Streaks Basketball Alums- Mark Makeever 1980

What were some of your favorite classes/teachers?

I liked most of my classes and teachers. Some teachers that stood out were Mr. Hood, Coach Massey, Coach Johns, and Miss McKenzie 

What are some of your favorite memories from GHS?

Definitely basketball season brings back great memories. To me just being a Silver Streak was amazing! Then starting my senior year on a good team was a dream come true. Playing in front of huge crowds at home and on the road in Western Big 6. Doesn’t get much better. Beating Quincy and breaking their long conference win streak at home is one of my favorite playing career memories ever. Winning Illinois state classic was great also. Going to football games was also fun. Also open campus lunch and going to mall to eat.

1981 Girls Basketball- Class A Sweet 16

First- Chicago Christian

1950’s- Illinois HS Coaching Legends Spotted in Galesburg

In 1957, Ernie Eveland (Paris) and Duster Thomas (Pinckneyville) were show sitting in the lobby of Galesburg’s Custer Hotel. The Custer was in downtown Galesburg 3 blocks from Galesburg High School. Eveland and Thomas were considered legends in Illinois HS basketball at this time. They had brought their teams to Galesburg to play vs. the Silver Streaks. 

Galesburg Lockeroom- Streaks Pride & Tradition

In basketball, it is very important to have a designated locker room. You want a place to post schedules, stats, goals, and motivational information. In addition, you want a place to be able to watch game film. Unlike some other sports, in basketball you are going to be in a locker room for pre-game, half-time, and post game. 

For many years, Galesburg boys basketball had a designated meeting area and lockeroom. It existed back in the early 1970’s. Girls finally got a designated locker room in the early 1990’s. 

WNBA Play-Offs Outlook

WNBA play-offs get started this Sunday. The pairings are: 

#1- Minnesota vs. #8 Golden State

#4- Phoenix vs #5 New York

#3- Atlanta vs #6 Indiana

#2- Las Vegas vs #7 Seattle

Senior Spotlight: Streaks Fall Athletes

I wanted to shine some light on Galesburg High School’s senior Fall athletes. I reached out to all the GHS seniors out for a Fall sport to give us some insight into school, sports, and life. 

Gary Smith- Defensive Coach Whose Team Averaged 132.4ppg

One of the first blog posts that I did was an interview with Gary Smith in November of 2010. Gary coached some teams to incredible offensive numbers. His Redlands team averaged 132.4  points  in 2005. Obviously he is an incredible offensive mind, but in this interview  he explains how his defense created his offense. 

If you want to be an aggressive offensive or aggressive defensive team, Coach Smith shares his secrets. It is not surprising  this post is still one of the most read posts that I have ever done. 

The following is the original post- enjoy and learn about uptempo basketball from one of the best. 

                                                                                                                           

Top Scoring Teams

132.4  Redlands, 2004-5

126.5  Denver Nuggets, 1981-2

126.2  Grinnell, 2003-4

122.4  Loyola Marymount, 1989-90

Something I have always enjoyed in coaching was the opportunity to “network” with other coaches. I have enjoyed the relationships with other coaches, I guess it is sometimes a form of group therapy for us.

Veronica Burton: Lesson about Self-Accountability

Veronica Burton has been a key to the surprising season of the Golden State Valkyries. For her career, she averaged only 18 minutes per game. As a result her stats were: 5.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.1apg, and shot 32% from threes. 

This season she finished with 12.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 6.0apg, and her three percentage jumped up to 35%. How did she improve so much in her fourth season?

Massey Quiz #11- 15 Galesburg Pictures

 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. 

Silver Streak Ian Davies: College POY, Olympic Scoring Champ, Pro HOF Career

Ian Davis #21- Sophomore at GHS

Ian Davies was a 1974 graduate of Galesburg High School. To say he was a “late bloomer” would be an understatement. He went from being cut from the 9th grade basketball team in 1970-1 year to becoming the leading scorer in the 1980 Olympics. 

Ian was born in Australia to Fred and Joan Davies. Fred Davies was an Australian rules football legend. Fred was the captain and coach of Longford Football Club in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association. He later was selected into the Tasmanian Football HOF, was the first player selected to the Team of the Century, and had the Langford  football field named for him. He died at 39 in 1961. 

1987 Western Big 6 Boys Basketball Pre-season Banquet w/ Duncan Reid

Jay Redfern shares the highlights of the always entertaining WB6 Boys Basketball Pre-Season Banquet. 

You be the judge, just joking around?!?!

Hall of Fame Insights: Building Leaders & Player Ownership

 

This week’s question: What strategies did you use to build and empower players to take ownership of the team and leadership roles? How did you deal with strong leaders who were negative leaders?

Streaks Basketball Alums- Sarah “Storky” Larson 1999

What are some of your favorite memories from GHS? 

Beating LOYOLA of course.  It was such a tough loss the year before and I would be lying if I said I was really confident going into that final match-up.  Luckily the Coaches and Zolper had enough confidence for all of us and we had a whole year to prepare.  I was still intimidated by Olga...what can I say??  

Another favorite memory was just being accepted my freshman year and everyone being so welcoming.  Seeing my warm-ups in my locker for the first time, Molly calling me to congratulate me, all of the high-fives from upper classman and really just everyone making me feel at home as a skinny insecure freshman.  I had no idea how much their support would mold me into the player I later became.  

Streaks Basketball Alums: Elmer Dickerson 1991

What was your favorite class (classes), favorite teacher (teachers)?

Mr. People’s …woodworking class

7 Defensive Strategies for the Trailing Post Defender

Whether is watching HS games, college games, or pro games- too often the defender on the trailing offensive post player just relaxes until the offensive player finally gets up the floor. 

All one needs to do is watch Alex Caruso of OKC to realize how disruptive the defender on the inbounder/trailing post can be by doing simple things. I am sharing 7 simple strategies a coach might choose to use. Realize I am NOT saying that the defense should be any means be trying to do all of these or even 3 or 4 of these things. A coach can look at their players, the opponents players, and the opponent’s strategy to decide if any of these 7 things might disrupt the opponent. 

1951 Boys Basketball- Sweet 16

 

Scott Shaver at the Knox-Bucks in the ‘70’s

I love to hear from people after I write something, especially if it is positive. After reading the story about Harley Knosher and the Bucks Camps, Scott Shaver sent me some items he found digging thru his memorabilia. 

Streaks Basketball Alums: Need Your Help

STREAKS GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL ALUMS- I would really like to hear from you. 

I started recently doing a series that is simply titled: “Streaks Basketball Alums.” It is a chance for you to share some of your favorite memories, tell us what you have been doing since graduating, and give your advice to the Streaks athletes of today. 

Jay Redfern Interviews: Galesburg Sports. History

 

Jay Redfern has been doing interviews with Galesburg sports figures for the last two years. If you have not listened to them, you are missing out. There are 25 interviews with Galesburg sports legends. 

Harley Knosher and the Milwaukee Bucks Summer Camps at Knox College

Origins of the Milwaukee Bucks Camps

In the 1960’s, high school basketball teams during the summers could not have team practices, camps, or play in leagues. There were no such thing as team camps. A group of young, energetic high school coaches in Wisconsin saw a need and a value in establishing basketball skill camps for grade school thru high school age players to fill the existing void. 

At the center of this movement was Ron Blomberg, who developed day camps throughout Wisconsin in the late ‘60’s. Blomberg became AD at Beaver Dam’s Wayland Academy under headmaster, Ray Patterson. 

When the Milwaukee Bucks became an expansion team in 1968-9, Patterson was picked as the President of the Bucks. Patterson developed the idea of building interest in the Bucks by establishing youth overnight camps throughout the Midwest. Patterson enlisted Blomberg to establish these camps. Blomberg selected Jerry Sullivan from South Milwaukee HS to be the Associate Director starting in 1971. Both coaches were Wisconsin HOF coaches, with Sullivan winning the Wisconsin State Championship in 1976. Not only did they know basketball, they knew how to run great basketball skills camps. 

Streaks Basketball Alums: Saige Milroy 2017

What was your favorite class (classes), favorite teacher (teachers)?

My favorite class was anatomy and physiology with Mr. Peachey! 

Massey Quiz #10: 20 Pro and College Football Coaching Legends

As we get started with college football and the NFL, it is time for a football quiz. Here are 20 legendary football coaches from college and the pros. 

Identify each coach’s picture. Have fun. 

We’d Love to See Scores with Our Morning Coffee

High school sports fans are frustrated. We can remember the days when we could pick a morning newspaper on, and see the scores of all the teams- cross country, tennis, golf, soccer, football, volleyball, swimming. And the scores of all the area teams- Galesburg, A-Town, Knoxville, United, ROWVA, Monmouth, and many more. 

Coaches are frustrated.  News outlets with their stories and scores used to help promote interest in the local teams. It helped build up attendance. It helped get younger players excited. News outlets just don’t have the staffs anymore to go out and cover games.  

I want to sit down with my morning coffee and find high school sports scores in one spot. 

Here is the simple plan to get back to where each morning we can check out our local high school sports scores- in every sport and every team in our area. 

Good & Bad Shots, Cheers & Boos, Rookies & More

Shot Selection- Watching WNBA games I am struck by how many bad shots the players take. As soon as I say someone is taking a bad shot, you probably imagine that I am talking about someone taking threes or logo threes. I am talking about the number of players who take off balance out of control 2’s in the lane. They can be guarded and have little chance to make the shot. Just because you are within 10 feet of the basket, that doesn’t make it a good shot. 

The Touchdown Twins and the 1956 Undefeated Streaks

There have been many very good teams in the history of Galesburg High School sports. One of THE greatest teams in GHS history is the 1956 Silver Streaks football team. Only three football teams have completed undefeated seasons- 1908, 1916, and 1956. In the last 70 years, no other Streaks football has finished the regular season undefeated. 

Hall of Fame Insight: What Great Leaders Look Like

This Week’s Question: As you look back at your best leaders, what separated them? What characteristics did great leaders have? 

Time Capsule- 1975 GHS Reflector

Massey Quiz #12- 10 Questions about Galesburg Streets

Today’s quiz is looking at streets in Galesburg. 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. 

C.C. Van Dyke: The Enduring Legacy of Galesburg’s Coaching Icon

The 1944 Reflector described the arrival of C.C. Van Dyke to GHS in this way, “From Waverly, Iowa, came a new football coach, C.C. Van Dyke, and with him a new style of play introduced, a style marked with speed and deception, power and ease.”

C.C. Van Dyke was a 1924 graduate of Kewanee Wethersfield High School. He attended the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He graduated from Illinois in 1928, and got his master’s degree from New York University in 1935. 

Bell Bottoms, Basketballs, and Blackboards: My Rookie Year 1974-1975

The GHS Class of ‘75 is celebrating their 50th reunion this weekend. Their last year of high school was my first year of teaching and coaching. 

1974 was an exciting year for me. I graduated from Knox College, and was ready to start teaching and coaching. It was a different era, there was a surplus of teachers. I could not find a teaching job. 

I applied at Dunlap High School for a social studies position they had, but never heard back. I interviewed at Aledo, but they were looking for an assistant football coach. I interviewed at Bartonville for a JH position, but didn't make the cut. 

Summer rolled around, and I got hired to work at Butler Manufacturing in Galesburg. It was good money. I started the day shift then moved to 2nd shift which was more money, then to third shift and was making even more. It was a great summer job.

1979 Girls Basketball- Sweet 16

 First- Niles West

Streaks Basketball Alums: Isaiah Peachey 2008

What was your favorite class (classes), favorite teacher (teachers)?

I have 3 classes that stand out in my memory. American Studies where I enjoyed the content and the community that was built in that class. 

I enjoyed the class I took with you, Coach Massey, where I got the opportunity to be a teacher’s assistant with a group of special education students in a PE class. I loved connecting with the students and being a bridge and involving them in all of the activities. 

I’m also going to protect my 2025 Thanksgiving plate and say my dad, Steve Peachey’s Anatomy and Physiology class. It was a fun class full of athletes and/or future medical professionals. A big downside of that class was I was never able to say, “I don’t have any homework.”