Coach’s Corner: Measuring Shooting Accuracy

There are different ways to evaluate a player’s shooting. Four tools are:

Traditional FG Percentage

Effective FG Percentage (eFG%)

True Shooting Percentage

Points per Shot

Inside Hoops- Basketball and Hand Shakes- No Thanks

Good sportsmanship is fading on all levels- youth sports, high school sports, colleges, and the pros. I am all for emphasizing good sportsmanship, but I am opposed to all the hand shaking in basketball today. 

Silver Streaks Vintage Shirts

I got my Streaks vintage shirt- I chose 1959 3rd in State. (Don’t tell my wife, I also got 1913, 1931, 1996, and 1999). 

Massey Quiz #22: 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. 

Galesburg Basketball- Boys Individual Records

Career Most Points

1- Joey Range   2390   1998

2- Grant Gibson   1817   2015

3- Ethan Meeker   1768   2016

4- Byron Thierry   1369   1984

5- Jaylin McCants   1338   2020

6- Elmer Dickerson   1313   1991

7- Eric Johnson   1232   1983

My Friends Share Their Thanksgiving Favorites

Happy Thanksgiving!! I have some people in Galesburg to share their favorite things about Thanksgiving, as well as their dream guest list. I hope you enjoy their thoughts, and enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Massey Basketball Blog: Vintage Gear, Galesburg Basketball

One of my favorite blog activities is to research Galesburg basketball history. I have done a lot of stories about past great GHS girls and boys basketball teams. And this winter, I plan to do even more stories. 

I have come up with another way to celebrate Galesburg boys and girls basketball’s tradition. 

Sports Reporters: Sharing Great Streaks Basketball Memories

The winters in Illinois can be cold and dreary. Starting in the 1920’s, the best solution to the long, cold winters was high school basketball. Galesburg quickly became a basketball hot bed. 

Hopefully you will get out to watch some high school basketball this winter!

Fans of the Silver Streaks girls and boys teams can all tell you about one of the great games they have seen. Earlier this year, I asked a group of sports reporters to share one of their best memories of Galesburg basketball. 

Brad Bennewitz- WGIL

In terms of actually covering a game, 98% of my truly special experiences would be from following Silver Streaks boys basketball, and so many of those standout moments seem to hearken back to the 1997-98 season. I hate to be that obvious with my choice but ... as the years have gone by, the more games I cover, the more they tend to blur and blend together.

Massey Basketball Quiz #1: Streaks Basketball Players

This is the ultimate test to see if you are really a Streaks basketball super-fan. I have put up 20 pictures of former Galesburg girls and boys basketball players and coaches.  This is NOT intended to be a list of the best players. I just tried to collect pictures of players from different decades- some famous and some not as famous. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Rob Huizenga 1996

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features 1996 GHS grad, Rob Huizenga. Rob was able to be both the boys and the girls basketball managers in 1996. 

Obviously being a manager for two sports at the same time required a lot of time commitment on Rob’s part. Rob was recruited by the girls basketball players to become a manager of the girls basketball team. 

HOF Insights: Practice the Day Before a Game

DAY BEFORE A GAME- What changes did you make to your normal practice routines for the practice the day before a game? How much did you reduce intensity? How did you change the length of practice? Were there drills you spent more time or less time on? What was your temperament like? Were there specific things you did in terms of scout prep?

Coach’s Corner- Using Possessions & Point Per Possessions to Diagnose

It is easy watching a game to focus in on one aspect of the game, and lose track of the "big picture." I can remember games where we gave up two offensive rebounds and two put backs in the first quarter. As a coach, I couldn't move on. In time outs, at half, and in post game, I was apt to be ranting,"We aren't blocking out." When the final stats became available, I realized we only gave up 3 offensive rebounds the entire game. My point is that our impressions of what happened during a game is not always accurate. 

1955 Streaks Basketball- Frank Adams and the Elite 8

Streaks Alumni Profile: C.J. Ramage 1992

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is CJ Ramage from the GHS class of 1992. CJ was one of those athletes you loved to root for. He was a three sport athlete, who seemed to be able fill whatever role a coach needed and was able athletically to excel in multiple roles. 

CJ Ramage is one of the most athletic performers at GHS in the last fifty years. His speed, strength, and jumping ability allowed him to excel in track, football, and basketball.

Streaks Girls Basketball Records

 

Game Records- Individuals

Rebounds.  

22.  Shannon Johnson.  Vs Washington.  1987

21.  Megan Pacheco.  Vs. Maria.  1988

My Scout Report: Rebounds, Refs, and Rockets

The following are observations from games, podcasts, and interviews from  last week. 

1986 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

State Champs- Teutopolis

2025–2026 Streaks Basketball: Taylor Thiel Era Starts

The start of every basketball season brings an excitement. The players experience a surge of energy, feeling like it is finally “our turn.” The coaches can’t wait to see how the off-season work pays off. It is like Christmas morning for the loyal fans, they can’t wait to “open up” the season and see what the ‘26 Streaks will look like. 

All of that happens in a normal season. The 2025-6 season isn’t a “normal season” for the Streaks. Galesburg has a new coach, the anticipation is always elevated with a new coach. Galesburg knows about that, this is the 12th “new coach” since the legendary John Thiel retired in 1973.

HOF Coach’s Candid Call to Parents: You Can Really Make a Difference

Dad leaving his son off for game, “Just have fun and play hard.” 

Dad picking up son after game,“Did you win? How many points did you score?”

Inside Hoops- Growing From A Loss

Losing is tough. As a coach, you want to be surrounded by players who take losses hard. As players, you want to be surrounded by teammates who take losses hard. 

I hated if we lost a road game and ten minutes into the trip home, players were laughing and appeared to have "gotten over" the loss. I used to tell players before we headed home,"On the way home, I expect you to either show your teammates that the loss hurts or pretend to your teammates that the loss hurts." 

That didn’t mean that the players could not talk. I didn’t want the players to come across to each other as, “I don’t care, it’s not that important.” In losses, players need to show their teammates that the team is important to me. 

1976 Sandburg Womens Basketball: From Startup to State Champs

1975-6 Carl Sandburg Women’s Basketball Team

After Title IX’s passage in 1972, Illinois high schools and colleges scrambled to start up women’s sports teams. Carl Sandburg Juco fielded there first women’s team for the 1974-5 school year. 

Athletes’ Insights- Laughs, Lunch, and Thrillers

 

This week the athletes weigh in on studying, toughest classes, funniest teachers, best school lunch, exciting game attended as a fan, and one of their biggest thrills as an athlete.

Massey Quiz #21- Silver Streak Basketball Players

This week’s quiz is twenty Galesburg HS basketball players. I will give you a picture and you tell who that play is. 

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. 

Streaks Alumni Profile: Jerome Townsell 1993

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is Jerome Townsell from the GHS class of 1993. He was part of an exciting time for Silver Streaks basketball. After going away to school, he came back to Galesburg to live. He is the proud father of Streaks girls basketball players- Kaylah and Kylee Townsell. 

HOF Insights: Preparing Team for Pressure Situations

PREPARING TEAM FOR PRESSURE- The tradition for many football teams is to hold four fingers at the start of the 4th quarter. I assume to indicate when the game is on the line, we will win. Besides handling the fourth quarter, there are lots of “pressure situations” in sports- tie game with minute to go, kicking field goal with 3 seconds left to win, goal line stand in last minute, down 2 with 20 seconds in bb game, away game and other team puts on full court press, handling bad refs.  What are things you did as a coach that you thought helped them handle game pressures?

Coaches’ Corner- Offenses vs 1-3-1 Non-Trapping Zone

Coach Anderson and I look at some ideas for attacking a 1-3-1 zone- one that is not trapping. 

Illinois Winningest Schools- Girls & Boys Basketball Wins Combined

There may be schools who should be on this list but the school has not submitted records to the IHSA. These are total from the beginning of the 2024-5 season. The order is Total Wins, Boys Wins, Girls Wins. Thanks to Steve Allen of the IBCA for the work he does with win totals. 

Parents Share Playbook for Making Sports a Positive Experience- Part 2

The Woods- Mike, Sara, Ryan

I asked some parents to share their experiences helping their sons/daughters have a positive experience in athletics. They share how athletics can be made to be a valuable experience. 

The parents are: Jim and Angie Noonan, Dave and Sandy Wood, Bill and Joyce Allison, Shawn and Melissa Hickey, and Brian and Steph Woodard. All of them are able to provide not only their insights as parents but also their insights as coaches, athletes, and sons/daughters of coaches. 

Parents Share Playbook for Making Sports a Positive Experience

Dave and Sandy Wood

Participation in high school athletics can provide an opportunity for young people to develop important life skills- leadership, handling adversity, team work, and work ethic. Strong, positive parenting can help athletes have a positive experience. 

I asked some parents to share their experiences helping their sons/daughters to grow in athletics. They share how athletics can be made to be a valuable experience. 

The parents are: Jim and Angie Noonan, Dave and Sandy Wood, Bill and Joyce Allison, Shawn and Melissa Hickey, and Brian and Steph Woodard. All of them are able to provide not only their insights as parents but also their insights as coaches, athletes, and sons/daughters of coaches. 

Andie Allison Leibach Credits Parents for Positive Sports Journey

Winter sports seasons are starting up. Parents can play such positive role in their son’s/daughter’s sports experience. This week I have a series of posts that are designed to help parents as they try to help their young athletes. 

TONIGHT- Andie Leibach shares how her parents helped her have a positive experience. 

TOMORROW- WGIL.com will share, “Parents Share Playbook for Making Sports a Positive Experience.” In this post five sets of parents share their journey as a sports parent. 

I reached out to Andie Allison Leibach to ask her about how parents can help make athletics a positive experience. Andie has seen it all in sports- she played for the Streaks basketball team, she coached the Streaks, and now she is the parent of three young children starting out in athletics. 

Illinois Winningest Boys Basketball Programs

The totals are supplied by Steve Allen of the IBCA and from the IHSA school records. If your school should be on this list and is not, it is because your school has not submitted information to either the IBCA or the IHSA. 

Totals are thru 2024-5 season-

1- Centralia.   2410

2- Collinsville. 2242

3- Quincy.     2175

4-Pinckneyville 2104

5- Mt. Vernon.  2050

Streaks Alumni Profile: Zach Shay 1994

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile catches up with Zach Shay from the class of 1994. Zach had a great athletic career at GHS. He was able as a sophomore to play both varsity football and basketball.

History- Illinois Winningest Girls Basketball Programs

Totals thru 2024-5 seasons. 

Thanks to Steve Allen from the IBCA for the work he does in tabulating schools and wins. If you believe your school should be on this list and is not, it is most likely because your school has not shared information with the IBCA or with the IHSA. 

1- Marshall.    1211

2- Teutopolis   1203

3- Richwoods   1123

4- Carthage (Illini West)  1109

5- Whitney Young  1086

Streaks Girls Basketball- Looking for Another Great Year

Basketball season is here! The Silver Streaks girls basketball team had a great year last year going 24-8. The good news is that 7 of the top 8 players return for this season!

The Silver Streaks girls basketball team will tip off on Tuesday vs. Camp Point Central. The Streaks will be under the direction of 2nd year coach, Lexi Demott. 

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.