Coach Frank Adams
Boys- 1955- Elite 8 18-12 (State Rank-Unranked)
This is the first team in my “scrapbook.” My intent is to include all boys teams (staring with 1955) and all girls teams who made it to the “Sweet Sixteen.” In basketball “going to State” is considered making it to the Sweet Sixteen. The rationale was that originally 16 teams advanced to State.
In 1955 Galesburg made it to the Elite 8, where they lost an overtime game to Elgin. Elgin went onto take 2nd in State, losing to Rockford West in the Championship Game.
Galesburg started two seniors- Carroll Fay (5'10" Guard) and Gene Youngquist (6'4" Post). The three juniors in the starting lineup were Mike Owens (6'1" Guard), Russ Lind (6'1" Guard), and Bill Graning (6'5" Post).
Graning and Youngquist were typically the leading scorers but both Owens and Lind had nights they were the high scorers. The combination of Owens, Lind, and Fay gave the Streaks tough, quick defense.
Frank Adams came to Galesburg after coaching in Nebraska. This was Adams one, and only year at Galesburg. After the season was over, he went to coach at Knox College and John Thiel (his assistant) became the head coach.
The Streaks were still playing games at Steele Gym, located at the corner of Broad St. and Simmons St. This was the last year that the Illinois High School Association took 16 teams to play at Huff Gym. The Sweet Sixteen games (now Super-Sectionals) were played on Wednesday, and then the Elite 8 on Friday.
Owens, Graning, and Lind became the nucleus of the 1956 team that advanced to the Super-Sectional before losing to Rockford West in double OT.
Adams coached five years at Knox but had enough success that he was recognized as the "Knox coach of the first 100 years." Bill Graning followed him to Knox, where he graduated as the all-time leading scorer. Russ Lind played at U. of Colorado where he earned all Big 12 honors. Mike Owens played at Bradley on a team ranked in the top 10 in the U.S.
Tom Wilson- Article on Frank Adams
Galesburg Regional
Galesburg 112- Avon 50
Galesburg 59- Knoxville 46
Galesburg 58- Cambridge 41
Galesburg Sectional
Galesburg 66- Bushnell-Prairie City 40
Galesburg 85- Augusta 52
Huff Gym- State Finals
Galesburg 77- Paris 66
Elgin 66- Galesburg 60 (OT)
Galesburg Roster
Carroll Fay, Bill Graning, Russ Lind, Mike Owens, Gene Youngquist, Harry Reece, Gene Mendez, Steele, Fay, Erickson, Junkin
Head Coach- Frank Adams
Assistant- John Thiel
(This scrapbook page is under construction. The roster is incomplete, there are only few pictures, no clippings. If you have information, email them to Evan Massey at emass70@yahoo.com)
The Streaks Scrapbook is in process of putting together information on every girls and boys basketball team who “went to State.” If you have any picture or info to add to this page- send them to Evan Massey at emass70@yahoo.com
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