Time Capsule- 2000 Register-Mail

This is a look back at some clippings from the Galesburg Register-Mail from November, 1999 thru March 2000. 

Maytag announces closing Plant 2.

Paige Bueckers Is Great But

UConn had a tremendous run to the NCAA Championship. Such things are debatable but I am not sure any team has ever been so dominate in the Final Four. UConn clearly was the best team in America!!

Paige Bueckers was the star of UConn and is one of the all-time most exciting college players. She will enter any debate on best all-time college players. And she is projected to be the #1 draft pick in the WNBA draft, which will be in on Monday, April 14. 

Bueckers is great but Sara Strong is the player that really impressed me. Strong is a 6’2” freshman. I am not saying Strong is better than Bueckers but it is a question to revisit in few years. 

Streaks Scrapbook- 1960’s- The Glory Days by Jay Redfern (1988)

On March 19, 1988, Jay Redfern wrote three articles looking at Silver Streaks basketball in the 1960’s, and the fifteen years since John Thiel coached. 

To give you background, Galesburg basketball from 1956 thru 1970 had won 79% of their games, and had gone to State 8 times during this period. By the mid-‘60’s, people were complaining about why the GHS Gym had been built so small. 

By 1988, Galesburg had gone 13 years without a State appearance. Previously the Streaks longest drought had been 10 years from 1921-1931. 

In the articles, Jay interviews- Barry Swanson, John Thiel, Ralph Cannon, Frank Dexter, Dale Kelley, Dave Wood, Jim Reinebach, Dave Peck, Jimmie Carr, Chuck Bednar, Lyle Snyder, and David Gunderson.

The three articles are:

Glory Days- 1960’s Made Galesburg Famous in Illinois for Streak Basketball

Will It Ever Be the Same?

GHS Looking To Increase Attendance

Jon Scheyer- Sit or Stand on Sideline?

Today most coaches stand on the sideline the entire game. They feel standing allows them freedom to move up and down the sideline to yell instructions. I am sure they feel their activity as a coach can help them “energize” their players, and make it more likely that as coaches they are heard.

A major problem if the head coach stands the entire time on the sideline, they often shut their assistants out of the game. An assistant may see something but not be able to really share it until a time out, then they have about 15 seconds to express their thought before the head coach needs to go into the huddle. 

Streaks Boys Basketball Coaches Thru History

All The Coaches

1903-4- Turk West (Student)

1904-5- Maynard Swanson (Student)

1905-6- Henry Aldrich (Student)

1906-7- Arthur Bridge (Student)

1907-8- Lee Allensworth (Student)

1908-9- Ed Adams (Student)

1909-10- Clarence Jordan (Student)

1910-12- T.W. Callahan

1912-3- Hayes

1913-6- T.W. Callahan

1916-7- Wilmoth

1917-8- Blum

1918-9- Buck

1919-20- Peters

1920-3- Kieth

Old School Coaches- How Can I Get More Playing Time?

This Week’s Question

In the Spring, players may ask the coach, “How can I get more playing time next year?” It is a reasonable and important question. An athlete wants to know what their off-season focus needs to be. The Old School Coaches share their response to the question. 

Streaks Scrapbook- Mike Trueblood (2000)

Galesburg has had some great sports writers who have given Streaks’ fans insight into the players and the games. Mike Trueblood was long-time editor of the Register-Mail.

I want to share four articles that Mike wrote in 2000 when the girls basketball team was making a run to State.

Hailey Van Lith- How To Build Toughness

In the Sweet Sixteen win over Notre Dame, Texas Christian University trailed at half-time 35-32 and star Hailey Van Lith had scored only 8 points. And Notre Dame still led after three quarters, 52-51.

Hailey Van Lith scored the last 6 points of the third quarter, and then scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead TCU to a 71-62 win. She outscored ND 12-11 in the fourth quarter, and had 18 of her teams 39 points in the fourth quarter. 

Silver Streaks- History of Nickname & Logo

At one time the Galesburg High School nickname was the Red Devils or the Tigers. The school colors became gold and black, presumably to fit with the Tigers.

Streaks Scrapbook- Jay Redfern- Girls Sports (1987)

In 1987, Jay Redfern as a young reporter talks to a young coach about the growth of girls sports at Galesburg High School. He mentions that the young coach “may not be one of the best known coaches in GHS athletic history.”

Throughout his career, Jay has helped shine a light on girls sports, and as a result helped with the growth of girls sports at GHS. 

Time Capsule- 1993 GHS Reflector

1993 GHS Reflector

2025- Best Things I Saw This Season

In my first year as a retired coach, I got to watch a lot of great players, great teams, great coaches, and great games. I want to share the best that I got to enjoy this winter!

Best Passing Performance- Divine Bourrage 5’11” Guard from Davenport North, Iowa. She is headed to LSU next year. I saw her vs. Bettendorf in December. It was obvious that she was a high major player. Like all great players, she made her teammates better. She is one of the most offensive skilled players that I have seen in years. With the combination of her height to see over the defense and her ball skills, she got the ball where it needed to be. 

Streaks Insider- Crisman a Streak for All Ages

By my count, Jay Redfern has been providing local news and sports to Galesburg for over 50 years. Today he does podcasts for WGIL that have a range of community celebrities from the past and the present. 

Years ago before tech allowed podcasts, Jay ran a column in the Register-Mail entitled “Silver Streaks Insider.” This episode was “Silver Streaks Insider: Crisman a Streak for All Ages.” It was written in November of 1999 before Crisman was to be inducted into the GHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Both Jay and Amy were 1981 GHS graduates. 

2025 Season- Coach Demott’s Reflections

Lexi Demott was a great player and an even better teammate. She “got it” in terms of work ethic and commitment. She “got it” in terms of understanding the importance of team culture. 

As an assistant coach, she brought many of the same characteristics- work ethic, commitment, and loyalty. The most impressive thing about her as an assistant coach was her desire to keep growing in her knowledge and as a leader. 

As a head coach, her passion and enthusiasm were off the charts. Her energy level was off the chart and it carried over into how the team played. The team was aggressive on offense and defense. 8-9 players rotated in and out of the game which created an exciting style and a strong sense of team. 

I asked Coach Demott to reflect on her first team and her first year as Silver Streaks Head Coach. 

Massey- As you look back on this season, what are some of the things you are particularly proud of about the team? 

Coach Demott- One thing that I was really proud of this season of the team and coaching staff I had was at no point in time did anyone ever give up. There were times I’m sure many people thought it will be hard to come back from or this is a rough stretch and they were probably right, but everyone stuck together. 

Massey- Were there any things that came up during the season and maybe took more time and attention? Were there any things that surprised you during the season?

Time Capsule- 1993 Boys Basketball

Some pictures from the 1993 Yearbook— 

Sean Hanlon

1961 Times-Democrat All-Western Illinois Teams

1961 All-Western Illinois

First Team-

Dick Redlinger, Aledo

Dennis Woods, Fulton

Dennis Radabaugh, Savanna

John Moore, Sterling

Lincoln Nixon, Galesburg

Mel Lacey, Monmouth

My Suggestions For Changing NCAA March Madness

All of us who are basketball fans love the NCAA “March Madness.” Both the men’s and women’s tourneys capture our attention from following who is in and out, what the seeds will be, where teams are going, filling out our brackets, and following game after game. 

We all get excited when a mid-major pulls an upset, unless it is our favorite team that gets upset. The #16 vs #1 upset that never occurs, until it does occur, gives us that sense that “anything is possible.” For those of us that live in Illinois, it reminds us of the Hebrons or the Cobden. Nationally the upsets remind us of Hoosiers and Hickory. The upset is part of what helps pump up TV numbers. 

But don’t be fooled, the tourney is designed to sprinkle in the possibility of only a very few of these upsets. The NCAA Tourney is really the “Power 4 Tourney.” It is set up by the Power 4 teams- the criteria for getting in and the criteria for seeding are all generated by the Power 4. 

At one time, NET was the tool for selection and seeding. It was a “secret” formula not shared. The mid-majors have computer experts at their schools, and they cracked the code. The mid-majors then adjusted their schedules to meet the formula. A few more mid-majors made it into the tourney as a result. So the Power 4 schools dropped that and came up with a new secret formula. 

Coach Demott’s 1st Season- Fans’ Reaction

Lexi Demott was on the Streaks varsity for 4 years, she was a great player, great teammate, and so coachable. For me, she was a wonderful varsity assistant for four years. Then this year she was fabulous in her first year as head coach. 

I asked some Silver Streaks fans and media their impressions of Coach Demotts first year as Silver Streaks’ Head Coach. 

Andie Leibach

First of all, I am so proud of Lexi! I couldn’t be happier for her and the Streaks on their first full season. I think what impressed me the most was how she operated with such confidence in what she was doing. It seemed like a great blend of sticking with Streaks traditions as well as implementation of the new. I was also very impressed how she had the girls working hard and team building both on and off the court. They completed various service activities, and had a bunch of fun experiences as a team which is wonderful. It’s no surprise that Lexi coached a hard working group, being a such a hard worker herself. Way to go, Lex!

2025 Season- Coaches’ Reflections

2024-5 was certainly an exciting year for the Silver Streaks. The coaches all seemed to work so well together as a team, and showed great enthusiasm. I wanted to get their perspective on the season, so I asked each of them a couple questions. No surprise, they all showed their sense of team as a staff and their passion for the program.

As I read their thoughts on the 2025 season, it became more and more obvious why the Streaks had a great season. I can’t wait for the 2026 season!!

Coach Lingafelter

What impressed you about Coach Demott in her first season?

One thing that impressed me about Lexi this year was her determination and mindset all season. No matter what the situation was, winning or losing, at practice or during a game, she always kept the same energy and never gave up on the girls. Another thing she was good at was building relationships with the girls. That made it easy for them to have confidence in the team and want to work their hardest. 

Old School Coaches- Multi-Sport vs Single-Sport Athletes- Part 2

This Week’s Question

There seems to be more athletes who only play one sport, and fewer multi-sport athletes. What are your thoughts on the value of playing only one sport vs. value of playing multi-sports? How can coaches help the athletes who are playing multi-sports? 

Old School Coaches- Multi-Sport Athletes vs Single-Sport Athletes

This Week’s Question

There seems to be more athletes who only play one sport, and fewer multi-sport athletes. What are your thoughts on the value of playing only one sport vs. value of playing multi-sports? How can coaches help the athletes who are playing multi-sports? 

2025 Streaks- Fans Look Back

The 2024-5 Silver Streaks pressured their way to an outstanding 24-8 season. In the Western Big Six, Galesburg finished in 2nd with an 11-3 record. They raced thru the field at the Mattoon Christmas Tourney before dropping a close game in the championship to state power, Teutopolis. Galesburg finished the regular season ranked #13 in the final AP 3A State Poll, and were #9 in MaxPreps rankings. 

The 2024-5 Streaks’ season was exciting and one that fans enjoyed. I asked some Streaks fans and media their impressions of the team and the season. 

1960 QC Times All-Western Illinois Team

1960 All-Western Illinois Team

First Team-

Rich Falk, Galva

Bumpy Nixon, Galesburg

Ralph Cannon, Galesburg

Dennis Radabaugh, Savanna

Clyde Kramer, Erie

Bob Coe, Galesburg

Streaks Scrapbook- 1979/1980 Girls Tennis

The warm weather this week, motivated me to think outside the gym, and look back at outdoor team in this “Streaks Scrapbook.”

For many athletes, they are driven with the goal of making it to State, or making the Playoffs. Only the great in high school sports are able to earn those honors. Many athletes who achieve these heights of excellence go unnoticed if they are not part of a spectator sport.

Coaching 101- Up 3 Defend OB with 2 Seconds

Your team is up 3 points with 2 or less seconds left, and the other team is entering the ball on their baseline under their basket. How are you going to defend when only a three hurts you? 

Streaks All-Time Starting Five (2015 Version)

In 2015, the Galesburg Register-Mail asked five long time observers their all-time starting fives in Streaks Girls Basketball. Mike Trueblood, Gary Mitchell, Tom Meredith, Jay Redfern, and Steve Bryant gave their top five Streaks!!

How does your top five matchup?

Streaks Top Five Girls Basketball Players

Secret To Great Free Throw Shooting

Bad free throw shooting is so frustrating. It is frustrating for coaches, for players, and for fans. Coaches always ask other coaches,”What do you do to work on free throws?” Coaches are hoping there is a secret to unlock good free throw shooting. 

Time Capsule- 1981 GHS Reflector

This is looking back at some highlights from the Galesburg High School 1981 Reflector- enjoy!!

Reflector Cover

Chauncey Kenney- Yearbook sponsor

IHSA State Tourney- Where Have Fans Gone?

In 1997, the IHSA girls basketball state series was a two-class system. In AA, 8 teams advanced to play at Redbird Arena. In the 4 sessions of the AA, 25,957 fans attended. That was an average of 6,489 fans. That may have been bumped by the semi-final attendance for the Galesburg vs Taylorville game, which at the time set a single session record for girls basketball state series.

Katie Dinnebier- Point Guard Worth Seeing

Stop me if you have heard this story before. I want to describe a girls basketball player from West Des Moines, Iowa. She was a high school point guard who was named Ms. Basketball in Iowa. She went onto to play D1 college basketball and win her college conference’s MVP Award. 

It may sound like another Caitlin Clark story but it is not. I am talking about Drake’s Katie Dinnebier. Dinnebier is from West Des Moines like Clark, but she went to Waukee High School. Waukee is a school in the suburbs that has “college like facilities.” Basketball is big in Waukee. 

Coaching 101- 25 Post-Season Questions

As coaches, we recognize the importance of the off-season for our players to work and to grow. I can remember putting together off-season shooting programs for my players, and giving them motivational packets emphasizing the importance of using the off-season to grow as a player.

We expect our players to make a commitment in the off-season to grow. If they are not going to commit, they probably won’t be successful and our team will not be successful. 

We need to expect the same from ourselves as coaches. We must make a commitment in the off-season to grow as a coach and to grow as a program. 

In the first month after the season, coaches should answer some important questions. 

IBCA Girls All-State Teams

1A All-State

Streaks Scrapbook- 1963 Boys Basketball- Sweet 16

1963 Streaks Roster

Roster- The Streaks started the season with a roster of (Row 1) Marv Harris (soph), Roger Johnson (Senior), Rick Callahan (Junior), Roger Bates (Junior), Chuck Nelson (Senior), Van Smith (Senior), Gary Anderson (Senior).

Row 2- Bill Weaver (Junior), Jeff Eyre (Senior), John Geist (Senior), Mike McCreight (Junior), Mike Nocella (Senior), Gordon Rosine (Junior), Frank Dexter (Junior).

At the beginning of the 1962-3 season, Marv Harris was the only sophomore on the varsity. There were 7 seniors and 6 juniors on the initial varsity roster. 

Friday Fotos- Mary Kay Hungate & Richwoods

There may be no coach who had a better run than Mary Kay Hungate at Richwoods. Before going to Richwoods, she won State Championships at Carl Sandburg College. After Richwoods, as an assistant, she won a National Championship at La Tech. 

Hungate coached at Richwoods from 1978-1985. This year Galesburg girls won the Regional at Richwoods so I had a chance to go down memory lane at Richwoods. 

Streaks Scrapbook- 1963 Basketball Quiz

I am in the process of doing a scrapbook post on the 1963 Sweet Sixteen season. As I went thru the old newspapers, there were some fun things that I came across. And they are the source of the quiz for you.

1- Galesburg’s Sophomore team was not called the Silver Streaks. What was the nickname of the sophomore team?

2/3- The leading scorer on the 1963 team was a 6’1” post player. Who was he and where did he go to college to play?

4- In 1963, President Kennedy proposed a $193 million project to build what?

5- In 1963, who was the coach of the Streaks cheerleaders?

Old School Coaches- Favorite IHSA March Madness Memories

This Week’s Question

As fans, many of us have had great IHSA “March Madness” memories. As children or as adults, there have been some great games, great players, and great coaches who have provided exciting memories. What are some of your best memories as a fan of “March Madness?”

The Game Has Changed- 1959 to 2025

I graduated from high school in 1970, so watched basketball and played high school basketball in the 1960’s. I heard stories about basketball in the 1930’s and 1940’s, and knew it was a different game with the smaller lane, the lower scores, and for a period jumping center after each basket. 

For me, the 1960’s was “modern basketball.” There was no three point arc, but in my mind it was the same game. 

As I have been going back and doing research on teams from the 1950’s and 1960’s, I was struck as I read newspaper accounts of the “big games,” how many times the games were decided by fouls. It was not unusual to have one of the teams having their star sit out for major portions of the game and of fouling out. Yes, players today can get in foul trouble, but it just seemed a much more regular occurrence in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s that I read about. 

Kentucky- 1 Class Tourney, Yet Small School Wins State Every Year

Kentucky still run a one-class only state tourney in both boys and girls basketball. My understanding is that since Indiana went to class system, Kentucky is the only state still running a one class tourney in the United States. 

Kentucky starts with 64 Districts with usually 3-6 teams competing for the District title. The District Champions and the District Runner Ups both advance to one of 16 Regionals. The winners of the 16 Regionals all advance to the State Tourney. So the Sweet 16 in both boys and girls advance to State. Kind of sounds like Illinois back in the day that Huff Gym or the Assembly Hall were filled to watch the State Tourney.

Race & Basketball- 1954 DuSable- "The Uncrowned State Champs"

When it comes to racial and ethnic equality, our nation has been a work in progress, and still is a work in progress. The 1950's were a time where there were some dramatic changes in the U.S., including the Supreme Court case of Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education. 

The story of 1954 DuSable basketball team gives one a perspective on some of the climate and attitudes toward race in the 1950's. Much of what I am going to write in this blog post is based on the book, The DuSable Panthers: The Greatest Blackest Saddest Team From the Meanest Street in Chicago, written by Ira Berkow in 1978. 

Race & Basketball- Historical Perspective

 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Later this week, I am gong to have a blog post on the 1954 DuSable basketball team. To understand the significance of the 1954 DuSable basketball team, a first step is to try to put it into historical perspective. Here are some events in Galesburg, in Illinois, and the U.S. that help us understand:

1916- Ziggy Hamblin was first African-American to play basketball at Galesburg HS, Another African-American did not play at GHS until the 1940's when Joe Henderson played for the Streaks. 

1930- Chicago Phillips was the first All-Black team to win the City Championship, by beating an All-White Morgan Park. At this time the City Champ automatically advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at Champaign. Phillips was not permitted to participate so Morgan Park went instead. 

1947- Jackie Robinson breaks into Major League Baseball. 

1947- Don Barksdale played one year at UCLA, and was first African-American All-American. 

1947-8- Bill Garrett at Indiana was first African-American to play in the Big
10. No other African-Americans played in the Big Ten during his career. 

1948- Don Barksdale was first African-American to play for the U.S. in the Olympics and won a Gold Medal. 

1948- Donald Thierry was the first African-American cheerleader at Galesburg HS. 

Old School Coaches- Set Plays (Part II)

Bob Anderson- Williamsfield

This is a man to man set with multiple options. 

Birmingham & Oxford- History with Basketball Sprinkled In

Retirement is great, Amy and I had an opportunity in early January to go south. We visited Birmingham, Alabama and Oxford Mississippi. I would highly recommend a visit to these towns of the south. 

How Does The Multiplier Work & Not Work

Private schools and public schools are different. They have a different set of demographics from each other. An advantage private schools would seem to have is the ability to draw from a larger population area, whereas public schools have a set boundary. As a result of these differences, the Illinois High School Association has developed plan to try to make competition between public and private schools more equitable. 

The IHSA does two things to impact all non-boundaried schools:

1- They attach a mulitiplier of 1.65 to non-boundaried schools. So they mulitiple the school’s actual enrollment by 1.65 to in effect raise the schools enrollment.

2- They also have a “success adjustment” where a team can be bumped up to the next highest class.