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Saturday, November 15, 2025

1913 Galesburg: State Champs with Best Player in the State



Not the Silver Streaks

The 1913 Galesburg basketball team was not the Silver Streaks. The nickname of the Silver Streaks was not coined until 1935. By 1930, the boys basketball teams were the Red Devils, while the other GHS sports teams were the Tigers. There is no evidence that in 1913 GHS teams had any nicknames. 

Galesburg Athletic Director with 1913 State Championship Trophy.

















My Thoughts on Refs and Rules





















Officiating a basketball game is not an easy task. This is a potpourri of thoughts directed at the IHSA, rule makers, refs, fans, and coaches that I think might help the game. 

Friday, November 14, 2025

Streaks Scrapbook- Girls 1995 Sweet 16


























1995 Silver Streaks
Sweet 16   
29-3   (State Rank #6)

The 1995 Streaks were the first girls basketball team to qualify for State, winning the Sectional and making it to the Sweet 16. To fully understand the 1995 Streaks and their season, you have to look back.

In 1993 the Streaks went 26-4, won the WB6 with a perfect 10-0 record, and were ranked #7 in the State. The 1993 Streaks won their Regional, and advanced to the Limestone, where they faced the host Limestone Rockets. Earlier in the year, the Streaks had beaten Limestone by 20 points at Galesburg, but lost the first game of the Sectional to Limestone by 10 points. Stef Mitchell as a sophomore was the second leading scorer on that team. 

Pete Carril- The Smart Take From The Strong




Pete Carril became famous as the Princeton basketball coach in the 1990's. He is the originator of the famous "Princeton offense" that drove other teams nuts with all of its backdoor cuts. In his book The Smart Take From the Strong, Carril looks at what he thinks is important in evaluating a player.

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Massey Quiz #20- 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. 

Coaches’ Corner: Missing FT Intentionally

















Coach Anderson- If you are in the game long enough, you could very well be faced with the following situation. You’re down 3 and your opponent just fouled you with only 3-4 seconds left, and you are shooting 2 free throws.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

1912 Galesburg: Despite 3 Tourney Losses, Takes 2nd in State
















Trivia questions for you…

What team did not win their District but still went to State?

What team lost a total of 3 games in during the State series but took 2nd in State?

The answer to both questions is the 1912 Galesburg basketball team. 

Galesburg High School’s boys basketball team finished 1911-1912 season with a 14-5 record and finished in second place at the State Tourney at Peoria. 

Coaches’ Corner: Going For Three vs MM or Zone Defense
















Probably every coach has a go to play to get a three vs man to man defense. Maybe 70% of coaches have a go to play to get a three vs zone defenses. The tough thing is at the end of game when you need a three and you don’t know if they will be mm or zone. You have to have something that will work vs. mm or zone

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

HOF Insights: Evaluating Players




EVALUATING PLAYERS- As you look back at making player decisions about playing role (starting, subbing, sitting) or keeping or cutting- were there characteristics or hidden skills that influenced your decisions? What were examples of characteristics or hidden skills that made some players more valuable than maybe people on the outside realized?


Streaks Alumni Profile: John Watson 1992




John Watson comes from one of Galesburg’s all-time best basketball families. His father (John) was a coach at Costa JH, and younger sister (Molly) and younger brother (Jordan) were both great guards for GHS. If there was a 3 on 3 tourney, they would be a tough family to beat. 

John was a great, long range shooter. While the three point arc was in effect at the time he was in high school, the shot was not encouraged the way it is today. Most high school teams in the early ‘90’s might shoot just 5-10 total threes in a game, whereas today they are shooting 15-25 threes per game. John hit 8 threes in a game back then, if he had played in today’s era, one can easily imagine him making 10 or more threes in game. 

GHS Teacher’s Last Lesson: William Allen’s Sacrifice in World War II

 

William Allen- Knox grad, GHS teacher





















“That’s another shocking thing about this war- a hero, contrary to fiction and Hollywood, seldom dies a hero’s death. It’s just an unlucky hit which gets him when he doesn’t even have a chance to fight back.”
U.S. Soldier, William Allen describing death on the battlefield. 

Monday, November 10, 2025

Inside Hoops- Offensive Rebounds, Fake HO, and More
































It is exciting that basketball season has gotten started. Yes, I have gotten out to several games in person, and lots of TV games. Here are some early season things that I have observed:

1955 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney














Inside the Huddle: Free Throw Shooting in Practice











FREE THROW SHOOTING

How much time in practice do you spend on free throws? When in practice do you work on free throws? Do you have favorite free throw drills? 

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Streaks Alumni Profile: Kristen Watters Adams 1985

The Yearbook sums up Kristen’s career!!



















Kristen Watters is one of greatest athletes in Silver Streak history. As a cross country runner, she finished 5th, 6th, and 7th at the State meet. ALL of the Chicago suburbs were in her class. In some sports there can be 10-15 events, in cross country there is only one event. 

Kristen Watters was First Team All-State three years in a row!! In the area, Kris won big invitationals often by 2 minutes over the second place finishers as she dominated the fields. She held the course record on most every course she ran. She trained with our boys team, and was good enough to be the 5th or 6th runner on a Streaks boys team that was State ranked.