Big Week of Basketball at Thiel Gym This Week

This Week’s Thiel Schedule

Girls IHSA Sectional- Tuesday, February 24

6:00pm- Galesburg (27-4) vs Metamora (24-8)

7:30pm- Washington (30-2) vs Ottawa (20-9)

Boys IHSA Regional- Wednesday, February 25

6:00pm- East Peoria (26-4) vs Washington (13-17)

7:30pm- Peoria (22-6) vs Galesburg (18-12)

Girls IHSA Sectional- Thursday, February 26

6:00pm- Sectional Championship

Boys IHSA Regional- Friday, February 27

6:00pm- Regional Championship

Tourney Previews

Monday- Girls Sectional Preview

Tuesday- Boys Regional Preview

Galesburg Silver Streaks

Girls Sectional Teams

Galesburg Silver Streaks

Record- 27-4

State Rank- #3 in 3A 

Regional- Defeated Morton 35-19

Coach- Lexi Demott (2nd Year)

Losses- Loyola, Sterling, Rock Island, Quincy

Vs. Other Sectional Teams- Beat Metamora 59-43

Wins Vs State Ranked- Metamora (#10), Teutopolis (#6-2A), 2 x Morton (#5), Marion (#7), Bettendorf (#15 6A Iowa), Peoria ND (#14), Sterling (#15)

Leading Scorers- Zaniyah Carter, Joz Kilgore.

Scout Report- Depth and pressure defense. Galesburg has 8 different players who have scored in double figures. Held #6 ranked, Morton to only 19 points. 

Metamora Redbirds

Metamora Redbirds

Record- 24-8

State Rank- #10 in 3A 

Regional- Defeated Morris 62-28

Coach- Michaela Hurst (3rd Year)

Losses- 2 x Washington, Dunlap, Peoria ND, Morton, Galesburg, Minooka.

Vs. Other Sectional Teams- Lost to Galesburg 59-43, Lost to Washington 61-42, 69-26. 

Wins Vs State Ranked- Morton (#5), A-Town (#6 1A), Chatham-Glenwood (#6)

Leading Scorers- Baylie Neena, Kesha Sell, Addy Wooden

Scout Report- Neena (First), Sell (Second), Wooden (Second) were Mid-Illini All-Conference. First game with Galesburg, Neena got in early foul trouble. Metamora has won 9 of last 10 games. The Regional Championship was the Redbird’s first in 16 years. 

Washington Panthers

Washington Panthers

Record- 30-2

State Rank- #1 in 3A 

Regional- Defeated Dunlap 61-33

Coach- Kimberly Barth (10th year)

Losses- Morton, Nashville

Vs. Other Sectional Teams- Beat Metamora 61-42, 69-26. 

Wins Vs State Ranked- Morton (#5), Waubonsie Valley (#3 4A), 2 x Metamora (#10), Waukee NW (#3 6A Iowa), Loyola (#1 4A), Peoria ND (#14), Richwoods (#11 4A)

Leading Scorers- Avery Tibbs, Mazzy O’Brien, Dani Guedet, Becca McDougall.

Scout Report- Washington finished 3rd in State last year. The Panthers defeated the #1 (Loyola) and #3 (Waubonsie Valley) ranked teams in 4A. One of their losses was to Nashville (#1 ranked in 2A). Tibbs has scored 2,000 points in her career, and O’Brien, Guedet, and McDougall have each scored 1,000 points. 

Ottawa Pirates

Record- 20-9

State Rank- Unranked

Regional- Defeated Sterling 33-27

Coach- Brent Moore (11th year)

Losses- Mahomet-Seymour, Dixon, Kaneland, LaSalle-Peru, Princeton, 2 x Sycamore, Limestone, Moline

Vs. Other Sectional Teams- No games

Wins Vs State Ranked- Sterling (#15)

Leading Scorers- Kennedy Kane (Fr), Mary Stisser, Libby Muffler, and Ashlynn Ganiere

Scout Report- The Pirates rely on a disciplined offense and strong man to man defense. They want the game played at a deliberate pace. Ottawa wants the game to be played in the 30’s or 40’s. They were able to slow the game and upset Sterling 33-27. Last year the Pirates played Morton in a close game in the Sectional before losing. 

Streaks Girls Coaches’ Profiles

Brad Gross- Freshmen Coach

HS Attended

Galesburg High School

College Attended

Monmouth College

Day Job

Dean of Students at GJSHS

Morning Drink/Breakfast

Coffee with creme brulee creamer and sugar with a jalapeno-  Cheddar cream cheese bagel.

Olympic Event You Would Like to Try

Speed Skating, I might be able to feel fast again!

Olympic Event You Would Like to See Coach Harden Try

Coach Harden would excel at Freestyle Skiing. I just know he'd bust a move on the slopes!

Any Pre-Game Superstitions or Rituals

Always have to have enough Lifesaver mints in my pocket during the game, could be three to nine at any given time of the stress! Pregame I always make sure my water bottle is nearby, towel on the right chair for the girls, and my binder ready to go. If we beat a team before or have a big game, I use the same fistbumps during starting lineups. 

One Word to Describe This Team

Driven. 

This Team Will Be Successful If

We keep the pressure up!

Mark Harden, Jr.- FS Coach

High School Attended

Galesburg High School

College Attended

North Central College

Day Job

High School PE Teacher

Morning Drink/Breakfast

Pancakes with an omelette with bacon and spinach, strawberry milk

Olympic Event You Would Like to Try

Handball

Olympic Event You Would Like to See Coach Demott Try

Karate

Any Pre-Game Superstitions/Rituals

I personally write in the score book my roster in pencil of who is playing in the game that day

One Word to Describe This Team

Special

The Team Will Be Successful If

We relax and let the game come to us.

BJ Dieterich- Varsity Assistant

HS Attended

Galesburg High School in 2004

College Attended

Undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University and Master's from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Day Job

I’m in IT Sales. It keeps me on my toes and there's something new every minute! 

Favorite Morning Drink/Breakfast

Liter of water with sea salt! 

Olympic Event You Would Like to Try

Curling 

Olympic Event You Would Pay to Watch Mark Harden Jr Try

Equestrian - "Horse Ballet". I’d pay a lot of money to watch him pull this off! 

Any Pre-Game Superstitions or Rituals

My only non-negotiables are maintaining a positive mindset and making sure I’m actually having fun! 

One Word to Describe the Team

Fun! 

The Team Will Be Successful If…

They do the little things! In my years of coaching, I’ve been fortunate to be part of a lot of big games, and there’s one constant: at this point in the season, everyone is good. Everyone can score and get stops. The difference-maker is who wins the little things - rebounding, loose balls, free throws, and taking care of the ball. Those are the things that often dictate the outcome of the game

Jim Noonan- Varsity Assistant

High School Attended

Knoxville 

College Attended

Western Illinois University

Morning Drink

Coffee

Olympic Event You Would Like to Try

I'd love to try Curling

Olympic Event You Would Like to See Mark Harden Jr. Try

Ski Jumping

Any Pre-Game Superstitions or Rituats

I try to keep to myself as much as possible and listen to music.  If we're playing well I tend to stick to the same outfits, particularly the shoes I wear.  

One Word to Describe This Team

Together 

The Team Will Be Successful If….

We are confident, have great energy and trust each other and the things we do

Lexi Demott- Varsity Head Coach

High School Attended

Galesburg High School

College Attended

University of Dubuque

Morning Drink

V8 energy drinks (any flavor)

Olympic Event You Would Like to Try

Ice Skating.

Olympic Event You Would Like to See Mark Harden Jr Try

I would pay to watch Mark Harden Jr be apart of is the curling team! 

Any Pre-Game Superstitions or Rituals

I always have to wear the same pair of shoes and my pant pocket has to have a small tube of aquaphor and a black dry erase marker. 

One Word to Describe This Teak

Relentless

This Team Will Be Successful

If everyone owns their role and has “be the first mindsets”.

Streaks Coaches’ Thoughts

What has impressed you about Coach Demott? 

BJ Dieterich- Lexi is very mature for her age and wise beyond her years. She possesses a level of confidence and knowledge that, in my experience, is rare for someone who has been a head coach for such a short period of time. She is very open-minded and willing to take input from others. My coaching sample size is pretty big and diverse - I've coached at multiple levels with all types of coaches - and as I’ve said to many people: Galesburg High School is incredibly fortunate to have her leading the program.

When players come out of the game, they usually sit next to you. What things are you talking about?

Mark Harden Jr.- When a player comes out, what I talk to them about could be a list of different things. Sometimes I tell them about a read they might have missed or a read to look for. Sometimes I give them tough love. Sometimes I am highlighting something positive they have done. Sometimes they ask questions about things they should do in certain situations. Anything I tell them when they come out is to prepare them to be better when they go back

You love pressure defenses, and your press is unique compared to what most team do. Where did you learn your press defense?

Jim Noonan- When I went to coach at Farmington, I found myself with a very athletic group of kids, and easy access to Jeff Otto, who was the Farmers' boys coach at the time.  Coach Otto is a terrific coach who worked alongside Hall of Fame Farmington boys coach Tom Wierzba, the architect of our press defense.  Being a much better thief than coach, the obvious thing to do was to take advantage of the situation and steal the run and jump for my team to run.  Coach Otto was having great success using the run and jump with his boys team at the time, and he helped me install the defense with my kids and was an invaluable resource during my time at Farmington. 

What drew you to the “run and jump” defense?

Jim Noonan- There's so much to love about the run and jump!  First, I have always admired coaches who are able to find a strategic identity that is unique to their team, and therefore very difficult to prepare for when you have to play them.  The legendary Coach Bob Anderson at Williamsfield is a great example of this.  When you faced his teams, he was going to throw something at you that you had not seen

 all year; maybe ever in your life.  In the middle of a busy season with one or 2 practices to prepare, you had to try and develop a plan for your team to attack his defense, and more importantly feel comfortable while doing so on game night.  The run and jump puts our opponents in a similar position.  Trying to simulate the things we do, with the speed and intensity we do them can be pretty difficult I'd imagine for a lot of the teams we play.  I also love the energy it brings to the gym and the gritty persistence it requires out of the kids.

Why does pressure defense work so well with this group?

Jim Noonan- Most importantly, we have athletic kids and this defense plays to that athleticism.  Second, as with a lot of things, experience can be the best teacher.  For most of our players, this is the second year of the run and jump.  Instead of reacting to a teammate's decision to go double the ball, our kids are anticipating the aggression and are therefore a step quicker to their rotation.  There is structure to this defense, and we have rules.  That being said, our experience has gotten us to the point where the players can sometimes go with their gut and bend the rules if an opponent is vulnerable. To do this, the kids must have a high level of confidence that their teammates will have their back and scramble to fix things.  It takes time and a lot of in-game reps to develop this level of trust.

There are a lot of things that go into being successful as a basketball team. What are some the key things that have led to this team being successful?

Lexi Demott- A couple things that I feel have been keys to our success is our team chemistry. We have a group of players that get along outside of the court. Another thing would be our buy in. The athletes have really bought into our team. Everyone is working to accomplish the same goals. 

Sometimes as a coach, there is a key moment or game that makes you feel like the team is capable of even more that you had thought. Was there a moment like that with this team?

Lexi Demott- I think a key moment for us this season would be beating Quincy in double OT at home. I felt that was a win that gave the athletes the confidence in themselves, but also into each other at what they were capable of. I believe we went on a 11 game winning streak after that. 

Coach Noonan as an experienced, veteran coach has been important to you as a young coach. How has Coach Noonan been instrumental to you and the team?

Lexi Demott- Noonan’s role to our team is huge. He may be labeled as an assistant, but he is so much more than that. He has been such a big asset to our success. He has all of our athletes in his advanced P.E class at some point in the day, so he gets to see the girls twice a day. For me, he has meant a ton. I’m sure he probably thinks, “Oh gosh Lexi is calling me again”, but he never lets me know that. He is always there to talk out my frustrations and play devils advocate when I need it. He is always supportive of the decisions that I make.