Galesburg Football- “That's our goal, and the next year build on that.”

Galesburg HS football has had a tough time. In the last twenty-five years, the Streaks have had only 2 years where the teams finished above .500. 

To turn things around is not an easy task. It will require a strong team of coaches with leadership, enthusiasm, and relentless energy. Shawn Hickey took over in the Summer of 2024. The process of changing the culture is tough, Hickey and his staff have worked to increase the number of players in football and the enthusiasm for football. Their hope is that the wins will follow if they get the numbers and the commitment raised. 

I sat down to talk to Shawn about the process of building up the football program. 

Thanks for 2 Million Views! Here is How to Navigate the Full Massey Basketball Blog

Massey Basketball Blog

I started Massey Basketball Blog back in 2010. As the GHS girls basketball coach, I had just decided to put in the Grinnell System. The players loved it but some parents and fans were not sold on the idea, so the blog was my way of trying to explain “The System.” 

After we discontinued using the System, I used Massey Basketball Blog as a way to share inspirational info and coaching tips with the players. 

When I retired from coaching in 2024, I didn’t plan to be a full-time blogger, it just happened. While I do some about present day athletes, I love researching sports history and Galesburg history. I didn’t grow up in Galesburg but my grandfather drove a street car in Galesburg in the early 1900’s, my mom was the editor of the 1929 GHS Reflector, and I taught/coached at GHS for 50 years. 

Massey Basketball Blog is my retirement hobby, doing topics that interest me. 

2 Million Views

This week, Massey Basketball Blog went over 2 million views, and 1 Million of those views just happened in the last 6 months. I owe a big thanks to Jay Redfern and WGIL for helping Massey Basketball Blog take off. Jay suggested that I share one of my articles each week with WGIL. Soon one article per week became 3-4 articles. Not all the articles on Massey Basketball Blog appear on WGIL. 

Finding Massey Basketball Blog

There are over 1,000 articles on Galesburg history, Streaks history, coaching tips, advice for players and parents, and more. It is simple to find Massey Basketball Blog. You can just Google, “Massey Basketball Blog.” Or if you click below, it will take you to Massey Basketball Blog. 

Massey Basketball Blog

Navigating the Blog Page

There are over 25 different sections that you can use to explore a variety of topics. 

Massey Quizzes- There are over 50 post quizzes on general knowledge, Galesburg history, and Galesburg sites. There are a dozen quizzes focused on sports history. 

Massey Quizzes

Silver Streaks History- There are over 100 stories on Galesburg HS sports history from the 1913 basketball state champs to Lily Furrow winning the 2026 Don Morris Award.

Silver Streaks History

Basketball History- There are 100 articles on things like the Cobden Appleknockers to Why Were Scores So Low to Greatest Illinois State Champions.

Basketball History

Streaks Alumni Profiles- I have “interviewed” over 100 alums at this point and want to keep adding to the list. I have profiles on athletes and non-athletes. With time I hope to get a cross section of GHS alums, sharing their memories. 

Streaks Alumni Profiles

Jay Redfern’s Podcasts- Jay has done dozens of podcasts on Streaks sports/activities, Knox sports, and area sports. This is a collection of his GHS podcasts. 

Jay Redfern Podcasts

Coaches’ Corner- This is a series of articles sharing experiences from my coaching career. Some are X/O’s, some motivational ideas, and other ideas to help with player development. 

Coaches’ Corner

Hall of Fame Insights- I have reached out to 15-20 Hall of Fame coaches, and asked their opinions a variety of sports topics. They are football coaches, boys basketball coaches, girls basketball coaches, and volleyball coaches from Illinois and Iowa. 

Hall of Fame Insights

Players Playbook- This is articles designed to provide guidance to players. 

Players Playbook

Parents Playbook- These are all articles for parents of athletes. Advice on how parents can make their son/daughter’s experience more positive.

Parents Playbook

Caitlin Clark & More- I am a Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever fans. I also love the NBA and college basketball. These are all articles on my thoughts on Clark, the W, and basketball.

Caitlin Clark & More

Galesburg Past and Present- This is articles on Galesburg, GHS, Sandburg, and more. 

Galesburg Past and Present

Top Ten Articles of the Past Year

Best of the Past Year

Here are the most viewed articles over the past year. 

#1- Choosing Roots Over Rush- Coming Back to Galesburg

#2- Illinois Boys Basketball- Who Was Most Impressive Undefeated State Champ

#3- Looking Back- Galesburg’s Neigborhood Groceres

#4- Caitlin Clark & the WNBA- What’s Happened to the Shine?

#5- ILLUSTRIOUS- Illinois’ Best HS Gyms

#6- 2026- IBCA 3A/4A All-State Teams

#7- Cottage Hospital’s School of Nursing

#8- Streaks Alumni Profile- Shawn & Melissa Hickey

#9- 1976 GHS Reflector

#10- 1964 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

Coaches’ Corner- Late Game Side OB

This is a late game side ob play when trailing. It was run by the Indiana Fever when down 2. It gives 2 options for threes, and one option for an inside two. 

1967 Silver Streaks- Tom Wilson’s Scrapbook

This is a collection of pictures from Tom Wilson’s scrapbook. It is pictures of the 1967 Silver Streaks.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Heather (Aten) Mackowiak

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Heather (Aten) Mackowiak from Galesburg HS’s Class of 1993. 

1993 Boys Basketball- Churchill, Lombard, Costa Team

These pictures are from the collection of Jim & June O’Brien. There are pictures of the 7th and 8th grade teams from Churchill, Lombard, and Costa. 

Churchill 8th Grade- Coach Steve Cheesman

Lombard 8th Grade- Coach Phil Erickson

Costa 8th Grade- Coach Herb Knoblauch

Churchill 7th Grade- Coach Mick Swanson

Lombard 7th Grade- Coach Arnold Gonzalez

Costa 7th Grade- Coach John Watson

Massey Quiz #59- People with Animal Nicknames

 

Some people have animal nicknames. I am going to show you a picture of someone famous, your job is to say what their animal nickname was or is. 

1971 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

State Champions- Dolton Thornridge 

Coaches’ Corner- Where To Hide Your Bad Defender

If a coach plays man to man defense, figuring the matchups can sometimes be a real coaching art.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Ann Conover 1976

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Ann Conover from the GHS Class of 1976. 

Streaks In Skirts- GHS Field Hockey Was a State Power

1970’s- Adding Girls Sports

In the Fall of 1972, Galesburg HS added girls sports. For the school year of 1972-3 GHS competed in volleyball, basketball, bowling, badminton, track, softball, and field hockey. The IHSA provided a unique schedule which seemed to offer two fall season so athletes could play both volleyball and field hockey if they chose. 

2001- IHSA Girls Class AA All-Tourney Teams- 1st 25 Years

At the IHSA March Madness Celebration Banquet on March 1, 2001, the results of a media poll naming the first 25 years All-Tourney team were announced. 10 players were selected to the team based on their performances at the State Tourney from 1977 thru 2001. 

Indiana Fever- Will the Band Stay Together

Lou Dort- Dort has been an important part of the OKC Thunder for the last several years. He has been the tough, physical defender they could put on the other team’s best players. 

This Spring, OKC traded Dort to Dallas. Being young, and being good, the return should be good. Nope. OKC got three 2nd round draft picks, spread over ‘27, ‘31, and ‘31. The trade was a cash dump, OKC could not afford to pay their top players and keep Dort. So they dumped Dort to create cap space. 

This Week in Galesburg History (Aug 17, 2026)

 

“This Week in Galesburg History,” there was a wedding in the sky, Bradley player banned for life, and the Kleine’s gave $1.5 million to OSF. 

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 each Monday on WGIL website and Massey Basketball Blog. 

Coaches’ Corner- Managing Shot Clock at End of Quarters

Normally, the major decision at the end of quarters with the shot clock is whether a coach wants to go 2 for 1 possessions. In the NBA with the 24 second shot clock. If a team gets the ball with 40 seconds to go in the quarter, does a team want to shoot by 30 seconds to go, so they can get a second possession. 

In high school with a 35 second shot clock, it could still be possible. If a team gets the ball with 55 seconds left in a quarter, they would want to shoot by 45 seconds to get the second possession. 

But there is another end of quarter strategy coaches are more likely to want to use.