Silver Streaks Vintage Shirts

 

Silver Streaks basketball player, Scott Shaver is wearing his 1976 Elite shirt.

Patrick Hanlon’s sons in their 1998 Streaks 2nd in State shirts- how cool is that!!! 

As a salute to Jimmie Carr, Coach Massey is wearing the 1959 Third in State shirt. 

Coaches’ Corner- John Wooden’s Advice- “Just 7”

One of my greatest thrills as a coach was to go to coaching clinics to hear legendary coaches share their “secrets.” I had the opportunity to hear Al McGuire, Dean Smith, Roy Williams, Geno Auriemma, Hubie Brown, Jim Valvano, and many others. 

One of the great experiences was to be able to listen to John Wooden share the UCLA offense, their press, and his organization. 

Talking with Jimmie: Illinois HS Coaching Legends

Jimmie Carr was a great player for the 1959 Silver Streaks. He spent over 5 decades covering Streaks basketball on the radio. During that time, he watched some legendary coaches and their teams take on Galesburg. Not only did Jimmie have a chance to watch these opposing coaches and their teams, he had the opportunity to talk with these coaches. 

Our conversation was about these legendary coaches. Jimmie shares some of his insights from watching them in action. 

Fighting Illini- Ann Henderson & Bonny Apsey

Silver Streaks greats, Ann Henderson and Bonny Apsey both went from GHS to the University of Illinois. 

WB6 Update- Boys Basketball Standings & Leaders Thru Jan 30

Here are the WB6 Boys Basketball Standings and Leaders thru Jan. 30. 

HOF Insights- Keeping Teams Fresh and Enthusiastic

How did you balance wanting to get things in and keep intensity while still having your teams stay fresh and enthusiastic as the season dragged on?

WB6 Update- Girls Basketball Standings & Leaders thru Jan 29

This is a look at the WB6 Standings and Individual Leaders thru Jan. 29. 

AP Rankings- Illinois Boys/Girls HS Basketball (Jan 28)

AP Rankings for Illinois Boys/Girls Basketball came out on Jan. 28. Good to see that there are more voters in all of the classes. 

Girls 1A-

* Deer Creek-Mackinaw remains #1. 

* Hats off to A-Town, who comes in at #7 with 17-5 record. They have obviously been willing to play a challenging scheduled. 

* Riverdale at 22-3 should be getting votes.

Girls 2A-

* Effingham has had many great teams that just missed going to State in 3A. They are ranked #4 in 2A with 22-2 record. 

Girls 3A-

* Central Illinois still dominates- 1-Washington, 2-Galesburg, 4-Morton, 6-Dixon, 8-Peoria ND, 13-Metamora. 

Athletes’ Insights:- Snow Days, Road Trips, Inspiration

 

This week the athletes share feelings about the new athletic facility at Wicall, snow days, sports travel experiences, and inspirational teammates. 

Massey Quiz #31: Presidents from 1900 thru 2025

This week’s quiz was put together by Jay Barshinger. It is designed to test your knowledge of U.S. Presidents from 1900 thru 2025. Even if you don’t score well, it will give you some good trivia questions for the future!!

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. 

GHS Legends Share Secrets of the Streaks 2-1-2 Offense

1958-1959 Silver Streaks

In 1970, while playing basketball for Savanna HS, we were playing Sterling Newman. The Comets came down the floor in the second half, and they yelled,”Streak.” Their “Streak” offense meant they were going to get into a 2-1-2 offense. 

Through the years talking to Streaks players from the Thiel era, they always talk about the “2-1-2 offense.” This past year, I have had a chance to talk with several former Streaks about the 2-1-2 offense. 

The group I was able to talk to were certainly Streaks legends- Jimmie Carr, Frank Dexter, Dale Kelley, Barry Swanson, Dave Wood, and Zack Thiel. They were able to share the nuances of the offense and where they thought the 2-1-2 fit into the total Thiel system. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Lisa Williams 1986

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Lisa Williams of the GHS’s Class of 1986. 

Coaches’ Corner: Kansas Side OB Last Shot

 

Everyone uses Brad Steven’s late Side OB for a last shot. This is Kansas’ version of the same Side OB with a different look. 

1961 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

State Champions- Collinsville

Coaches’ Corner- Fake Handoff

All coaches look for simple actions that may create a layup. You want to find an action where if the defense breaks down just once in a game, you can get a layup. Maybe it is a backdoor set, a backscreen, or a slip play. 

One action everybody should have in their playbook is a FAKE HANDOFF action. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Lee Woolley 1981

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Lee Woolley a Galesburg High School Class of 1981 graduate. 

1980 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Benton

2nd in State- Sidell

3rd in State- Lemont

4th in State- Carlinville

Coaches’ Corner- Bob Anderson on Maximizing Your Star

Bob Anderson is the legendary, HOF coach at Williamsfield. Despite its small enrollment, Williamsfield under Anderson had success for decades. Part of the success was his ability to maximize the “star player.” The following are Coach Anderson’s thoughts on maximizing the star…

Basketball Connection: Streaks Who Played At Knox College

Ziggy Hamblin (2nd from left) on 1914 Elite 8 Streaks team. 

According to my research, 26 Galesburg Silver Streaks have gone on to play basketball at Knox College. 22 men and 9 women played for both Galesburg HS and Knox College. (To make the list complete, please add missing names in the comments.)

Massey Sports Quiz #6- 100 Streaks Players

This is the ultimate test to see if you are really a Streaks basketball super-fan. I have put up 100 pictures of former Galesburg girls and boys basketball players and coaches.  This is NOT intended to be a list of the best players. I just tried to collect pictures of players from different decades- some famous and some not as famous. 

If you want to just do Streaks boys basketball, answer only the odd questions. If you can answer 42, you are a Streaks Boys Basketball Super-Fan. 

If you want to just do Streaks girls basketball, answer only the even questions. If you can answer 45, you are a Streaks Girls Basketball Super-Fan! 

If you want to do both boys and girls basketball, answer all 100 questions. If you can answer 80 of the 100, you are a Streaks Basketball Super-Fan!!

My money is on Jimmie Carr for first place, and Dave Wood for second place. Have fun- once done- in comments type in your score and type in your name!!

#1

1958 Streaks- Lose in Sectional to Fulton

Coaches’ Corner: Backdoor Ideas

Bob Anderson

 I didn’t have any back cut or backdoor plays, but we drilled on backdoor cuts and passes daily. 

WB6 Update- Girls/Boys Basketball Standings & Leaders thru Jan 22

The following is the WB6 Girls/Boys Basketball Standings & Individual Leaders thru Jan 22. Girls listed first, Boys listed second.

AP Rankings- Illinois HS Basketball- Jan 21

This week’s AP Rankings were done by 10-11 voters in each of the four boys classes. In girls, 7 voters ranked 2A, while the other three classes were ranked by ONLY 4 voters. 

Massey Quiz #30- Basketball Players and Their Nicknames

This is a quiz testing your knowledge of famous basketball players and their nicknames. I will give you a nickname and you tell me the player’s actual name. 

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. 

HOF Insights- Approach to Big Games

What was your approach to “big games” during the regular season? Did you add things for these games? Did you tend to be more aggressive in your in-game decisions or play more conservatively? Did you pump up the team to make them aware it was a “big game” or did you treat it like “just another game?”

Streaks Alumni Profile: Mickey Rodriguez 2011

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Mickey Rodriguez from the Galesburg High School’s Class of 2011.

Circus Comes to Knox

In 2004, the headline of the sports page of the Register-Mail was, “Circus Comes to Town.” Writer, Jay Redfern then started his article with the following, “Fasten your seat belts. College basketball’s biggest thrill ride is coming to town.”

Coaches’ Corner: Zoom with Post Cross Screen

 

This is a quick way to get into a Zoom Action off a horns set. It is setting up a guard-post cross screen after the DHO. 

1960 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

State Champions- Chicago Marshall

Streaks Alumni Profile- Kurt Bell 1981

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Kurt Bell from the GHS Class of 1981. 

Memorabilia- Streaks Girls Basketball

This is a collection of memorabilia from Galesburg Silver Streaks Girls Basketball thru the years. 

To add to the collection, take pictures of your item and send them to emass70@yahoo.com  If it is a program, please take pictures of front and back of scorecards. If it is a booklet, take all the pages. Please share the date if possible!! 

1990 Illinois Class AA Girls Basketball State Tourney

State Champions- Chicago Marshall

Coaches’ Corner- Zoom into Elevator

This is a simple way to get into a zoom action that not only has the usual zoom options but has an elevator screen for a shooter at the end of it. 

Looking Back- Galesburg’s Neighborhood Groceries

I grew up in Savanna, Illinois in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Savanna was a small town where you didn’t worry about locking the doors to your house. And it was an era where in grade school it was considered safe to walk home from school, even though it was about a mile walk. 

Between my Avenue School and my house, there were three neighborhood groceries. If you had extra change, you would always stop for some baseball cards, a pop, or a candy bar. Everything was from a penny to a dime. 

As I drive around Galesburg, I see buildings that clearly had to be “neighborhood groceries.” And I hear people who grew up in Galesburg talking about Nelson’s, Shott’s, Dickerson’s, and many more.

Memorabilia- Streaks Boys Basketball

This is a collection of memorabilia from Galesburg Silver Streaks Boys Basketball thru the years. 

To add to the collection, take pictures of your item and send them to emass70@yahoo.com  If it is a program, please take pictures of front and back of scorecards. If it is a booklet, take all the pages. Please share the date if possible!! 

Trusting Yourself in the Big Game

Years ago, I remember listening to a post-game interview with the Bull’s Joakim Noah. The Bulls has lost the opening game of the play-offs. 

Joakim Noah commented on the number of turnovers the Bulls had in the game, and especially the number of turnovers they had at the beginning of the game. His analysis,”We tried to make too many great passes and tried to make too many great plays." 

Sadly, this can be the approach of teams in the “big games.” They don’t trust their game, they think they need something special. 

Massey Quiz #29- People of Galesburg

I have fifteen Galesburg pictures of the past and present. There may be pictures of places, people, monuments, parts of buildings, and even more. 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. 

1945 Legendary Phog Allen Addresses Streaks Elite 8 Team

Coach Phog Allen

When I think of famous people from Kansas University coming to Galesburg, I immediately think about George Burgland and Brad Bennewitz. When I was going thru old newspapers, I was surprised to find out another Jayhawk,  just as famous as George and Brad came to Galesburg in 1945.