these goals are examples of “outcome goals” or “performance goals.” “Outcome goals” can serve to help motivate and inspire an athlete. 

While championship athletes and All-American athletes all of “outcome goals,” they seem to share one common characteristic. The great athletes are locked into and are focused on the process. 

The outcome goals are all about the future, while the process goals are all about now. Process goals are about what you are planning to do today and what you are going to demand of yourself. 

Kiarra Kilgore- Senior Refections

 

Kiarra Kilgore was on the varsity all four year’s. As a freshman, she and her class had no summer camp and no summer league, so it was quite an achievement to go right from JH basketball to playing on the varsity. For the next four years Kiarra never backed down from any challenges. She went from a quiet player as a freshman to a tremendous leader as a junior and senior. All the fans would recognize her on the floor basketball achievements, but as coaches and as teammates we appreciated the combination of her competitiveness and her leadership. When things got tough, Ki stepped up and helped pull the team together. We are excited to follow Ki’s college career. 

Massey- What are your plans for next year?

Kiarra- I will be attending Missouri S&T. 

Massey- What made you pick Missouri S& T?

Alexis Edgerson- Senior Reflections

 

Alexis Edgerson was on the varsity for three years. As a sophomore she came off the bench, and then she started her last two years. She invested time and worked in the off-season on her shot, but she will always be remembered for how hard she worked on defense. When we defended the ball screen, our rule was that the defender on the ball ALWAYS was supposed to go over the ball screen. Alexis was a master at defending the ball screen, and actually picked up a couple fouls on screeners each game. 

Alexis has important characteristics that made her a great basketball player and make her successful in everything she does-

1- She wants to learn- which made her coachable in basketball and teachable in the classroom.

Syriah Boyd- Senior Reflections

Syriah Boyd came off the bench to help us win the Regional Championship as a sophomore. She went onto be a starter for the Streaks as both a junior and a senior. Probably every game she was matched up to guard a post player who was significantly taller than her, but she used her strength and quickness to battle them. Her defense on those posts was very important to our success. 

Massey- Where are you going to school next year?

Syriah-  Tennessee State University

Massey- What made you choose Tennessee State?

Syriah-  Going to an HBCU has been my dream, on my visit I fell in love with the team and automatically felt at home.

Massey- What do you plan to study?

Syriah- Major in Nursing, then become a Travel ER Nurse, or possibly continue my education to get my Masters in Nursing and become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

Antonia Kisler- Senior Reflections

Antonia Kisler brought high energy and a tremendous work ethic to the basketball program. Both her junior and senior year’s she was selected by her teammates for the “Bring It Award.” That award is given to the player who brings it in the weight room, in practice, in the off-season, and during games. Antonia was certainly a leader, and set the tone for the entire team with her approach. With Antonia’s work ethic, it will be exciting to see how much she improves as a basketball player while at Sandburg. 

Massey- Where will you be going to school next fall?

Antonia-  I will be attending Carl Sandburg College in the fall.

Massey- Why did you pick Sandburg?

Antonia- I picked this school to continue my basketball career and to get started with my college education at a low cost.