The Summer the Stars Aligned: My 1962 All-Star Game Adventure

(Originally published August 3, 2025)

My dad, W.F.Massey was a high school teacher, coach, and athletic director in Savanna, Illinois. In Savanna, everyone called him “Mass.” Summers we loaded up the car and went back to where he had grown up, in rural Hollandale, Wisconsin. There to his four brothers and the family, he was his called by his middle name, “Ford.” Dad owned a dairy farm that he rented out. Our summers were spent cutting thistles, white washing the barn, building fences, and getting to play baseball with all the Massey cousins. 

1975 Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Venice

Massey Quiz #54- Places of the World

This week’s Massey Quiz is a test of your knowledge of famous places of the world. I will give you a place, and you need to identify the country is it located in. If it is located in the United States, you must tell what state it is located in. 

Summer of ‘71- Chip Shots, Jump Shots, Dink Shots, & HR Shots

Looking thru the local newspaper in the Summer of 1971, Galesburg had people of all ages participating in sports of all kinds. There were youngsters taking lessons, going to camps, and playing Little League. There teens and adults competing in tennis, golf, softball, and baseball. 

Coaches’ Corner: Handoff to Clear, Fake Handoff

 

This shows two options off of a handoff action. The first is a handoff into a clear out and the second is a fake handoff.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Ady Eastburg 2018

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Ady Eastburg from the GHS Class of 2018. 

This Week in Galesburg History (July 13)

“This Week in Galesburg History” there was dancing on a rooftop, future MLB players taking swings, and dating advice to teenagers. 

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? 

“This Week in Galesburg History” appears every Monday morning on the WGIL website and Massey Basketball Blog. 

1996 Illinois Girls Basketball Class AA State Tourney

 

Caitlin Clark & WNBA- Why Can’t the Fever Get Lucky Like the Aces?

Another week of the WNBA…

Tommy Kourzmanoff- Reflect on Officiating 1954 State Tourney

In the 1974 IHSA State Tourney Program, Tommy Kouzmanoff looks back 20 years before when he worked his first State Tourney. He shares the pressures and excitement of working the State Tourney in 1954. 

At the time of writing this story, Tommy was the Prep Sports Editor of the Chicago Today newspaper. 

Beyond the Arc- Standish, Appleknockers, Skinny Dipping

In basketball once you start shooting from beyond the three point arc, things can get wild. In this series, I am going to share some stories that may seem a little wild too. 

“Beyond the Arc” is a series that looks at the unusual from the past. Stories from our history, both locally and nationally. Some are from the sports world and others just from the world. Some are stories I have read about and others are legends passed down to me.

1996 Galesburg HS Reflector Yearbook

Coaches’ Corner- Make Time, 150 Minutes

As coaches, we always design programs for our players to improve their games in the off-season. We talk to them about commitment and discipline. A buzz phrase to our players is, “Don’t find time, make time.”

1971 Galesburg Legion Baseball Wins State Title

Galesburg’s American Legion baseball team had a season to remember 55 years ago. In the summer of 1971, the Legion went 39-5. They won their league, the District Tourney, Division Tourney, and Illinois State Tourney. It was not until Great Lake’s Regional in Michigan that they lost two heartbreaking games to finish their season.

Massey Sports Quiz #9- Basketball History

There are a lot of "experts" out there who know everything there is to know about basketball. This quiz is designed to determine how much you actually know about basketball. Some of us have a big advantage because we helped pump up the ball for that first game.

Don’t cheat- get a pad of paper out, answer the test questions, then grade your answers. After you score your test, put your number correct in the comments and also type in your name at the end of your comment.

1- When was basketball invented:

A- 1848 when Lincoln posted up Douglas at Knox College.

B- 1891

C- 1906

D- 1932

2- Where was basketball invented?

A- Springfield Massachusetts

B- Lexington Kentucky

C- Lawrence Kansas

D- Cooperstown New York