Streaks Scrapbook- 1996 Ottawa Sectional

After winning the Regional over Rochelle 89-52, the 1996 Silver Streaks headed to the Ottawa Sectional. The Streaks went in as underdogs to state power- the Freeport Pretzels. 

Galesburg faced Freeport in the first round of the Sectional at Ottawa. Freeport was coming off finishing 4th in State the previous two years. The Pretzels were lead by a four year starter, who was all-state- Lindsay Werntz (5’6”, 20ppg). She was headed to Arkansas State. They had a 6’3” underclassman Kris Abramowski (So, 15ppg). 

Galesburg jumped out to a 17-10 lead, and led most of the game. The Streaks were smaller and quicker. Guards, Sara Wood, Ami Pendry, and Molly Watson rattled the Pretzels with their defensive pressure. 

With their two All-Staters, Freeport did not give up. Freeport took the lead 64-61 with 2:08 to go. In the last 69 seconds, Freeport let Galesburg back in the game by missing 6 of 8 free throws. 

Freeport led 66-65 with 13.5 seconds to go, and the 6’3” Abramowski at the line. She missed the ft, and Jennifer Bulkeley got the rebound and got the outlet to Molly Watson. Watson went the length of the floor for a layup that put Galesburg up 67-66 with 5.3 seconds left. 

After a time out, Freeport got the ball to their All-State point guard, Lindsey Werntz. She dribbled the length of the floor but missed a 20 foot shot. Galesburg had big scoring nights from their three guards- Watson (18), Wood (17), Pendry (17), and Jessica Thompson pulled down 16 rebounds. 

The hero of the night was Molly Watson, who dribbled the length of court to score the winning basket. It is one of the most memorable plays in Streaks history. 

High school students had taken a pep bus, and local businesses had paid for buses for the JH girls teams. When the horn went off, all the students and players flooded the floor. It was a huge upset. 

The next day at school, Coach Peachey had a surprise for the Streaks players and for all of his students. In his class room there were thousands of pretzels for students to come and snack on.

In the other Sectional game, Moline upset Rock Island. Galesburg had beaten Moline by 17 and 19 in the Regular season. The Streaks pulled away to a 71-52 win after delaying and shooting FT’s the last 4 minutes to win the Sectional Champiionship.

The Streaks marched on, winning the Supersectional at Dixon over Belvidere, and then took third place at State. And it was all keyed by a rebound and outlet by Jennifer Bulkeley, and then a dash down court by Molly Watson!!