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Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Carl Sandburg- Captain of the 1900 Lombard Basketball Team
































Most have heard of Carl Sandburg, the famous poet and biographer. The community has honored Sandburg with a statue on the town square, named the community college in his honor, and named one of the major streets after him. In 1900, Carl was famous at Lombard College for another skill. He was one of the stars of the Olives basketball team.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Shanell (Jackson) Lightfoot 2001

















Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Shanell (Jackson) Lightfoot from the GHS Class of 2001.

Knox vs UCLA Rivalry- It's Impact on Caitlin Clark

Woody shooting!























Dave Wood and I have shared an interest in basketball, and over time, we have turned it into a lucrative business. Our business is “The Shot Doctors.” Without going into details, let's just say there is a lot of money to be made working with NBA and WNBA players. To explain our business, I need to go back and give you a foundation of how we got to where we are today. 

Realize as I share the story, I am at an age where maybe some of my memories won't be completely accurate. Obviously I would have no intent to fabricate or deceive you- it will just be an age thing. 

For many people if you mention the "Knox College rivalry," they will think Knox vs Monmouth. Perhaps for Monmouth people, that is “the rivalry.” But for Knox, the rivalry has always been Knox vs UCLA. The rivalry was at its peak in the 1960's and 1970's when often Coach Wooden and Coach Knosher were battling for the same recruits. These were not recruiting battles, these were recruiting wars. The stories of competing Galesburg millionaires and Los Angeles millionaires trying to entice basketball players to their schools are legendary. 

Massey Quiz #39: 15 People of Galesburg & More




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. 

Coaches’ Corner- Screen-Screener Action with Counter












This is a different screen the screener action. Usually you see screen the screener from low post area or from horns set. This spread out more and uses a ball screen. 

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

HOF Insights- Implementing Major Changes in Off-Season












Coaches often make tweaks to their offense or defense in the off-season, but sometimes coaches find it necessary to make significant changes to their systems. This week on “HOF Insights,” I asked how the coaches implemented major changes in the off-season. 

1994 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 
















Galesburg’s Own: Andrea Sampson’s Vision to Rebuild Streaks Softball

Coach Andrea Sampson






















Andrea Sampson graduated from Galesburg HS in 2019. She was a star in both basketball and softball during her Silver Streaks years. After graduating, Andrea went to Eastern Illinois University, where she played softball for the Panthers. 

Andrea chose to return to Galesburg to teach PE at GHS. This year, she was named to be the head coach of the Streaks softball team. Sampson brings the same toughness and competitiveness as a coach that she exhibited as a star athlete. In addition, she brings the knowledge and experience gained as a college athlete. 

Monday, March 30, 2026

Streaks Alumni Profile- Denzel Jones (2014) & Sabrina (Clay) Jones (2015)























Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Denzel and Sabrina Jones from the GHS Classes of 2014 and 2015. 

Coaches’ Clinic- Flat OB with Ghost Screen

















This flat OB is designed to set up an unusual ghost screen action. It is unusual because you have a shooter as a screener on a post player. So it puts a post defender in a tough spot of guarding a player coming off a ball screen. 

Galesburg’s Time Capsule- This Week in History (March 30, 2026)
























This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 25 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

Saturday, March 28, 2026

1974 NCAA Regional in Tucson





































After my last season coaching I got a wonderful and thoughtful surprise from the 2023-4 Silver Streaks. With a sneaky lie, the players in collaboration with Coach Demott tricked me into going to the GHS lockeroom "to help with some boxes." When I got there, the entire squad was in the lockeroom, and they presented me with tickets for Amy and I to go to the NCAA Regional in Indianapolis. The thoughtfulness of the team and the surprise made it an afternoon that I will always smile when I think about it.

Players Playbook- Evaluating an AAU Team & Your Plan for Growth

































Everyone knows that basketball players need to play basketball to improve their games. Not everyone agrees on the best way to spend your basketball time. Some would say that you are better off working on fundamentals and skills, while others would say you need to actually play the game. 

Any more, most players recognize a need in the summer to get on an AAU or travel team. 

Here are some thoughts to evaluate the programs:

Coaches’ Corner- OB Curl into Zoom

















This is a nice action that college teams are using to get into a zoom action out of an out of bounds set. 

Roger Coleman, WGIL, & Galesburg in the 1960’s


Author, Jim Wyman


















Jim Wyman gave a tremendous introduction for Roger Coleman into the GHS Athletic Hall of Fame. I don't think I have heard a more impressive HOF speech than Jim's. The speech gives a great description of Roger but it is a sociology lesson on the role of radio, small towns and sports in the 1960's. It is MUST READING----

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Coaches’ Corner- Counter for Zoom Action












Everybody runs some kind of zoom action for a shooter. This is a counter to the zoom action- taking the shooter the opposite way.

2026 Streaks Boys Track Preview

Coach Craig Hillier












Over the last 75 years, Galesburg HS has had only 3 boys track head coaches- CC VanDyke, Jerry Albright, and Craig Hillier. Coach Hillier shares a preview of this year’s Streaks Boys Track Team. 

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

2026 Streaks Girls Track Preview

Coach Jody Chapman













The Streaks Girls Track Team has already has some indoor meets, and will be headed into their outdoor season soon. Coach Jodi Chapman took the time to give a preview of this year’s Streaks team. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Barney Olson 1985




















Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Barney Olson of the GHS Class of 1985. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

HOF Insights- Adjustments to Make with Shot Clock












This week’s question for the coaches has to with adjustments they would make to the shot clock. What adjustments would you make to accommodate the shot clock? Would you make any changes in your offensive or defensive strategies? Would you plan to do specific things in your practices.

Massey Quiz #38- Who or What Doesn’t Fit with the Others













In this quiz, I will give you a topic, and list four people or four places. You need to figure which of the four does not belong with the other three. 

For example: 

Topic: Hamburgers

Ketchup, Mustard, Pickles, Tomato Soup

Answer: Tomato Soup doesn’t fit, the other things would be condiments on hamburgers. 

Monday, March 23, 2026

Coaches’ Corner- OB Creating Confusion













This baseline OB is designed to create confusion with multiple cuts and multiple screens. Three different players make basket cuts, and one player comes off split like action and a screen for a three.

1962 Streaks- Lost to Quincy in Sectional Championship



2026 Streaks Boys Tennis Preview

Coach Adyson Eastburg












Adyson Eastburg is starting her third season as the head coach of the Galesburg HS Boys Tennis program. She shares a preview of this year’s Streaks team…

Streaks Alumni Profile- Shayli Florine 2016

















Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Shayli Florine from GHS Class of 2016.

Sunday, March 22, 2026

1993 Illinois Girls Basketball Class AA State Tourney

 State Champions- Chicago Marshall











My Scout Report- Time Outs, Reversals, Last Shots (3-22-26)











My observations from another week of basketball and another week of retirement…

WNBA Settlement- Great News for Fans & Women’s Basketball












The WNBA players and owners finally came to an agreement. This is absolutely great for the WNBA fans. With this deal, the fans can be assured that the 2026 season will have a full schedule, and since is is a 7 year agreement, there should be WNBA seasons thru 2032.

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Players Playbook- What Your Shot Tells Me
















There are many skills involved in basketball. How well a player shoots tells me a lot about the player.

Massey Sports Quiz #8- Basketball Legends That Galesburg Played Against


Part of what has made Galesburg boys and girls basketball exciting thru the years has been the rivalries. The Streaks have played against some outstanding players thru the years. Many went onto star at colleges like Duke, Illinois, Iowa, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, La Tech, and Indiana. Over twenty opposing players went onto to play in the NBA or the WNBA. 

I have put together a list of great players, who Galesburg played. This is NOT a list of the best players that Galesburg has played- it is just a list!!

I am going to give you a player’s or a coach’s picture and the player’s or coach’s high school, then you name who the player is. Get out a pad of paper- the correct answers are at the end. Please share your score in the comments- type your name and your score. Good luck!

Friday, March 20, 2026

Paws, Points, & Post-Season: Minnie & Nellie’s Great American Road Trip













This winter with both Amy and I retired, we have spent a lot of time in Tulsa following the Tulsa Golden Hurricane men’s basketball team. It gives us an opportunity to see our son, Allen at work. How many people get a chance to “go to work” with their son. 

The real joy of our visits to Tulsa has been spending some time with Allen and his wife, Elizabeth. We love our Tulsa visits, it has become our second home. 

When we found out the American Conference Tournament was to be held in Birmingham, we decided to take a road trip. We couldn’t pass up watching our Tulsa Golden Hurricane. And my nephew and his family also live in Tulsa. So we decided to have a family reunion. 

Thursday, March 19, 2026

2026 Streaks Baseball Preview

Coach Jeremy Pickrel













Galesburg HS has a rich tradition in baseball. The Silver Streaks are getting ready to go. Coach Jeremy Pickrel shares a preview of the 2026 Streaks Baseball. 

Scott Shaver’s Top NBA Prospects to Watch in March Madness













NCAA March Madness is an exciting time of the year. Many have been busy studying teams this week to fill out their brackets. And once our brackets are put together, we are anxious to watch the teams. 

One other thing that will be intriguing is to become familiar with the top players. Most NBA Draft Projections have the top ten players taken being college freshmen- so players we may not have seen. I know I want to get a chance to watch these top prospects. Here is a kind of composite list from several different draft experts:

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Massey Quiz #37: Galesburg Places

 














 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. 

WB6 Update- Boys All-Time Leading Scorers




The following is a list of the leading scorers at WB6 schools. It is not points scored just in WB6 games but points scored throughout their careers. So this is a list of the top career scorers in boys basketball at Alleman, Galesburg, Geneseo, Moline, Quincy, Rock Island, Sterling, and UTHS. 

2026 Streaks Girls Soccer Preview

Coach Jessica Jones












Jessica Jones is starting her third season as the head coach of the Galesburg HS Girls Soccer program. I had an opportunity to ask her to give me a preview of this year’s Streaks Soccer..

Coaches’ Corner- Hey Coach, Let Me Shoot Threes





















I remember after a huge win, all of us were celebrating. It was one of those wins where players and coaches were really excited. Twenty minutes after the buzzer, a parent came up to me and asked,”Coach, why can’t my daughter get to shoot threes like the other players?” 

Monday, March 16, 2026

2026 Streaks Softball Preview




 There is a real excitement headed into the Galesburg HS’s softball season this Spring. There is a new coach and a new start. The Streaks will be led by a young, energetic coach. GHS grad, Andrea Sampson takes over the softball program this Spring. Andrea had outstanding high school and college careers playing softball. 

I asked her to give us a preview of what is ahead for the Silver Streaks Softball Program…

1961 Streaks- Regional Champs

 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Derek Brackett 2013

















Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Derek Brackett from the GHS Class of 2013. 

Derek has carved out an impressive career in strength and conditioning. He worked his way up the ladder, and today is working with elite athletes. He works with young athletes as well as with top college and pro athletes. He engineers programs to meet their specific needs as athletes.