Massey Retirement Party- “Team Picture”

 This is the “team picture” from my retirement party. We had players from 1978 and 2024. From Washington DC, Colorado, Chicago, St.Louis, and Carbondale- thanks for coming back. Looking at this picture- we could put together a pretty good team with this group of players!!

Massey Retirement Party

It was a great night! Thanks for everybody who came out to make tonight a special night. It was so good to see all of you and to share wonderful memories! I hope all of your experiences with Streaks basketball were as special for you as they were for me. Thanks for coming!!

Las Vegas Aces- Each Get $100k Sponsorships

 

How cool is this? The Ace players are surprised in the lockeroom to find out that they are each getting $100k. This article explains it, but the best past is to scroll down and watch the video of when the players got the news!

Aces Get $100k Each

IBCA Ceremony- Recognizing 1,000 Wins

 

This is ceremony at the IBCA night. The IBCA was recognizing my 1,000th win and my retirement. 

Massey Retirement- WQAD

 

This is clip from WQAD’s coverage of my retirement.

1,000th Win- WQAD

 

These are clips from WQAD’s coverage of my 1000th win at UTHS in December, 2024.

1,000th Win- KWQC

 

These are clips from KWQC covering my 1,000th win vs UTHS in December of 2024.

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.

Steve Bryant- UCLA Shirt & Loyola Upset

Front of UCLA t-shirt

Normally on Facebook I do “T-Shirt Tuesdays.” Today’s t-shirt has a long story that needs to be told. I received this t-shirt from Steve and Jeanine Bryant many years ago. Steve’s son was a grad student at UCLA, and the Bryants happened to visit when John Wooden was doing autographs at the UCLA Bookstore. Knowing I was a big John Wooden fan, Steve got me an autographed John Wooden t-shirt. For about 30 years, Steve and Jeanine did that kind of thing for me, and did that kind of thing for the Streaks girls basketball program.

Back with John Wooden’s autograph

Just this past year I asked Steve how he became such a big Streaks girls basketball fan. It all started when Steve was hired to be custodian of Wicall Gym. He said, “I was so impressed with how your girls came out for practice and immediately went to work. They didn’t stand around, mess around, or talk- they just got to work.” We have always done some form of “Prepractice Routine” when we come on the floor- shooting and ball handling. We won Steve over. 

All-Time Best Illinois Boys Basketball Players

George Mikan

 The Basketball Museum of Illinois compiled a list of greatest Illinois basketball players. To find the entire list, go to Facebook and find the Basketball Museum of Illinois. 

It should be noted that their criteria is that these are the players who had the best professional careers. With lists like this, no one ever agrees on what criteria should be used and then who should be on each list. It is just a way of creating conversation about the wonderful history of Illinois basketball!!!

Top 25 Players

1- George Mikan

2- Kevin Garnett

3- Dwayne Wade

4- Isiah Thomas

Julia Robinson- Senior Reflection

 Julia Robinson was a valuable member of the varsity as both a junior and senior. Her value did not always show up in the box score. Her teammates and her coaches knew how valuable she was to us. Julia never took off a practice and never took off a drill. Julia is one of the "all-in" kind of people- about everything!

Julia came to every practice with high energy, enthusiasm, and competitiveness. Her approach made her team a better team. In practice, none of the starting group liked to have Julia guard them. Julia made it very tough on them in practice. It made the games much easier for the starters because the person guarding them did not play as hard as Julia had in practice. 

Kiarra Kilgore- GHS All-Time Scoring Leader

Kiarra Kilgore & Joey Range
GHS All-Time Leading Scorers

Kiarra finishes with 1986

Win 998- KWQC

This is KWQC talking to Streaks after win #998.

Jay Redfern- WGIL- Last Season

(Click on the second line of each set- it will take you to the spot.)

Podcast with Jay Redfern and Lexi Demott

Podcast- Redfern and Demott

Keeping It in The Familly

Demott Hired

Thanks You Galesburg, Thank You Players

Thank You Galesburg

Caitlin Clark Effect?

 Caitlin Clark has had a huge impact on women’s college basketball this past year. Iowa sold out all of their games going into the 2023-4 season, and had over 50,000 fans attend an outdoor game at Kinnick Stadium. It was exciting to see the impact.

Fans can be both rabid and irrational. This past year there were people who were either critics or haters of Caitlyn Clark. For any of us who have followed sports, this should have been predictable. Why did many hate the Yankees- they won. Why can’t some people admire Lebron James’ game- they don’t want anyone saying he is better than Michael. I could go on and on. People like it when their team wins, but hate it when their rival wins.

During the Final Four, in the alternative broadcast both Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart, were both outspoken in their criticism of Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. It would be legitimate to say there are WNBA players who are better than Clark, so I am sure Taurasi and Stewart were sensitive about how much Clark was built up, but there “UConn” pride was coming thru. Just as some think complimenting LeBron tarnishes Michael’s reputation, the UConn players seemed sensitive to Clark and Iowa’s attention, as if it was an attack on UConn’s history. 

To set the record straight, UConn had a more impressive run than Iowa. UConn’s run went on for decades. UConn won multiple titles. UConn had numerous GOATS play for them thru the last couple decades. But the UConn critics, the LSU fans, and the South Carolina fans are all missing the point. Celebrating what Clark and Iowa achieved is not meant as an attack on any of those teams or any of those legacies. Even a Badger fan got swept up in impact Clark and Iowa had on college basketball- we had not seen this on any level in women’s sports before.

Kara Lawson: Handle Hard Better

Kara Lawson played for Pat Summit, and is coach at Duke. Her talk about handling hard is fantastic. Her message, great things in life are going to be hard. 

Mastering a skill in practice will be hard.

Competing in a game will be hard.

Winning a conference title will be hard.

Winning a Regional will be hard. 

Expect it to be hard and prepare yourself to handle hard. Championship players want things to be hard. Championship players know they have prepared themselves to be tougher than their opponent. Championship players know they are prepared to be tough when things are hard!!

1961 Small Town America

Savanna High School

The 1960’s were a great time for Savanna, Illinois. According to the 1960 U.S. Census, Savanna’s population was 4,900 with 5,700 in Savanna Township. The Army Depot and the two railroad companies supplied employment. New houses were going up, and a new high school had just been completed in the late ‘50’s. Savanna was a “big small-town” that was growing.

The neighborhood was an important social entity. Baby boom children filled neighborhoods so there were always kids to play with. If your dog got loose, a neighbor down the street would bring them back. You didn’t lock your doors, so if you went to the Davis’ you knocked, didn’t wait for an answer, you just opened the door and went in. And even in grade school, it was safe to walk a mile home from school, and on the walk there were 3 “neighborhood groceries” to stop and get candy or baseball cards. 

European Basketball- Whole World of Basketball Out There

Coach Shiltz- State Trophy

It is obvious that if a coach is going to be successful, they really have to study the game. Basketball is an evolving sport. If you stick with what you learned 10 years ago or even 10 months ago, basketball will pass you up quickly. The casual "coach" who coaches weekends with youth basketball or the fan who watches games on TV have no idea of the work high school and college coaches put in as students of the game. Coaches can learn by attending clinics, subscribing to virtual clinics, reading articles, joining coach's groups on Facebook, and watching tons of film.

Justin Shiltz has been successful everywhere he has coached. In the 15-20 years that I have known him professionally, it is amazing how much he has evolved, changed, and grown as a coach. Several summers ago, he came to Galesburg in the summer with his team for our summer league. I had an opportunity to talk basketball with him. I was struck by how invested he was watching and learning from European basketball. Since then I have read more and tried to learn more about European basketball. It is clear that offensively a lot of what is going on now in American basketball has European routes.

Get Rid of the Blue Stuff

Ernie Broglio sent from Cards to Cubs

 You know that old guy you run into at the grocery store who starts talking to you? You are ready to pick a couple items and get home but the guy start telling you some story and you are still there 20 minutes later. Today as I write, I am that guy. The only difference is with the blog you can click and go back to whatever you were doing. 

HOF’er Lou Brock sent from Cubs to Cards

My mom always said to be careful in who you look to for inspiration. So I am embarrassed to say that my inspiration for writing this today was Don O’Brien. For those of you unfamiliar with Don. He grew up in Galesburg and has spent most of his adult life in Quincy. Hard to believe anyone could get a GHS education and make such a horrible mistake as to choose to live in Quincy. I tell people that Don was the “player to be named later” in the trade for Bumpy Nixon. Galesburg got Bumpy and many wins, Quincy later got Don. So yes, Quincy should view Don as their Ernie Broglio. For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about- google Broglio for Lou Brock trade.

Shanell (Jackson) Lightfoot- Advice for Off-Season

Shanell at Redbird Arena 2001

Shanell (Jackson) Lightfoot was a key player on the 2001 Streaks, who finished 4th in the State. In 2011 I asked her what advice she would give players for the off-season. Her response is something every player should read, reread, and tape up in their room!!

1, Don't ever think that you are guaranteed a spot.

2. Remain humble about the work your doing on your own because your improvements will be noticed by others.

3. Know that the off-season is the time to get better and that you may not be comfortable shooting 3s or pulling up for a jump shot at the beginning of the spring/summer, but if you work hard on a few things consistently, they will become habit and your hard work will pay off.

4. If it were easy, everyone would do it. So on those days when you're not really in the mood to go workout on your own, remember how it felt to lose in that last game of the season. Trust me, it will pay off.

Hold Your Follow Thru

Everybody has gotten so excited about Caitlyn Clark's "logo threes." Now that I am retired from coaching, I am more focused on working on my own game. So I have been in the driveway working on my version of the logo three. All shooting involves is three things:

1- Get the ball into your shooting pocket.

2- Keep your eye on the rim.

3- Hold you follow thru.

Jim Wyman’s Blog on Galesburg Basketball

 

Jim Wyman was an announcer for Galesburg radio back in the 1970’s when I first came to Galesburg and was a boys basketball assistant. Jim came back and was announcer on radio again in the 2000’s- this time covering girls basketball. At the time, Jim was a retired English teacher from Palatine Fremd. I always enjoyed conversations with Jim. Jim was a blogger too. This is a blog he wrote about me. 

Jim Wyman’s Blog

Welcome to Coach Demott

 

This is a video from players and coaches wishing Coach Demott congratulations and good luck!!

Thank You Galesburg- Thank You Players

John Thiel Gym

 I was blessed to teach and coach at Galesburg High School. Being the Galesburg Girls Basketball Coach was the best basketball coaching job in Illinois. No place in Illinois can match the atmosphere of Thiel Gym for a girls basketball game on a Thursday night. No place can match the community support given to girls basketball in Galesburg. 

The past couple months have been happy but have also been emotional. People have been so nice to me.  Last week I was made aware there was a movement to name the basketball court in John Thiel Gym, the Massey Court. I have to admit that over the past few days as I have reflected on this tremendous honor, it has brought tears to my eyes. 

Coach Demott- The Streaks Are Proud of You

From Coach Massey

As a coach, you always hope your players will connect with each other, and feel being part of the team is special. Over the last month, I have NEVER been so proud of the Streaks players. I have gotten dozens and dozens of texts from former Streaks, some from players from the 1980's and 1990's. I have been stopped by former players in the grocery store, and at school been questioned by present Streaks players. All of them wanting to know- "What is going on? Are they going to hire Lexi?" The reason that I have been so proud is that it is clear to me that the questions and the concerns were because they viewed Lexi as their teammate. They may have played in 1996 or they may have played in 2024, it didn't matter, all of them felt connected. You sent me a message- you are all teammates. Being a Streak meant something to you, and it has become clear to me over the last month that you wanted one of your teammates to be in charge of the program. 

Former players, you can be sure you have not heard the last from me. From time to time, expect me to be calling you out when it is time for you to step up to support the program and to support your teammate- Coach Demott. 

From Sara Wood (1996)

Congratulations Lexi on being named Head Coach of the Galesburg Silver Streaks Girls Basketball Program. I cannot think of a better person to take the reins and continue leading this historic program. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and you have demonstrated the ability to not only lead but also inspire. Having once been in the position of the players that you coach has given you a different perspective that will be invaluable on this coaching journey. Know that you have the support of former players and coaches, and we are here if you need anything!

 PLAY HARD, PLAY TOGETHER, SILVER STREAKS!

Woody

Sara Wood class of 1996