Talking with Jimmy: What If They Had Three Point Arc Earlier?

The three point shot was instituted by the IHSA in 1987. Jay Redfern did several articles ahead of the 1987-8 season where he asked people what they thought the impact of the three point shot would be on basketball. 

Showing my inability to see into the future, I said that I thought the only time it would have impact was on end of quarter desperation shots. By 2011, the Streaks girls set a National Record making 397 threes in a season. 

Leave to a ref to understand the game better. Dave Hasley told Redfern the three point line was going to eliminate congestion inside, and allow teams to come from behind easier. 

In the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, the three was seldom used. Ted Trueblood’s FS team took a grand total of 12 threes in 18 games. 

So while players like Jason Shay, Tommy Warner, and Johnny Watson had a three point line, the shot just wasn’t taken as much as today. The same would be true for Tiffany Sibley, Molly Watson, and Ami Pendry on the girls side. 

Galesburg girls ran the Grinnell System in 2007-2011. During that time, Galesburg set a National Record making 397 threes in a season, and Jess Howard a State record making 139 threes in a season. The Streaks hit over 20 threes in five games, and even took 72 three attempts in one game. But that approach is an outlier. 

In the last 20 years, shooting threes has taken off. In 2023-4 season, with women’s college teams 34% of their shots were threes, for men’s college 39% were threes, and in the NBA 40% threes. The NBA champs that year, the Celtics, took 47% of their shots as threes. Basketball has become a different game. 

WNBA: Houston, We’ve Got a Problem

The Fever lost tonight. They had an impressive run in the play-offs. Coach White did a tremendous job. 

After Coach Reeves was levied a huge fine. Both Coach White and Coach Hammon were fined $1,000 each for publicly expressing support for Reeves. 

Streaks Basketball Alums: Mark Thiel 1973

What were some of your favorite classes/teachers at GHS?

Math & Government with Richard Porter

HOF Insights: Effective Lower Level Coaches

This Week’s Question- What can a lower level coach do to make the program stronger? What are examples of both little and big things a lower level can do to help your program and help you as a head coach? What responsibilities did you give and expect from assistants and lower coaches? What did you have assistants do during games?

Inside the Huddle: Up 3, Inbounding the Ball, 4 Seconds to Go

Situation- They just scored but you are up 3 points. You just took a time out with 4 seconds to go. You will have ball on baseline at far end from your goal, you must inbounds, no time outs left. What do you do to inbounds the ball? 

Fever & Mercury Win, WNBA Loses

 

Coach of Year

I know Steph White was not even mentioned for COY, and I recognize that Natalie Nikase of GS would deserve it for the regular season. If the voting came later, after the play-offs, it would have been hard to not consider Coach White. 

White as definitely shored up the Fever defense from a year ago. And the management of the team thru injuries has been spectacular. 

I have not always been a fan of her subbing patterns but her subbing in the play-offs has shown she knows her team. She is not afraid to sit players and not afraid to play players. 

1910 Illinois Basketball State Tourney

 

 

Bloomington- State Champs- 1910

Sitting on the Patio with Michael Hanlon

In athletics, there are so many people who are crucial to the success of a team, but their efforts go unrecognized. In football, the lineman throws the key blocks, the running back sprints thru and scores the touchdown. The running back is interviewed and gets their picture in the paper. 

In basketball, the 12th man on a team works in practice and prepares the starters for the big game but then never gets into the game. The 12th man’s execution of the scout offense was crucial for the success, but they never get mentioned on the radio and seldom is anything written about them. 

In sports and in life, a team, an organization, and a business’s success rely on individuals filling all sorts of roles. And society needs people who are willing to serve others with no concern for glory or recognition. 

My neighbor and friend, Michael Hanlon is one of those selfless individuals who has always served others. As a high school student, he was a manager for the boys varsity basketball team. I decided it is time for Michael to have some light shined on him, so I asked him if he would talk to me so that I could do a blog post on him. 

X/O’s: Changing Up Your Ball Screen Offense

Sometimes an opponent makes it hard to run your normal ball screen actions- middle ball screens, side ball screens, and drag screens. 

Defenses may disrupt the ball screens with hard hedges, trapping, or aggressive switching. All three of these actions can put quick, aggressive pressure on the dribbler that makes it hard for them to continue their dribble and makes it difficult to make a pass to the screener who can be rolling or popping. 

Massey Quiz #13: What Were These Places?

There are fifteen pictures taken around Galesburg. 

In the “old days”, they were businesses, schools, or city/county buildings. 

You are being asked what these places were in the “old days.” 

Post your score in comments. 

Galesburg HS Nicknames: Red Devils, Tigers, and Silver Streaks

When we think of Galesburg High School sports teams, we think of the GALESBURG SILVER STREAKS. There is pride in the nickname Silver Streaks. It is unique and it is fitting with our connection with the railroad. 

Galesburg sports teams have not always been called the Silver Streaks. GHS teams have gone by a variety of nicknames thru time- Red Devils, Tigers, Tiger Cubs, Volks, and Ponies. 

If you are proud of the “Silver Streaks”, you will have even more pride in the nickname when you hear how Galesburg became the Silver Streaks. 

HOF Insights: Choosing a System & Then How Much Do You Change It Over Time?

This Week’s Question-  Why did you choose the offensive or defensive systems that you used? Players change from year to year, how did changes in players impact your system? Did you stick with your system or did you make changes to your system? And finally, in the years you coached, how much did your system change thru the years? 

Inside the Huddle: Tie Game, Opponent 2 FT’s, 7 Seconds Left

Situation- The other team is going to the ft line to shoot 2 shots in a tie game, 7 seconds to go, you have 1 time out left. Do you use your time out? If so, when do you use it? How do you play out the last shot?

Streaks Basketball Alum: Angie Galyean Klapp- 1997

What were some of your favorite classes/teachers at GHS?

Advanced Chemistry - Mr Spencer. I love math and enjoyed all my math classes. 

Streak Basketball Alums: Scott Kelley 1976

What was your favorite class (classes), favorite teacher (teachers)?

I had so many good teachers during my GHS years. Some of my favorites include Mrs. Dunn (sophomore year Geometry), Mr. Cochran (sophomore year Biology), Coach Bruington (sophomore year P.E.), Mr. Patterson and Mr. Devore (junior and senior year American Studies), Madame Shelly (junior and senior year French) and Miss Gates (senior year Calculus). Great teachers and great classmates made for an excellent academic experience at GHS.

1952 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney- Sweet 16

X/O’s- Screen The Screener Action w/ Counter

Everyone runs some form of a screen the screener action. This is a common screen action out of a horns set. Some people run it this way, and other run it by having #4 set a fade screen for #1- then throwing a skip pass. 

Bell Bottoms, Basketballs, and Blackboards: My Rookie Year 1974-1975

The GHS Class of ‘75 is celebrating their 50th reunion this weekend. Their last year of high school was my first year of teaching and coaching. 

1974 was an exciting year for me. I graduated from Knox College, and was ready to start teaching and coaching. It was a different era, there was a surplus of teachers. I could not find a teaching job. 

I applied at Dunlap High School for a social studies position they had, but never heard back. I interviewed at Aledo, but they were looking for an assistant football coach. I interviewed at Bartonville for a JH position, but didn't make the cut. 

Summer rolled around, and I got hired to work at Butler Manufacturing in Galesburg. It was good money. I started the day shift then moved to 2nd shift which was more money, then to third shift and was making even more. It was a great summer job.

Fever Upset Dream: Breaking It Down

The Fever hung around and hung around, until they won the game. The 87-85 win sends the Fever into a Sunday 2:00pm matchup with the Aces in the WNBA semi-finals on ABC. 

Massey Quiz #12- 10 Questions about Galesburg Streets

Today’s quiz is looking at streets in Galesburg. The quiz is designed to celebrate how wonderful Galesburg is, and test your knowledge of our community. Enjoy and have fun!!

The answers are at the end of the quiz. Keep track of your score and read exactly what your score indicates. If you would like- share your score on the Facebook or Massey Blog under the comments. 

C.C. Van Dyke: The Enduring Legacy of Galesburg’s Coaching Icon

The 1944 Reflector described the arrival of C.C. Van Dyke to GHS in this way, “From Waverly, Iowa, came a new football coach, C.C. Van Dyke, and with him a new style of play introduced, a style marked with speed and deception, power and ease.”

C.C. Van Dyke was a 1924 graduate of Kewanee Wethersfield High School. He attended the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He graduated from Illinois in 1928, and got his master’s degree from New York University in 1935. 

Inside the Huddle Down 2 with 12 Seconds to Go- Part 2

 

This Week’s Question: Your team has the ball out of bounds on the sideline with 12 seconds to go in the game. You are down 2 points. Tell me what you will do.

WNBA- Rookie of Year Comparisons

This was a chart put together to compare Caitlin Clark and Paige Buecker- based on what each did in their rookie seasons. 

Hall of Fame Insights- Head Coach as a Leader

This Weeks Topic: The Head Coach as a Leader-Looking back, what do you consider the most crucial elements of effective leadership for a head coach with your staff? How did you try to empower your staff and foster cohesion in the staff? Can you recall specific instances where you “let go” some of your power and an assistant impacted a game or season?

ATO Podcast with Mike Jagacki’s Locked on Defense: Unlocking Next-Level Defense

Todd Zasadil and Jon Palicki have done it again in their After the Timeout Podcast. In their latest episode, they talked with Mike Jagacki about developing individual and team defense. 

At this time of year, coaches have a checklist of things they want to study before the start of the season. Just as we want the players to “up their game,” coaches need to “up their game” as well. 

As a coach, if you want to make your players better defenders, and you want to make your team better defensively— this is a MUST listen podcast for you. 

Mike Jagacki is the author of the books- Locked On Defense, and The Locked On Program. 

My suggestion is that you make sure that you have a notepad as you listen to the podcast. He has great nuggets to offer. And I will be shocked after listening to the podcast if you don’t order his books to continue a dive into defense. 

Here are some of the nuggets from Coach Jagacki….

Streaks Basketball Alum: Ami Pendry Sinnott 1996

What were your favorite classes/teachers at GHS?

My favorite class in high school was hands down outdoor living with Mr. Gonzalez.  He taught us how to ice fish and he bribed us with sledding when we were done with ice fishing. We even went to the shooting range to shoot guns, under the supervision of Galesburg PD. 

I also really enjoyed 3rd semester chemistry that was taught by Mr. Spencer. In this class you were given a solution and you had to do a series of tests to figure out the elements that was in the solution. My favorite part was the freedom we had when it came to trying to figure out the solution.  Students would get the same answer but take different paths to get there.

Inside the Huddle: Down 2 with 12 Seconds to Go- Part 1

This Week’s Question: Your team has the ball out of bounds on the sideline with 12 seconds to go in the game. You are down 2 points. Tell me what you will do. 

Streaks Basketball Alums- Mark Makeever 1980

What were some of your favorite classes/teachers?

I liked most of my classes and teachers. Some teachers that stood out were Mr. Hood, Coach Massey, Coach Johns, and Miss McKenzie 

What are some of your favorite memories from GHS?

Definitely basketball season brings back great memories. To me just being a Silver Streak was amazing! Then starting my senior year on a good team was a dream come true. Playing in front of huge crowds at home and on the road in Western Big 6. Doesn’t get much better. Beating Quincy and breaking their long conference win streak at home is one of my favorite playing career memories ever. Winning Illinois state classic was great also. Going to football games was also fun. Also open campus lunch and going to mall to eat.

1981 Girls Basketball- Class A Sweet 16

First- Chicago Christian

1950’s- Illinois HS Coaching Legends Spotted in Galesburg

In 1957, Ernie Eveland (Paris) and Duster Thomas (Pinckneyville) were show sitting in the lobby of Galesburg’s Custer Hotel. The Custer was in downtown Galesburg 3 blocks from Galesburg High School. Eveland and Thomas were considered legends in Illinois HS basketball at this time. They had brought their teams to Galesburg to play vs. the Silver Streaks. 

Galesburg Lockeroom- Streaks Pride & Tradition

In basketball, it is very important to have a designated locker room. You want a place to post schedules, stats, goals, and motivational information. In addition, you want a place to be able to watch game film. Unlike some other sports, in basketball you are going to be in a locker room for pre-game, half-time, and post game. 

For many years, Galesburg boys basketball had a designated meeting area and lockeroom. It existed back in the early 1970’s. Girls finally got a designated locker room in the early 1990’s. 

WNBA Play-Offs Outlook

WNBA play-offs get started this Sunday. The pairings are: 

#1- Minnesota vs. #8 Golden State

#4- Phoenix vs #5 New York

#3- Atlanta vs #6 Indiana

#2- Las Vegas vs #7 Seattle

Senior Spotlight: Streaks Fall Athletes

I wanted to shine some light on Galesburg High School’s senior Fall athletes. I reached out to all the GHS seniors out for a Fall sport to give us some insight into school, sports, and life.