I have a note pad by my chair as I watch some basketball and listen to some podcasts. Here are some random thoughts from this past week of basketball.
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Massey Sports Quiz #2: 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.
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Vince Lombardi Quotes
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victory.
If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Massey Quiz #23: 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.
Adolph “Ziggy” Hamblin: Galesburg HS & Knox College Legend
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| Adolph “Ziggy” Hamblin- 2nd from left- 1914 GHS Elite 8 team. |
Adolph “Ziggy” Hamblin was a 1915 graduate of Galesburg High School, and a 1920 graduate of Knox College. By all accounts, he may have been one of the most well-rounded athletes to ever play sports at GHS or Knox.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Coach’s Corner: Simple Measure of Defensive Quality
Throughout my coaching career, I looked at different stats to try to evaluate our defensive efficiency:
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Players’ Insights: Nerves, Routines, and Superstitions
This winter I am following ten athletes as they compete as athletes and face the challenges of the classroom. They will share their experiences as students and athletes.
Choosing Roots Over Rush: Galesburg Natives Returning to Their Hometown
We always hear that young people don’t want to live in small towns like Galesburg. They want to go to the big cities like Chicago and New York. I reached out to three individuals- BJ Dieterich, Jordan Gunther, and John Simkins, who have decided to leave big city life for Galesburg. And I got Andrew Thomas to share why he chose to come back to Galesburg right after college.
These are four great people, and it is exciting to have them in our community.
Monday, December 1, 2025
WB6 Update- Boys All-Time Leading Scorers
The following is a list of the leading scorers at WB6 schools. It is not points scored just in WB6 games but points scored throughout their careers. So this is a list of the top career scorers in boys basketball at Alleman, Galesburg, Geneseo, Moline, Quincy, Rock Island, Sterling, and UTHS.
Streaks Alumni Spotlight: Laura Tiehen 1986
Today’s “Streaks Alumni Spotlight” features Laura Tiehen, GHS Class of 1986.
Laura was involved in multiple sports, student government, service clubs, cheerleading, and language clubs. She was also a top student. When you see her level of involvement in high school, it is not surprising that as an adult she had such an impressive career of service.
Sunday, November 30, 2025
WB6 Update- Girls All-Time Leading Scorers
This is a list of girls basketball leading scorers at WB6 schools. It is not the girls at Alleman, Galesburg, Geneseo, Moline, Quincy, Rock Island, Sterling, and UTHS who have the highest career points. This is each players total points scored in their career.
Streaks Alumni Spotlight: Brandon Mink 1983
Today’s ”Streaks Alumni Spotlight” is on Brandon Mink, Galesburg High School Class of 1983.
Brandon was what you would want an athlete to be. He was goal oriented and hard working in everything he did. He was successful as a runner in both cross country and track, active in band, and a great student.
There are many worthwhile careers, but I smiled when I realized Brandon had chosen to go into teaching. There is no doubt he is a good teacher.
My Scouting Report: McDuffie, Mulkey, and SGA
Isaiah McDuffie of the Green Bay Packers was elected by his teammates as a team captain. He plays linebacker and averages only 16 snaps per game. When the team want to show rookies how to practice, they have a video of McDuffie at practice. Yes, a player can be important to culture even if they are not playing lots of minutes.
Coach’s Corner: Measuring Shooting Accuracy
Traditional FG Percentage
Effective FG Percentage (eFG%)
True Shooting Percentage
Points per Shot
Saturday, November 29, 2025
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).
Friday, November 28, 2025
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
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
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.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
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?
Monday, November 24, 2025
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.
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.
Sunday, November 23, 2025
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.
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.
Saturday, November 22, 2025
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?”
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