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Sunday, February 1, 2026

Streaks and Coach Thiel Head into Regionals at 18-12









Galesburg will be host to an IHSA Boys Basketball Regional on Wednesday, February 25 and Friday, February 27. 


Galesburg Regional

Wednesday at Thiel Gym

6:00pm- #2 East Peoria (26-4) vs. #7 Washington (13-17)

7:30pm- #3 Peoria (22-6) vs #6 Galesburg (18-12)

(Seeds in the Sectional complex are listed before the teams.)

Friday at Thiel Gym

6:00pm- Regional Championship Game


Galesburg Coach- Taylor Thiel

The winner of the Galesburg Regional will advance to the Ottawa Sectional the following week. 

Ottawa Sectional

Morton Regional (1-Morton, 4-Metamora) vs. LP Regional (2-LP, 3-Ottawa)

Geneseo Regional (1-Kankakee, 4-Plano) vs Galesburg Regional (2 EP, 3 Peoria, 6 Galesburg) 


Galesburg Regional Teams

East Peoria- The Raiders enter the Regional as the #6 ranked team in 3A in Illinois. East Peoria defeated Washington twice by 6 and 15 points. In their step into the WB6, the Raiders beat UT 56-37. They are led by Illinois commit, Quinton Kitt. He is a 6’6” junior. 

Washington- The Panthers were State Ranked earlier in the year but have fallen on hard times. In February, they had a 7 game losing streak. They have lost twice to East Peoria.

Peoria Interim Head Coach- Ryan McElmurry 















Peoria- GHS grad, Ryan McElmurry brings the Lions to Galesburg as the Interim Head Coach of Peoria High. The Lions are ranked #7 in 3A State Poll at 22-6. The Lions went undefeated to win the Mid-State 12 Conference. Peoria four sophomores- Kayden Turner (6'4, sophomore): 11.4 ppg, Nigel Moore (5'9, sophomore): 10.9 ppg, Jacob Duffin Jr (6'3, sophomore): 10.3 ppg, and Orlando Edwards Jr (5'10, sophomore): 10.1 ppg. The fifth starter is Fenix Foy (6'5, senior): 8.5 ppg. Their young talent has finished strong, going 13-1 since the first of January. They hold wins over East Peoria and Moline. Their losses were to Bolingbrook, Richwoods, Metamora, Rock Island, SHG, and Niles North.

Galesburg- The Streaks come into the Regional after an exciting regular season under first year coach, Taylor Thiel. The Streaks finished 18-12 and 7-7. Galesburg is led by all-purpose guard, Keigen Crummer. The 6’1” senior has come on at the end of the season, becoming a solid scorer for the Streaks. Galesburg lost senior guard, Stone Thiel at mid-season and has had to adjust to his loss. Two sophomores have shown steady improvement- Cesaire Bile-  6’4” and Eden Mayala- 6’5”, which has helped the Streaks get a different level at the end of the season. 



#1  Tobi KiVunina- 6’1” Senior


Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

Pasta 


Sports Idol 

Solo ball 


Pre-Game Rituals

Breathing exercises 


One Word to Describe Your Team

Diverse


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel

Understanding 


Season Highlight to Date

Finding my confidence on the court 


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success

Staying consistent with everything Coach Thiel preaches




#2  Stone Thiel-  6’0” Senior





















Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

Chipotle


Sports Idol 

Steph Curry looked up to him forever


Pre-Game Rituals

Always hit the door frame before i run out the locker room


One Word to Describe Your Team

FAMILY


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel

Competitor 


Season Highlight to Date

Greatest highlight was getting in against Moline 1 last time on senior night in-front of the home crowd


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success

To stay together and block out the outside noise 


#3  Keigen Crummer-  6’1” Senior





















Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place

Steak and shake


Sports Idol

Steph Curry


Pre-Game Rituals

Eat subway + praying 


One Word to Describe Your Team

Family


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel

Transparent


Season Highlight to Date

Having a positive record for the first time in a while


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success

Staying together through adversity




#4  Leslie Kelley IV-  6’2” Senior
































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place

Bdubs


Sports Idol

KD


Pre-Game Rituals

Eat during sophomore game


One Word to Describe Your Team

Funny


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel

Funny


Season Highlight to Date

Winning


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success

Playing together 




#5  Grady Hickey-  6’0” Soph




















Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

My favorite post game meal would be Raising Cane’s

Sports Idol

LeBron James is my favorite sports hero

Pre-Game Rituals

Something I do before every game is pray

One Word to Describe Your Team

Determined 

One Word to Describe Coach Thiel

Enthusiastic 

Season Highlight to Date

Best moment for the team I think would be eating Quincy at home. 

What’s Needed for Post-Season Success

A key to success this post season is to get off to a quick start and not wait until the second half



#10  Cesaire Bile-  6’4” Soph
































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place

Steak n Shake


Sports Idol

Kevin Durant


Pre-Game Rituals

Listen to gospel music


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Energetic


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel

Funny


Season Highlight to Date 

Win in OT at our last game in Dekalb


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success 

Togetherness





#11  Malakai Casillas-  6’0” Junior
































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place

Culver’s


Sports Idol

Kobe Bryant


Pre-Game Rituals 

Eat a Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich before every game


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Thrilling


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel 

Consistent


Season Highlight to Date 

Our 5 game win streak in the middle of January


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success 

Staying together and never giving up despite being underdogs



#12  Day’Vion Jones-  5’10” Soph




















Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place  

B-dubs or Dairy Queen


Sports Idol 

Steph Curry


Pre-Game Rituals 

Praying


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Family


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel 

Driven


Season Highlight to Date 

Hitting a deep 3 to put us up during the Dekalb Tourney.


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success 

Playing together as a team





#20 Demetrius Watson- 6’0” Senior

































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place  

Pasta 


Sports Idol 

Dennis Rodman, DK Metcalf 


Pre-Game Rituals 

Listen to inspirational sayings


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Family


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel 

Energetic 


Season Highlight to Date 

Beating Quincy 

What’s Needed for Post-Season Success 

To play our best basketball and stick together no matter what.





#25  Eden Mayala- 6’5”  Soph

Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

Ice Cream


Sports Idol 

Anthony Edwards 


Pre-Game Rituals 

Praying 


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Diverse 


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel 

Cool


Season Highlight to Date 

My windmill against Geneseo


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success 

Consistency and energy





#30 Derrick Curtis- 5’11”  Junior

































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

Wendy’s 


Sports Idol  

LeBron


Pre-Game Rituals 

Listen to rock music 


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Loud


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel 

Lively


Season Highlight to Date 

The greatest highlight for the team this season felt like when we went against Lincolnway West and beat them. Everyone had energy that game and we all felt great after. 


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success  

The key for success is continuing to work hard and staying true to our fundamentals.




#32  Rahkim McCellan-  6’3” Senior

































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

Buffalo Wild Wings 


Sports Idol  

Popeye Jones


Pre-Game Rituals 

I eat a ton of candy


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Cockamamie


One Word to Describe Coach Thiel 

Strong-willed


Season Highlight to Date 

Having a winning season


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success  

To win a Regional 




#33  Gabe Irizarry-  6’0” Junior



#42  Jaxson Wyatt-  6’6” Senior

































Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place 

Bdubs


Sports Idol  

Giannis 


Pre-Game Rituals 

Listen to NBA YoungBoy


One Word to Describe Your Team 

Funny


Season Highlight to Date 

First game of the season we beat limestone by 26 and 3 players had 20+ points (Jaxon, Keigen, Ceasaire)


What’s Needed for Post-Season Success  

Sticking together










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