Galesburg’s all-time best team? The debate is on! There are some who say the best team has to be 1959 with Bumpy Nixon, 1966 with Dale Kelley, 1968 with Jim Reinebach, 1998 with Joey Range. And some might claim 1997 with Molly Watson, 1999 with Sarah Larson, or 2000 with Megan Pacheco.
If you had picked 1959, 1966, 1968, 1997, 1998, 1999, or 2000- you are wrong! My pick for greatest season was 1935! It is probably safe to say that the 1935 Silver Streaks could not have competed with any of the other great teams I mentioned.
But if you read the title, I did not say the 1935 team was the best TEAM- I am saying they had the best SEASON. These are reasons that the 1934-5 season was the best season in GHS history-
Reason #1- On December 14, 1934 Galesburg played Springfield HS at the brand new Steele Gym. The dedication game had over 2,000 spectators. The remodeled Steele Gym had a full 84 foot basketball court. Previous to this night, Galesburg had to play all their “home games” at Lombard College, the old YMCA (off the parking lot across from the Presbyterian Church), or for big games at the Armory.
When Steele Gym opened on December 14, GHS had the second biggest gym in western Illinois, only smaller than Wharton Field House.
On this night, Galesburg defeated state power Springfield 21-17. Springfield was led by All-State center Herb Scheffler. It should be noted that his son, Bill Scheffler later in the 2000’s became the principal of GHS.
Reason #2- Before the 1934-5 season, GHS did not seem to have a nickname that stuck. This was an era when schools didn’t formally vote on a nickname, often the nicknames were something a sports writer attached to a team as they covered their games.
Galesburg was the Tigers early in its history, then they became the Red Devils. And in the 1928 and 1929 seasons, they were tabbed as the Volks after their coach, Eldon Volk. But as late as 1934 in the Reflector, they refer to the “Red Devils.”
Legend that a student by the name of Bob Hatfield named the team the Silver Streaks after the train. In 1934-1935, Silver Streaks stuck and has been with GHS since.
So the 1934-1935 GHS basketball team was the first Silver Streaks.
Reason #3- Galesburg lost their first game of the season on a road trip to Burlington, Iowa. The Silver Streaks did not lose again until a lose at State. The 1934-1935 Silver Streaks won 20 straight games during the season, and never once lost at Steele Gym.
Reason #4- The 1934-1935 team was good enough to beat a team twice in the State Tourney series. The 1959, 1966, 1968, 1998, and 1999 teams were not able to beat one team twice on their runs to State.
In the 1930’s up until 1942, teams who took second in the District or Regional would advance to the next tourney. So in 1934-5, Galesburg defeated Knoxville 26-9 in the District Championship game. And then a week later Galesburg defeated Knoxville 33-19 for the Regional championship.
Reason #5- Even though the Silver Streaks lost to Pekin in the Sweet 16 game at Champaign, it appears with their uptempo style, they were a favorite among fans. Evidently the nicknames of Streaks matched the team.
Reason #6- The Springfield team that Galesburg beat in the dedication game of Steele Gym went onto win the State championship. So the 1934-5 Silver Streaks beat the State Champs!
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