Massey Quiz #26- Illinois Schools and Nicknames

Test your knowledge of past and present Illinois High School’s nicknames. I will give you the school (past or present), you come up with their nickname! 

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. 

1934 Corpus Christi- Galesburg’s Other State Champions

If you are a basketball fan and live in Galesburg, you have heard of the 1913 GHS State Championship basketball team. When talking about basketball, the 1913 team is always referred to as “Galesburg’s only State Championship team.” 

It turns out the 1913 team isn’t the only State Champ. Corpus Christi won the 1934 Illinois Catholic State Championship Tournament. At this point, Catholic schools were not part of the IHSA. 

Coaches’ Corner: Stagger with Backdoor Cut

This is a great action for a team that likes to run dribble hand off actions. 

1988 Illinois Class AA Girls State Tourney

 State Champs- Maine West

Coache’s Corner: Anderson’s Three Point Play

Legendary Williamsfield coach, Bob Anderson shares one of his favorite three point plays. 

Streaks Alumni Profile: Jeff Parmenter 1977

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is with Jeff Parmenter from the GHS Class of 1977. 

1958 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

State Champions- Chicago Marshall

Coaches’ Corner: Change in Basketball- Offensive Rebounds

If you have not noticed, the major shift in basketball strategy on the college and pro level is how teams are attacking the offensive boards. It used to be that teams NEVER risked going to the offensive boards for fear of giving up the fastbreak. 

Today teams are attacking the offensive boards and they are NOT giving up more fastbreaks to the other teams. 

Mile High to Manhattan: Denver East Girls Hoops Takes On the Big Apple

Denver East players at the Rockefeller Center

When I was in high school at Savanna, Il, we played in a Christmas Tourney at Geneseo, IL. We thought it was big time, over 55 miles in the school bus, and got to stop to eat on the way back. 

When I coached girls basketball at Galesburg, IL, we played regularly in Chicago but once we played Madison West, Wis. It was over 3 1/2 hours on a charter. We had a meal catered at the University of Wisconsin Student Union. It was a long day but fun. 

Earlier in December, Denver East High School had a little bit bigger “road trip.” I guess you would say it wasn’t actually a “road trip” because they flew to New York. From Denver East HS to Christ the King HS, it is only 1,784 miles. 

My Scout Report: Shots, Positions, and Build a Moat

Another week watching basketball, another week of some thoughts and reactions.

WB6 Update: Girls/Boys Leaders Thru Dec 17

These are the leaders in girls and boys basketball in the WB6 thru Wednesday, December 17.

Massey Sports Quiz #4: Streaks Basketball Players

 

This is the ultimate test to see if you are really a Streaks basketball super-fan. I have put up 20 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. 

Toby Vallas- Farmington: Headed into HOF

Congratulations to Farmington’s Toby Vallas, who will be going into the Illinois Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Toby has a career record 103-23 (.817). His Farmington teams have made 10 straight play-off appearances, including 2024 trip to the semi-finals. 

Coaches’ Corner: Mid-Season Analysis

High school coaches are wise to take some time in the middle of season to do some “self-scouting.” In a perfect world, maybe before the Christmas Tourneys or after the Christmas Tourneys, a team may have a break of 5 days where a coach may have some time to take a deep dive. If a team does not have a lot of time off, a coach MUST find some time to analyze the team. 

Often as coaches, we wait until a couple weeks before the post-season tourney to analyze our team and try to make adjustments going into the tourney. This can be good but I would argue that it is often too late. 

1998 Galesburg vs Moline- An Epic 3 Game Series

In 1998, boys basketball in the Western Big Six may have at its all-time best. Galesburg- 2nd in State, Quincy- 3rd in the WB6 and 3rd- State, and Moline went 25-3. In the last AP poll of the year, Galesburg #3, Moline #7, and Quincy #14. 

Galesburg’s run to the State Title game was so exciting and such a great achievement. When Galesburg fans think about the ‘98 Silver Streaks, you have to immediately think about that tourney run. 

With all the excitement of that ‘98 season, the three game series with Moline may be one of the most impressive stories in Streaks history. The year before Moline had made the Sweet 16, losing to Rockford Boylan by 2 points in the Super-Sectional. And Moline had beaten Galesburg three times in ‘97 by scores of 53-43, 74-71, and 67-53.