HOF Insights: Practice the Day Before a Game

DAY BEFORE A GAME- What changes did you make to your normal practice routines for the practice the day before a game? How much did you reduce intensity? How did you change the length of practice? Were there drills you spent more time or less time on? What was your temperament like? Were there specific things you did in terms of scout prep?

Sports Reporters: Sharing Great Streaks Basketball Memories

The winters in Illinois can be cold and dreary. Starting in the 1920’s, the best solution to the long, cold winters was high school basketball. Galesburg quickly became a basketball hot bed. 

Hopefully you will get out to watch some high school basketball this winter!

Fans of the Silver Streaks girls and boys teams can all tell you about one of the great games they have seen. Earlier this year, I asked a group of sports reporters to share one of their best memories of Galesburg basketball. 

Brad Bennewitz- WGIL

In terms of actually covering a game, 98% of my truly special experiences would be from following Silver Streaks boys basketball, and so many of those standout moments seem to hearken back to the 1997-98 season. I hate to be that obvious with my choice but ... as the years have gone by, the more games I cover, the more they tend to blur and blend together.

Coach’s Corner- Using Possessions & Point Per Possessions to Diagnose

It is easy watching a game to focus in on one aspect of the game, and lose track of the "big picture." I can remember games where we gave up two offensive rebounds and two put backs in the first quarter. As a coach, I couldn't move on. In time outs, at half, and in post game, I was apt to be ranting,"We aren't blocking out." When the final stats became available, I realized we only gave up 3 offensive rebounds the entire game. My point is that our impressions of what happened during a game is not always accurate. 

1955 Streaks Basketball- Frank Adams and the Elite 8

Streaks Alumni Profile: C.J. Ramage 1992

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is CJ Ramage from the GHS class of 1992. CJ was one of those athletes you loved to root for. He was a three sport athlete, who seemed to be able fill whatever role a coach needed and was able athletically to excel in multiple roles. 

CJ Ramage is one of the most athletic performers at GHS in the last fifty years. His speed, strength, and jumping ability allowed him to excel in track, football, and basketball.

Streaks Girls Basketball Records

 

Game Records- Individuals

Rebounds.  

22.  Shannon Johnson.  Vs Washington.  1987

21.  Megan Pacheco.  Vs. Maria.  1988

My Scout Report: Rebounds, Refs, and Rockets

The following are observations from games, podcasts, and interviews from  last week. 

1986 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

State Champs- Teutopolis

2025–2026 Streaks Basketball: Taylor Thiel Era Starts

The start of every basketball season brings an excitement. The players experience a surge of energy, feeling like it is finally “our turn.” The coaches can’t wait to see how the off-season work pays off. It is like Christmas morning for the loyal fans, they can’t wait to “open up” the season and see what the ‘26 Streaks will look like. 

All of that happens in a normal season. The 2025-6 season isn’t a “normal season” for the Streaks. Galesburg has a new coach, the anticipation is always elevated with a new coach. Galesburg knows about that, this is the 12th “new coach” since the legendary John Thiel retired in 1973.

Massey Basketball Blog: Vintage Gear, Galesburg Basketball

One of my favorite blog activities is to research Galesburg basketball history. I have done a lot of stories about past great GHS girls and boys basketball teams. And this winter, I plan to do even more stories. 

I have come up with another way to celebrate Galesburg boys and girls basketball’s tradition. 

HOF Coach’s Candid Call to Parents: You Can Really Make a Difference

Dad leaving his son off for game, “Just have fun and play hard.” 

Dad picking up son after game,“Did you win? How many points did you score?”

Inside Hoops- Growing From A Loss

Losing is tough. As a coach, you want to be surrounded by players who take losses hard. As players, you want to be surrounded by teammates who take losses hard. 

I hated if we lost a road game and ten minutes into the trip home, players were laughing and appeared to have "gotten over" the loss. I used to tell players before we headed home,"On the way home, I expect you to either show your teammates that the loss hurts or pretend to your teammates that the loss hurts." 

That didn’t mean that the players could not talk. I didn’t want the players to come across to each other as, “I don’t care, it’s not that important.” In losses, players need to show their teammates that the team is important to me. 

1976 Sandburg Womens Basketball: From Startup to State Champs

1975-6 Carl Sandburg Women’s Basketball Team

After Title IX’s passage in 1972, Illinois high schools and colleges scrambled to start up women’s sports teams. Carl Sandburg Juco fielded there first women’s team for the 1974-5 school year. 

Athletes’ Insights- Laughs, Lunch, and Thrillers

 

This week the athletes weigh in on studying, toughest classes, funniest teachers, best school lunch, exciting game attended as a fan, and one of their biggest thrills as an athlete.

Massey Quiz #21- Silver Streak Basketball Players

This week’s quiz is twenty Galesburg HS basketball players. I will give you a picture and you tell who that play is. 

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.