HOF Insights: Books, Movies, and Mentors (Part 1)

These HOF Coaches share some of their “favorites.” They reveal their favorite sports movies, sports books, best games or venues attended as a fan, mentors, memorable advice, and the fantasy dinner guests. 

Jodie Prina: The Galesburg Basketball Legend That Time Forgot

Jodie Prina- GHS Senior Picture 1974

Jodie Prina was a 1974 graduate of Galesburg High School. She was on the first two girls basketball teams at GHS. Those first teams were given a limited schedule but went undefeated each year- going 4-0 and then 6-0. Prina was not just a good player, she was a dominate player. 

Prina went onto to play at Carl Sandburg College. She led the 1974-5 team to a 19-5 season while averaging 24.1ppg/13.0rpg. The following year, as CSC won the State title, Jodie averaged 23.5ppg. 

At Juco Sectional, Prina averaged 23.5ppg/13.5rpg at a 5’8” forward. In the championship game, she scored 27 points with 10 rebounds. 

At the State championship game, she had 30 points and 15 rebounds. At the National Juco Tourney in three games, Prina averaged 26.7ppg. 

Jodie went onto play for the University of Illinois during the 1976-7 and 1977-8 seasons. 

Coaches’ Corner: Ghost into Clear Out

Normally when we talk about running a clear out, you think of clearing a side out for the player to go one on one. This simple action is designed to create space in the middle of the floor. You will look at it and think it is too simple to really work, but this year I have seen it used effectively 2-3 times per game for a layup for #3 or a wide open three on a kick. 

Massey Quiz #25: 15 Galesburg People & More

 

I have fifteen Galesburg pictures of Galesburg people. 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. 

Streaks Alumni Profile: Kirsten Olson 1989

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” is with Kirsten Olson from GHS Class of 1989. 

Athletes’ Insights: New Sport, Gift Card, Teammates

 

This week the athletes weigh in on winter sports, favorite restaurants, coach’s quotes, and great teammates. 

Coaches’ Corner: Offense vs 1-2-2 Zone with Point Covering the Post

Diagram A- It looks to me like they want to cover the corner with posts but they are slow getting there, and then covering post with the point guard defender. I know a lot of teams like this rotation because it keeps X5 on weak side boards. But I think there are flaws you can take advantage of. 

Diagram B- I think you can get the ball inside by having the point guard make a slice cut to the corner. If you keep 4 in the post, if 1 cuts quick to catch X4’s eye and get them to cut out. Your 2 may find 4 unguarded. 

Diagram C- You can get the same action by swinging the weakside wing. The advantage of this would be to do it early so X1 will have more trouble covering. Maybe have 1 pass to 3 then 3 pass back and cut. 1 can hold it for second before passing to 2. So timing wise have 3 cutting to corner as 1 passes. 

Diagram D- I have run the action of B Diagram to opposite corner. Have 2 pop to the top and then you have created 2 on2 on the weakside. If you have a guard who can shoot off the dribble, they should get nice shot from 15 feet. 

Diagram E- Diagrams E and F go together. In Diagram E, we want to take the ball to #3 then reverse. #1 wants to hold the ball and keep X1 guarding them until #3 cuts off #4. 

Diagram F- When 3 cuts off #4, #4 leaves and is going to screen X1. You are screening X1 to prevent them from rotating down to cover the post. #5 is flashing across block to block to get the ball. X5 typically is not going to want to rotate to cover that block or will be slow 

1988 Illinois Class A Girls State Tourney

 State Champions- Teutopolis

Stephanie White- Simple Wisdom

The following are coaching thoughts from Coach Stephanie White of the Indiana Fever. They were taken from interview with Sue Bird.

Coaches’ Corner: Offense vs Box & 1

Here are some options to use vs. Box & 1 defense. 

1957 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

 State Champions- Herrin

Streaks Alumni Profile: DeWayne Sperlin 1980

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is with DeWayne Sperlin from the GHS Class of 1980. 

My Scout Report: The B’s- Plan B, Big Leads, Blasting News

Another week great week of watching basketball. I got to see some great games, with some great strategy. Fun week!!

Inbound Defender Pressing- A strategy I saw by several teams that I really like is to press with only the defender of the inbound passer. The teams have this defender face guard the point guard just to slow up the offense and once in awhile get a turnover. As soon as the ball is inbounded, the defender sprints to get in position to pick the inbounder as they come up. Thus, they give up absolutely nothing. 

The twist is then is to sometimes have the point guard defender come up and in effect sandwich the point guard from getting the ball. This does create some turnovers when it is put on as a surprise.

What’s Your Adjustment to Their Adjustment- I listened to an interesting podcast that talked about how effective the Miami Heat’s offense had been early in the year. They had brought in an assistant with a strong European background. The offense was catching other teams off guard, but then the opponents began to make adjustments. As other teams adjusted, the Miami offense had gone from top 1/3 to bottom 1/3. The question posed in the podcast was- “What adjustment will Miami make to the opponent’s adjustment?” 

Whether it is your offense, your half-court defense, your ball screen defense, or your press- other teams have now seen those things thru 5-10 games. Are you ready for their adjustments? If you are doing things out of the norm (few other teams run your offense or defense), you will not have the same success the second time around if you don’t adjust.

Wrong FT Shooter- If a good ft shooter goes to the line instead of a bad ft shooter, is that gamesmanship or cheating? 

Time Outs- I get that you don’t want to be left with no time outs late in the game. Iowa men’s used up their time outs in a game and had no challenge late when clearly a bad play needed review. 

I am just curious in terms of strategy as to why some teams that lose games, still have 3-4 time outs left at the end of the game.

Don’t Build Up a Half-Time Lead- I watched or listened to 8 games over the two weeks in which one team got ahead of the other team in double digits or more by half-time. 

** In only 3 of games the team with the lead continued to build the lead in 2nd half. 

** In 3 of the games, teams that led by 15, 23, 12- had the other team cut the lead to a single possession in the second half. 

** In 2 of the games, teams that led big at half-time lost the game.

We have all heard an announcer say, “The way they are playing, I don’t think they want half-time to come.” Meaning the team wants to keep it going. 

I don’t have the announcer but there is certainly a psychology to coming out with a big lead. It would appear that some teams come out wanting “not to lose” vs “wanting to win.” By that, they don’t play with the same aggression of the first half. 

I listened to a podcast where someone in analytics talked about how to avoid a “kill shot.” (A kill shot in college basketball is when the other team goes on a 10-0 run.) Their point was that teams who avoid having a “kill shot” go against them are more likely to be good defensive team vs. being good offensive teams. Good defenses slow the offense down, they don’t give up easy shots. As a result it is harder to score the 10 points on these teams, and it takes more time. 

So I guess if I was giving advice at half-time to a team with a big lead, it would involve two things- playing good half-court defense and not fouling to allow them to get in the bonus. 

Option B or C, and the Counter- There are many things that good coaches do that make their teams standout. Some ways to evaluate a coach’s X/O knowledge and creativity:

** Do their plays or actions have just one thing they are trying to do, or do they have an option B and C, and D to the play. Coaches who run something with one option will struggle more and more as season goes on and teams scout them more and more.

** Do teams have some basic actions or structures to their offense but then late in a game they have a counter to take advantage of the other team “sitting on’ their actions?

** Do teams run plays or execute plays? Obviously teams who execute screens, cuts, etc- they are being drilled.

Blasting Out Your Story- 75% of coaches are pretty good with social media to let you know when their teams play, only 50% of coaches are good at letting you know the score when their teams win, and about 10% of coaches share the scores when their teams loses. 

Some coaches rely on Facebook, and some rely on Twitter. In the sports world and in the current events world, if you really want to get info out, you need to use Twitter- that is what the sports world uses. 

My Twitter honor roll for teams who let you know a game coming up, the result when they win, the result when they lose, and some stats to see:

UTHS Girls Basketball- THE best use of Twitter- post schedules, day of game announcements, cover all levels of program, other sports at UT, all scores- win or lose. 

Union Girls Basketball and Athletic Dept- My adopted Tulsa team does great job. They are like a college program. 

Sterling Athletic Dept. - Great news and great graphics.

Metamora Girls Basketball- win or lose, they share. 

Bettendorf Girls Basketball- do nice job with both Twitter and Facebook, and share wins and losses. 

If you should be on this list and I am just missing your Twitter account. Put your Twitter account in the comments at the end of this post so I can follow you!!!!

1931 GHS Red Devils: 2nd in State and Dawn of Galesburg’s Basketball Obsession

It had been 18 years since Galesburg HS had won the Illinois Basketball State Tourney. And although the 1929 Red Devils had made it to the Sweet Sixteen, no GHS team since 1913 had even made it to State. Most Galesburg fans still recognized the heroes of the 1913 team. 

At tourney time, the State Championship trophy and the team picture were put on display at First Galesburg National Bank. The gesture may have been intended to celebrate the achievement of 1913 and as an inspiration to present players about what was possible. Or it may have just been a way to haunt the community with the fact that they had not gone to State in 18 years!

The Secrets of Six Championship Coaches

Every sports coach and every company executive look for ways to build a championship culture. Great leaders realize that a successful organization is built on a solid foundation. 

This is how six famous coaches chose to build the foundation for their programs. Their methods have proven to be successful. 

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 Sports Quiz #3: 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.

Coache’s Corner: Options Off Iverson Cut

 Here are a series of options off the Iverson cut. 

Coaches’ Corner: 1-2-1-1 Press vs Four Across Alignment

Some teams will try to beat pressure with their alignment. Here are two classic things teams will do:

Massey Quiz #24- Music of the ‘70’s

Today’s quiz is matching songs of the 1970’s with the artists who sang or played the songs in the ‘70’s. I will give you a song title, you then identify the artist (or group). 

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. 

If you have ever sung any of these songs in a public Karaoke- double your score on that question!!!

Book Club: Readers Share Book Recommendations

Readers are always looking for just one more book. And with Christmas coming and we are all looking for a gift for the person who has everything. Nothing beats a good book. 

I have reached out to a group of people who love to read. They share some of the best books that they have read this past year. 

Coaches’ Corner: Baseline OB’s vs Zone Defenses

Here are some options to run on the baseline vs. Zone Defenses.

1956- NBA Western Conference Champs Play at Knox College

Knox College was the host to an intrasquad scrimmage of the St. Louis Hawks on September 27, 1956. Knox Memorial Gym had opened its doors in the early 1950’s, and was one of the nicest small college gyms in Illinois. 

Streaks Alumni Profile: Randy Peters 1981

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is with Randy Peters of the GHS Class of 1981. 

Randy did not grab headlines, but was valuable to multiple sports at Galesburg High School. He was invested in serving girls and boys tennis, varsity basketball, and football as a manager. 

Basketball Rule Changes: You Are Coaching- That’s a Technical

Do you remember the good old days when the neighborhood kids got together in a vacant lot or a large back yard to play baseball during a summer afternoon? The baseball field might have had a 70 foot right field line and 250 foot left field line. You had four players on each team. To adjust and make it a good game and a fair game, you had to come up with your own ground rules. 

Coaches’ Corner: MM Lob Play

This is a set action vs man to man defense, designed to get a back cut for a lob. 

Streaks Alumni Profile: Teresa Powell 1981

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile is with Teresa Powell from the GHS Class of 1981. Teresa was a multi-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball, and track. She was one of the best three sport female athletes in GHS history. Teresa excelled in all three sports. She went onto play basketball and volleyball at Sandburg, and then volleyball for Western Illinois University. 

Teresa came back to Galesburg and was a long-time teacher at District #205.