Streaks Alumni Profile- Jessica Howard 2011

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Jessica Howard from the GHS Class of 2011.

Coaches’ Corner- Making Next Year’s Schedule

Putting together a basketball schedule is a real art. Coaches who are creative can set up a real advantage for their teams. 

Congratulations to Coach Kimberly Barth

Congratulations to Coach Kimberly Barth and her Washington Panthers on winning the 2026 Illinois Class 3A State Championship.

Coach Barth is finishing her 10th year coaching. In her first five years, the Panthers won one Regional Championship. In the last five years, Washington has won 5 Regionals and 2 Sectionals. Last year they took 3rd in State to go with this year’s State Championship. 

1992 Illinois Girls Basketball Class AA State Tourney

 State Champs- Chicago Marshall

My Scout Report- Miami, 4-Classes, Colorado, & FIBA

My thoughts on another week of basketball and another week of retirement…

2026 IBCA Girls Basketball 3A/4A All-State

The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association has come out with the 2026 All-State Girls Basketball Teams for 3A/4A. 

Streaks Scrapbook- 1996 Girls 3rd in State

1996- Third in State   

29-6   (State Rank #14)

The success the Streaks had in 1996 started with the 1994 season. Sara Wood and Ami Pendry were the starting guards as sophomores on the 1994 team, who was upset in the Galesburg Sectional by IVC. Then in 1995, Sara Wood (Jr) and Molly Watson (So) started along with seniors Bonny Apsey, Stef Mitchell, and Gina Miller. The ‘95 Streaks made it to the Super-Sectional before losing to Normal Community. 

The 1995 team may have been one of the all-time best teams with senior scoring stars- Bonny Apsey and Stef Mitchell. There was a real sense that 1995 was the Streak’s chance to go to Redbird Arena. So initially, there was a sense that the 1996 team would not be as good. 

1976- Campbell and Kelley Lead the Streaks to Elite 8

By 1976 Galesburg HS had built up a rich basketball tradition. Going back to the 1912 team that took 2nd in State and the 1913 team that came home as State Champs, the GHS Silver Streaks boys basketball teams were the pride of Galesburg. Every decade there from the ‘20’s thru the ‘60’s there were great Streaks teams for Galesburg to get excited about.

Massey Sports Quiz #7- Galesburg Basketball History

Galesburg HS has had an exciting history of boys and girls basketball. There have been some great teams and some great players thru the years. There are many wonderful Silver Streaks fans, and this is a quiz to test you knowledge. 

No cheating!! Get out a pad of paper to write your answers on, and then go to the bottom of the page when you are all done to check your answers.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Arleta Brown 2020

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Arleta Brown from the GHS Class of 2020.

Missouri’s MSHSAA- Declares Sectional Do Over

In Missouri’s State Tourney series, Principia won thrilling 1 point Sectional game. Obviously it was time to celebrate, but there was a problem. 

1966 Silver Streaks & Dale Kelley Take 2nd in State

One of the greatest teams in Galesburg basketball history was the 1966 Silver Streaks. The Streaks were coached by John Thiel, and led in scoring by Dale Kelley. Galesburg lost to Thornton in the State Championship game and finished 2nd in State. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Brad Gross 2004

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is with Brad Gross from the GHS Class of 2004. 

Brad had an outstanding career in Track at both GHS and then at Monmouth College. 

GHS is fortunate that Brad chose to come back to Galesburg as a teacher and a coach. He has been involved coaching track, both boys and girls basketball, and girls golf. 

Brad has also been instrumental in helping develop “better athletes” at GHS with speed training and weight room ideas. 

He has been a coach who has been able to connect with athletes and students. Brad has an ability to make them feel special and important.

Streaks Scrapbook- Boys 1956 Sweet Sixteen

Boys  1956-     Sweet 16        26-3      (State Rank #3)

Galesburg was coming off an Elite 8 appearance in 1955. The Streaks had lost to Elgin in the Elite 8 game in OT 66-60. Obviously coming this close had to fuel the 1956 team, plus they returned arguably the top three from the 1955 team. Guards Mike Owens and Russ Lind along with post player Bill Graning returned for their senior year. Years later, Owens commented on the '56 season, "We thought we were going to be pretty good, but we were much better than I thought we were going to be."

While the '56 Streaks returned three of their best players, they lost their coach. Coach Frank Adams moved practically across the street from the old GHS to coach at Knox College. The transition was easier than you might predict because assistant Coach John Thiel took over. As assistant coach, the players were very familiar with Thiel. 

My Scout Report- Eggs, Leads, and Clock

Observations from another week of basketball and retirement…