What Is Next? Help Me Out!

I would like your feedback on past blogs and suggestions for future blogs. If you would, please put your thoughts and suggestions in the comments at the end of this blog. Thanks for reading!!

What have been some of your favorite blogs?

Which of the following things would you like to read more about?

Caitlin Clark & WNBA

Q/A’s with Past Streaks Players (suggestions)

Look at Great Streaks Games or Teams in the Past (suggestions)

Look at specific topics (Females Coaching)- suggestions

Interviews with coaches (suggestions)

Coaching 101- Thoughts on Coaching

Basketball 101- Thoughts  on Basketball

Looking at Fast Break and System Basketball

Looking at Skill Development

Anything on your mind

OBVIOUSLY I AM WRTING ABOUT THINGS I ENJOY THINKING ABOUT AND WRITING ABOUT- AND I HAVE A LIST OF TOPICS THAT I FOR FUTURE BLOGS- 

BUT I REALLY WOULD ENJOY GETTING SOME DIRECTION FROM YOU. 

PLEASE SHARE YOUR SUGGESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. THANKS FOR BEING A READER!!!

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- I Finally Watched It

Yesterday I had a journey through basketball history. In the morning, I had a chance to watch the video of the Galesburg vs Richwoods game for the first time. Then in the afternoon I went and watched Tulsa University men’s basketball practice. After watching both, I was totally struck about the changes that have taken place in the game of basketball in the last fifty years. Some changes are the result of rules changes, skill developments, and community interests.

Obviously in the Galesburg vs Richwoods game, there was a fantastic basketball atmosphere. Today, even for a “big HS game” like this one, the two teams would come out and they would both warmup to “bad teen music” with lyrics you couldn’t understand and wouldn’t want to understand. The cheerleaders stand in a corner talking to each other. The serious fans chat about how they think their coach will screw things up. And unfortunately, even for a “big game” only about 100 students will show up. 

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Actual Game Tape

This is the game tape from Galesburg’s Channel 7 with Mike White doing the play by play, and Tom Wilson doing the color announcing. 

Click Here- Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976 Regional- Channel 7

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976

 

This series is a look back at the famous Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976 Regional Championship game as Mike Campbell, Scott Kelley, and Eric Doss share their memories. It will be broken up into five parts. 

PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE- Share any of your memories and your name in the comments at the end of the blog pages. 

CLICK HERE FOR PART I-  Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part I The History

CLICK HERE FOR PART II-  Galesburg v Richwoods 1976- Part 2 1973-6

CLICK HERE FOR PART 3- Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part 3 Regular Season

CLICK HERE FOR PART 4- Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part 4 THE Game

CLICK HERE FOR PART 5- Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Reflections

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GAME- Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- The Actual Game

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY ANALYSIS OF ACTUAL GAME- Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- I Finally Watched the Game

PLEASE- PLEASE- PLEASE- SHARE YOUR MEMORIES AND NAME IN THE COMMENTS AT THE END OF EACH BLOG- THANKS!!

Caitlin Clark- What Do We Take From the All-Star Game?

In 1962, my dad took our family to the MLB All-Star game at Wrigley Field with a NL outfield of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente, while the AL lined up Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, and Rocky Colavito. That may be the last All-Star game in any sport that I watched from beginning to end, until tonight’s WNBA game.

The only negative to the whole game was the half-time show where they had a male be the star and have females dance around him. Leave it to the WNBA to be tone deaf about celebrating women on the All-Star game. 

I am reminded of a quote from one of my top Galesburg Summer League refs, Ted Trueblood. Ted had been a great high school player and then had a great career at Knox College. While in college, he paired with Reed Allison to be my “all-star” refs. So Ted while in college, came over to me at half-time to our concession stand. His comment,”Coach, it is interesting watching HS girls playing, some of them can’t decide if they want to be cool or want to be good.” 

Caitlin Clark- Unrivaled League- Jan. 2025

If you haven’t figured out yet, anything I write connected with women’s pro basketball starts with “Caitlin Clark” in the headline. 

Breanna Stewart (NY LIberty) and Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx) are the brains behind forming a new women’s pro league. They want to strike while the iron is hot. It will be a unique league. It is a 3 on 3 league with 6 teams. Each team will have 5 players on its rosters (so 3 playing and 2 subs). For now, their plan is for all games to be played in Miami. (I am guessing part of the interest in locating to Miami is that Miami is where many NBA and WNBA players train in the off-season.)

Caitlin Clark- It Takes More Than A Great Point Guard to Fastbreak

95% of players who I coached all SAY they want to play fastbreak basketball. When a players says they want to be on a fastbreak team, they visualize catching the ball ahead of everyone and either scoring at the basket or stopping for a wide open three. 

When players SAY they want to run, they think about the last 15 feet of the fastbreak. They don’t realize the fastbreak is made in the first 20 feet of transition. The last 15 feet is the easy part- getting to the last 15 feet is HARD work. I guess the message is that many players like the idea of running a fastbreak but are not crazy about the idea of running each possession, and hate the idea of sprinting over and over. 95% of the players who I coached were not excited about doing the running in practice needed to become a fastbreak team. 

I once heard Paul Westhead say something to the effect that-

1- Players love the idea of being a running team.

2- Players hate the running involved in practice as a running team.

3- Players love the result of running in games. 

Coaching 101- Players' Talk About Having Their Parent As Coach

Sean & Mike Reynolds

Today, I get a chance to “talk” with five players who had their dads as their high school coaches. 

Colton and Trey Sigel played for their father, Thom at Rock Island. Trey went onto play at Wisconsin-Platteville and now is in the business world. Colton will be a senior at Carthage College and has played basketball. 

Emma Scheffler just graduated after playing for her dad, Brad at Springfield. She will be attending Iowa State next year. 

Lauren Hall played for her dad, Henry at Rock Island. She then went onto play at Augustana College, and will now be on her dad’s coaching staff at Rocky. 

Sean Reynolds plays for his father, Mike Reynolds at DeKalb. He will be entering his senior year and is in the middle of the recruiting process with college coached. 

Coaching 101- Coaches' Talk About Coaching Their Own Kid

Henry & Lauren. Hall

As a high school teacher, I had the opportunity to have my son in several classes. Having Allen in class was definitely the highlight of my teaching career. It was like everyday was one of those “take your son to work” days! 

When Allen was 8 or 9, we went to the University of Wisconsin Father-Son Caomp. They had a camp free throw championship. Allen and I advanced and actually won the camp championship. I share this story not to let you know that Allen and were (and are) great FT shooters. I share that trivia because it was really, really special to compete with and share a victory with my son. 

I never had the opportunity as a high school coach to coach my son, but I can imagine it is a very special experience to share being part of the same team, competing together, and then experiencing both losses and wins together.  

I have had the opportunity to “talk” with four coaches, who I respect tremendously. Three are Hall of Fame coaches, and the fourth is just getting started as a head coach and will eventually be a Hall of Fame coach. All four of them have coached their sons or daughters. Today the four coaches share their experiences in this blog, and then tomorrow their “kids” share their experience playing for their dads.

Thom Sigel

The four coaches are:

Thom Sigel- Thom has been retired for a couple years. Thom coached at Rock Falls and then at Rock Island. (I always thought he would eventually coach at all the “rocks” and end up at Rockford.) Thom’s teams won State titles at both Rock Falls and Rock Island. Both Trey and Colton played for their dad.

Brad Scheffler- Brad has been the coach at Springfield High for over two decades. His teams have won 9 Regionals, 4 Sectionals, and made 4 State tourney appearances. His daughter, Emma just graduated from Springfield after playing for her father. 

Henry Hall- Henry was a longtime assistant coach at Alleman and at Rock Island. HE became the head coach at Rock Island in 2019, and will be starting his 7th season in 2024-5. In his first season, the Rocks won the Sectional title. His daughter, Lauren played for Rock Island, and now will be a coach on Henry’s staff. 

Mike Reynolds- Mike has coached at Bismarck-Henning, Galesburg, and DeKalb in his 21 year career. His career record is 493-208. His son, Sean will be a senior this coming year at DeKalb. 

Caitlin Clark- 20 Questions- WNBA, Fever, Clark

As the WNBA has passed their halfway mark and approaches the Olympic break, I have some questions about the WNBA, the Fever, and Caitlin Clark. 

1- Why the big difference in minutes played in the WNBA vs. NBA? 

The top 8 players in terms of minutes per game in the WNBA are playing over 34 minutes per game (with 40 minute game). In the NBA only 7 players played over 34 minutes per game (despite games being 48 minutes). So in NBA the top 7 players played 72% of the game, whereas in WNBA 31 players are playing 72% of games. 

I don't have the answer- lack of depth forces them to play more minutes? Games being only 40 minutes allows players to play more minutes? Only 40 games, allows them to play more? 

2- With some of the young Fever players, is there a plan to develop them or has a decision been made that they don't have a future with the Fever?  

Two of their young players, Lexie Hull (6 games DNP, 12 min./game) and Grace Berger 16 games DNP, 10 min/game). Hull has played more minutes lately, but neither has been getting enough time during games to develop. If they are not giving players game minutes, I would hope the Fever and all of the WNBA teams have skill development people on staff who are helping them elevate their skills. Hull seems to be athletic and have good size- someone needs to be working on her shot. I would advocate getting Hull 15-20 minutes per game, and get her on your shooting machine- make 300 threes on non-game days, and make 150 on game days. You are not going to win the WNBA title this year- make one of your successes that you turned Hull into a rotation player. 

Caitlin Clark- Everything I Have Written

Here is everything that I have written about Caitlin Clark to this point. To go to the blogs, just tap on the title of the article that is at the end of each listing. 

March 27, 2024- As college basketball exploded, too many people wanted to be critical. My advice- celebrate it.

Click here— Women’s Basketball Exploding- Celebrate It

April 22, 2024- Exploring what the possible effect Clark was going to have on women’s basketball. Click here- Caitlin Clark Effect?

May 14- Observations after first game, the role Boston was taking as a leader or mentor. Click here- Boston Coaches Clark

May 30, 2024- My take on Clark’s start to the WNBA and the WNBA’s reaction. Click here- Caitlin Clark- A to Z

June 2, 2024- I felt need to add to go beyond A to Z.

Click here- Caitlin Clark- A to Z Plus Some More

June 5, 2024- A breakdown of stats on the deep threes in college and pro basketball. Click here- Caitlin Clark- Is the Logo Three A Good Shot?

June 7, 2024- I asked four people for their perspective on the WNBA.

Click here- WNBA- Four Perspectives

June 23, 2024- An analysis of Sky vs Fever

Click here—Chitown Matchup

July 3, 2024- A breakdown of Clark’s stats at mid-season. 

Click here— Clark By the Numbers

July 11, 2024- My reaction to going to a Fever game. 

Click here—Caitlin Clark- If I Had a Daughter

July 13, 2024- At the halfway mark of the WNBA season- 20 questions about the WNBA, the draft, the playoffs, the Fever, and Caitlin Clark

Click here- Caitlin Clark- 20 questions

July 18, 2024- Besides a great point guard, what is needed to be a successful fastbreak team. 

Click here- Caitlin Clark- It Takes More Than A Great Point Guard to Fastbreak

July 20, 2024- The forming of a 3 on 3 league starting in January of 2025.

Click here- Caitlin Clark- Unrivaled League- Jan 2025

July 20, 2024- Reactions to the 2024 WNBA All-Stars win over the USA Team.

Click here- Caitlin Clark- What Do We Take From the All-Star Game

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part V Reflections

Mike Campbell at Northwestern

Massey- I have enjoyed reading your memories and thoughts. I really appreciate your willingness to share the memories. Do you have any conclusions to share?

 

Campbell- It should be acknowledged that the events leading up to and during the 1976 Regional Final (and, in fact, all of our team and individual successes during the 1975-76 season) were made possible by the time, energy, and knowledge invested in us by individuals such as Coach John Thiel, who started us on a path toward being Streaks via his summer camps; Coach Bill and Coach Bob Morgan and Coach Barry Swanson, who got us involved in the open gyms where we learned how to play the game the right way; the former Streaks players (too numerous for me to mention without forgetting to name several of them) who played with and against us in those open gyms, modeling for us how to play and inspiring us to believe that we could one day be where they had been; a guy like Craig Johnson, whose backyard full court was the site of the many summer evening pick-up games where we developed our skills and built up our confidence and camaraderie; those teammates who, through the years, contributed to our development as players but then fell away completely or took on a less prominent role on the team, thus never getting to share the full impact of being a 1976 Silver Streak the way some of us did; our parents, who loved us unconditionally and supported us through the ups and downs of our high school years, including our basketball experiences; the rabid Galesburg fans (even those who occasionally booed us and me) and the very attentive Galesburg print and broadcast media (hey, where else can one get out of high school for part of a day to be on a local radio show (“Swick on Sports”)??); our assistant coaches, such as Coach Massey, who provided us with good scouting information and energetic practices; and Coach Mike Owens, who not only got the most out of an imperfect roster, but did so while modeling what it looked like to be a very good man and father, even while being a fierce competitor in the arena. I’ve had the opportunity to go around and thank several of these individuals over the past several years, and I’m happy that I did so.

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part IV The Game

 

Massey- This was before Hudl fim exchanges. If you were going to scout, you had to go to the games with a notepad and write down what you saw. During the regular season, Coach Owens usually had Coach Wright or me go to scout one game each weekend. One of us would scout on Fridays and the other on Saturday. Barry then acted as the main assistant on the benches during games.

The way it worked for me, Coach Owens usually told 3-4 things he wanted me to watch. I did not scout Richwoods many times, but I remember when I went he always had me watch who Holcomb guarded and how far he would go out on the floor. One of the times, I was supposed to write down every time Smith touched the ball, where he was when he caught it, and what he did. He wanted to watch to see if Smith left his feet to pass. It was obvious Coach Owens had a specific plan in mind and he wanted info to support his plan. He wanted Holcomb to have to go outside and guard Campbell or Kelley, and he wanted to put a smaller, quicker Carl Finley on Mark Smith to pressure him as a ball handler.

 

A great thing that year was that the Peoria schools played a lot of weekday games on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mike Owens and Jimmie Carr went over to watch Richwoods many, many times. Recently Jimmie told me that each trip, he could tell Mike was more confident in the strategy he wanted to use.

 

Mark Smith

Doss- We saw them play a few times, and usually they were up 20-30 by half time. I don’t think they were challenged that often. Maybe Central and or Manual gave them a good game. We thought their guards were average and Holcomb wasn’t great offensively. Mark Smith, who was junior, was a very good scorer. (I think once the game started in the regionals, we found out their guards (Hohstadt and Dothard were very good and better than we thought, and that Cornelius was also solid.) Remember, Holcomb was 6’ 11” and Smith was 6’ 8” and both D1 players. So, all around, they were a great team and undefeated.

 

Kelley- Nothing specific comes to mind regarding the prep and scouting for the Richwoods game.  We had played them earlier in the year and twice the year before.  We had a pretty good idea of their players and how they played as a team.  My recollection is that it was pretty much business as usual leading up to the game.  Clearly there was excitement in the air leading up to the game.  We had to get by our first Regional game against Macomb.  And then played Richwoods a day or two later.  So we didn’t have a lot of time for prep and scouting reports.

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part III 1976 Regular Season

Massey- Do you have any memory going into your senior year what your goals were? Did you have a goal of being really good, but we can’t beat Richwoods? Or was beating Richwoods a goal? Or was it just, we can be better?

Doss- The first goal was to work hard and get into the starting lineup. We had 12 guys who could play! The guards were me, Mike Wilder, Carl Finley, Mark Mendez, Andy Hendricks, Jim Pogue, Barry Cheesman, and sometimes Rance Berry. I started most games, but coach started different combinations, kind of based on who was playing well at the time. Yes, beating Richwoods was a goal for the team. Mike Campbell took the roll as a leader and pushed everyone in practice. I can remember, “when you go, go hard.”

 

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part II 1973-1975

Massey- One of my first memories of the 1974-5 season was having a staff meeting at Coach Owen’s house in pre-season. We went into his basement he had a little office. Early in the meeting, Coach Owens went thru various organizational things- offense, defenses, practice. But his tone was matter of fact talking about the potential of the team to be good enough to go to State. He wasn’t talking about winning a conference title, he was talking about going to State. 

The IHSA allowed practices to start at the beginning of October at that time. I can remember how exciting it was to go onto the floor for the first practice as a coach. I know exactly where I was when Coach Owens started that first practice. For the next 50 years, almost all of them as a girls coach, I was always reminded of that first day when I looked at that spot.

 

Galesburg vs Richwoods 1976- Part I The History

 THE STORY

If you are a Galesburg basketball fan, you know about the 1976 Galesburg vs Richwoods Regional Championship game. It had AP #1 and undefeated Richwoods Knights playing at AP #9 Galesburg Silver Streaks. Earlier in the year Richwoods won by 10 at Galesburg, and the year before Richwoods won by 52 in the Regional.

The full house at Galesburg, four All-State players, redemption of 52 points loss, beating undefeated #1 team, and OT game- movies can’t make this story up. Although in other seasons before and after Galesburg upset the #1 ranked team in Illinois, this game was the “greatest game” in Galesburg history. If you disagree, write your own blog.

 

Almost 50 years after the game, I have asked 3 of the senior Galesburg players about their memories of that season and that game- Eric Doss, Mike Campbell, and Scott Kelley. This story is written entirely from a Galesburg perspective- sharing memories and emotions they experienced as teenagers playing a sport they loved in a community obsessed with basketball.

 

Lexi Demott- Streaks Girls Basketball's Summer

The Streaks were very busy in the month of June. I got to watch some of their practices and many of their games. The team was exciting to watch both in practices and in games because of the energy they played each time. They didn't have any "down" times- they approached things with enthusiasm and energy. The Streaks played fast- they ran, they pressed and ran some more. In practice and games in games not only did the players have high energy- the coaches were high energy and enthusiastic. They had a great summer, and I have had a chance to ask Coach Demott about the summer. 

Massey- I know it has been a whirl wind of events for you this spring and summer. I know you went thru a period of time where you wanted to get started but you had to wait to interview, wait for a decision, wait to be approved- how hard was the waiting?

Demott- The wait period before my interview, a decision, and getting board approved seemed forever long. It was hard not putting any information out regarding camps, etc especially when the boys released theirs. I was getting a lot of questions about what was going on. I had to be patient and let the process happen. 

Knox vs UCLA Rivalry- It's Impact on Caitlin Clark

Woody shooting!

Dave Wood and I have shared an interest in basketball, and over time, we have turned it into a lucrative business. Our business is “The Shot Doctors.” Without going into details, let's just say there is a lot of money to be made working with NBA and WNBA players. To explain our business, I need to go back and give you a foundation of how we got to where we are today. 

Realize as I share the story, I am at an age where maybe some of my memories won't be completely accurate. Obviously I would have no intent to fabricate or deceive you- it will just be an age thing. 

For many people if you mention the "Knox College rivalry," they will think Knox vs Monmouth. Perhaps for Monmouth people, that is “the rivalry.” But for Knox, the rivalry has always been Knox vs UCLA. The rivalry was at its peak in the 1960's and 1970's when often Coach Wooden and Coach Knosher were battling for the same recruits. These were not recruiting battles, these were recruiting wars. The stories of competing Galesburg millionaires and Los Angeles millionaires trying to entice basketball players to their schools are legendary. 

Chad Thompson- Streaks Boys Basketball's Summer

Anyone who follows Illinois high school basketball is aware that there is the winter season, and then there is the June season. June is the time when coaches can evaluate players and evaluate new systems and strategies they may want to use in the winter. Teams can play against other competition and become aware of what works and what doesn't work. 

Like everyone, the Streaks boys basketball team was busy in June. I have asked Coach Thompson about how June went for the Streaks.

Massey- You’ve wrapped up your summer program. It was unfortunate that Thiel was shut down the entire month of June. What kind of adjustments did you have to make for that?

Thompson- Luckily, we were informed very early by Eric Matthews that Thiel was going to be shut down. He allowed us coaches to work together (Basketballs, Volleyball, and Football) to create a schedule that would work for everyone. We had to be very strict regarding time management and keeping everything on time to not interfere with other activities, but we made it work and it went as well as it could have. As a basketball team, we also received a week of help from CSC. Their coaches and AD allowed us to have varsity camp there for 4 days and that really helped avoid some major gym conflicts. 

Ray VanHootegem- Tradition Never Graduates

Galesburg High School's enrollment has gone down. When I started at GHS in 1974 we had 2200 in a three year high school, today there are only about 1200 students in a four year school. Athletically it makes it tougher and tougher for Silver Streaks sports teams to compete. 

Swimming seems to be the exception to this. Boys swimming has won the last two Sectional Championships, and the last two Western Big Six Championships. Girls swimming had a recent stretch where they won 8 straight Western Big Six Championships. 

I am far from an expert on swimming. My Grandma Massey used to scold us if we went swimming in the river in Wisconsin, and shared stories of the dangers of water. But as a coach, I am always intrigued by successful sports programs. What makes swimming so good?

Caitlin Clark- By The Numbers

WNBA is approaching the halfway mark to their season. I want to share some stats and thoughts on Caitlin Clark and the Fever at this point. 

Team Standings

Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, and Indiana Fever seem to be battling for the 7th and 8th spots, which get a team into the playoff. At this moment the standings are Atlanta and Chicago at 7-11, and Indiana at 8-13. The Olympic break is July 20. Over the next two weeks, the schedule favors Indiana with 3 games vs losing teams and 2 games vs winning teams. Chicago plays 1 losing and 3 winning, while Atlanta plays 2 losing and 4 winning. 

Scoring

Clark is averaging 16.0ppg, which ranks #16 in the WNBA. If she scores 2ppg more, she jumps up into the top 10 in the WNBA. 

Threes Pct. 

Leading three points shooter by percentage is Stefani Dolson (Wash) at 51%. Clark ranks #24 at 34%. While that may not seem impressive, there are a boat load of traditionally great shooters at low percentages this year- Plum 35%, Ionescu 34%, Loyd 29%, Breanna Stewart 25%. 

Hoosiers- Quotes & Lessons

This blog page is dedicated to Coach Dan Sullivan. One summer at Bucks Camp in Galesburg, we played Hoosiers non-stop for an entire week. Between Dan and the movie- I felt I got a PhD in basketball that week. Thanks Dan! It was always fun!

Hoosiers is my favorite sports movie. It is a coaches clinic. I am listing some of my favorite quotes from Hoosiers, and the "coaching lessons" from each quote. 

I would like to hear from you in the comments.

1- What is your favorite Hoosiers quote? Why?

2- What are your favorite quotes from other sports movies?

Coach Dale: “My practices aren’t designed for your enjoyment.”

Lesson: Practices need to be tougher than games.