Streaks Scrapbook- IBCA HOF Selects Swanson, Range, Olinger

The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association has announced the inductees for their 2025 Hall of Fame Class. The class will have a Galesburg flavor with Barry Swanson, Joey Range, and Todd Olinger will be inducted. 

Inside Hoops- Two Worst Losses

There are not ties in basketball. If players or coaches find any loss to be fun- they are probably not meant for basketball. That said, some losses are harder to take than other-

Being upset by a team that was clearly weaker than us.

Losing to a team who I felt the coach or the players were arrogant and didn’t respect us. 

Losing in a championship contest such as a game for the conference championship. 

There are many more examples I am sure. But to keep thinking of bad losses would just depress me. The longer I coached, the more convinced I became that there were two losses each season that were the hardest to take. 

Legend- Cobden- 60 Years Later

Anyone who is an Illinois basketball fan has heard of the 1964 Cobden Appleknockers. And certainly anyone who considers themselves a Galesburg Silver Streaks fan regrets they have heard of Cobden. The Streaks led tiny Cobden in the Elite 8 game with only minutes to go, only to lose to the Appleknockers. Cobden went onto lose to Pekin in the State Championship game 50-45. 

X/O’s- “Miami” Backdoor Action

 

This is a simple backdoor series run out of a 1-2-2 or Horns set. It can be a play that is called or it simply can be the posts flashing high in reaction to the wing being denied. 

Friday Fotos- Streaksburg

1968- Dave Wood wearing the famous “Streaksburg” warmup jacket.  

Streaks Scrapbook- The Entire Collection

I appreciate the interest people have shown in my "Streaks Scrapbook" posts. My first quest is to do a "scrapbook" post on each of the boys and girls State Teams since 1950. Traditionally a State appearance has been defined as a Sweet Sixteen appearance. This dates back to the 1930's thru 1955 when all Sectional winners played in the State Finals at Huff Gym at the University of Illinois. 

Legend- Amanda Gunther Egli

Amanda Gunther Egli will be inducted into the Galesburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 30. The ceremony will be in the GHS Commons at 4:30pm. 

Amanda graduated from GHS in 2003, and went onto graduate from Drake University in 2007. She had an extraordinary career at GHS as both a tennis player and as a basketball. Her achievements were so impressive that she could have been selected as either a tennis player or as a basketball. You put her career in the two sports together, and she is one of the most impressive athletes in GHS history.

X/O’s- 5 Out Screen Away Action

This is a nice side ball screen out of a spread 5 out alignment. The action is an action that a you see all the time in the NBA but also in colleges. And of course everything is copies, already this winter having an opportunity to watch some HS action, I have seen a couple HS’s running similar action. 

I want to show some of the options, and also how you can create the action even if you do not run 5 Out. Obviously the teaching method to get players to read would be a lot of 2 on 2. 

Reflections- Player's Number Is A Big Deal

Rules in basketball about numbers have changed over the years. In the 1940's and 1950's, players could have numbers like #77 and #95. In 1956, Mike Owens was #7. Then in the 1960's, the rule was that you had to have two digit numbers and nothing over 5 so the ref could signal it on one hand. So #7 and #77 were out. At home players wore an even number and on the road an odd number. So one of my hero's, Alan Cottral wore #10 at home and #11 on the road. Sometime in the late 1900's, single digit numbers were allowed again. In the last year, colleges allow any number. 

Parents Playbook- Duncan Reid’s Message

In the 1980’s when I was a young coach, I had a chance to listen to legendary Rock Island coach, Duncan Reid speak at a coaching clinic. He spoke about his run and jump pressure defense, and shared tips on how to develop young shooters. His knowledge of basketball was overwhelming, and of course, Duncan Reid was very entertaining. 

Coach Reid spoke about the role of parents in basketball. He said,”A player can’t perform if they are trying to listen to both the coach and to their dad during a game.” 

Fast Break with Brenda Stewart Clevidence- Creating A Training Facility

Brenda Stewart Clevidence played basketball for the Streaks in the 1980's. She and her teammates were confronted with a very tough situation. As part of budget cuts, District #205 eliminated all JH sports when she and her teammates were in JH. When they arrived at GHS, they were playing their first games vs. teams who had played 40-50 games. 

Brenda and her group were among the first to commit to playing in the off-season. They attended summer camps. Summer leagues were played at the Carver Center, and we took trips to Maine West to play. They were invested in playing and improving. 

Brenda was one of the first to really work on her game in the summer. She was willing to invest hours on her own to elevate her game. I am convinced her work ethic and commitment to self-improvement helped to change our basketball program. Her approach changed our culture at GHS. It was a first step, but an important step- Players investing in skill development in the off-season. Without a doubt, this has been the most important component of our program, and it started with Brenda. 

Since 2022, Brenda has owned an "I'm Possible Basketball" Training facility in Madison, Wisconsin. It is an impressive facility with an impressive staff. I wanted to reach out and talk to her about what she has been doing. 

Friday Fotos- GHS Top Ten Scorers

This is a look at Galesburg’s Top Ten Career Scorers in both boys and girls basketball. 

Old School Coaches- What's A Good Practice Look Like?

I am hoping to do this segment- "Old School Coaches" on a regular basis. I have put together a crew of retired coaches, who were highly successful in their high school coaching career. My hope is to post one question to them every two weeks. 

Bob Anderson- Williamsfield HS

Bob is retired as boys basketball coach at Williamsfield. At a school of only 89 students, in 45 years, his teams won 732 games along with numerous tourney and conference championships. His 1997 team made it to the Elite 8. 

Mike Cooper- Ottawa HS

Mike is the retired Athletic Director at Ottawa HS. He was varsity girls basketball coach for 22 years, as well as sophomore football coach for many years. He was inducted in the the IBCA HOF.

Tim Engebretson- United HS

He was varsity head football coach for many years at United HS. He also has coached basketball at different levels. His 2005 team won the Illinois State Title, and Tim is in the Illinois Football Coaches' HOF as well as the United HOF.

Greg King- Sterling HS

In his head coaching career at Sterling, his football teams went 78-28, and had 10 straight play-off appearances and 5 conference titles. In addition to his success as a football coach, he was inducted in the Illinois Athletic Director's Association HOF. 

Mark Massey- Clinton HS

Mark was the head volleyball coach at Clinton for 38 years. His teams won 818 games, and twice took second in State. He is in the Iowa Volleyball HOF and Clinton HS HOF.

Thom Sigel- Rock Falls/Rock Island HS

Thom coached basketball for 32 years. His teams won 502 games, and he has the distinction of winning the State Title at both Rock Falls and Rock Island. Thom is in the IBCA HOF.

Mike Tracey- Alleman, UTHS, Moline HS

Mike coached football at Alleman, UT, and Moline for over 20 years. By most, he is considered the premier football coach in WB6 history. His teams won 140 games, and twice finished second in State. Mike is in the Alleman HS HOF and the Illinois Football HOF. He was also selected Illinois AD of the Year. 

Greg Bennett- Lewistown

Greg coached many sports at Lewistown. He had teams go to State in girls basketball and football. He is in the Illinois Football HOF as well as being in the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. He is know for his commitment as a coach and his high energy level. 

My Question

If you had a chance to watch another coach's practice, what things would make you feel they ran a good practice? In other words, what are the characteristics of a good practice?

Parents Playbook- Nikola Jokic’s Lesson For Parent

Basketball season is about to tip-off. It will be exciting whether we are fans, parents, coaches, or players. It really works best if all of us “stay in our lane.” Fans cheer, coaches coach, and players play. 

There is a book that is coming out in December about the NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic. The book is “Why So Serious?” By Mike Singer. It is on my Christmas wish list. 

I heard a preview that shared a story about him as a youth playing basketball. He did something to send a message to his father. 

Inside Hoops- Coaches & AD’s- Learn From The Best

Congratulations to Lena-Winslow, Camp Point Central, and Farmington! Their football teams have won and are going to be playing this weekend in the IHSA Semi-Finals. Anyone who follows high sports in this area of the state knows that these three schools seem to always be good in football, and most of their sports teams are good. They are winners.