Sara Johnson & Abby Owens- Knox Players From Grinnell

It has been so much fun for me watching as the Knox women implement “the System.” It is exciting for me on several levels. I am a Knox alum so that is part of it. My first coaching job was when I was asked to coach the Knox women my senior year, while I played for the men’s team. So it is really fascinating for me to see how the program has progressed and changed from that 1973-4 season. And obviously now that they run the “System”, it is exciting to see how it goes.

An interesting twist is that two of the Knox women grew up watching Grinnell play, and now are playing the same style at Knox College- 3 hours away. Sara Johnson is a junior- guard, forward, center- when Coach Cline went to the System, I thought her athleticism and ability to play multiple positions would make her a natural for the “System.” Sara’s identity as a basketball player was her ability to play tough man to man defense- so I am not sure she was sure about the switch.

Abby Owens, is a senior guard from Grinnell. Abby provides the ability to shoot the threes. An interesting thing is that Coach Arseneault actually worked on her shot when she was in high school. She has hit many back breaking threes this season.

In exploring how “the System” implementation has gone at Knox, I thought where better to start than with two players who grew up watching the “System.” We are certainly glad both left Grinnell and came to Knox!

Emily Cline- Knox Women's First Year

I know going to the “System” involves some risks for any coach. But after seeing the success the Grinnell men had with the “System,” I wondered why no women’s team in the Midwest Conference tried going to the “System.”

Last year watching Knox’s women play, I thought some of their players would be outstanding with the “System.” Having watched the Knox women while former player, Andie Allison played for them- I have always been impressed with how hard the Knox women play and the level of enthusiasm they have.

Last spring when Coach Cline told me that she thought she was going to go to the “System”, I knew it would not be an easy transition but I was very excited because I was convinced it was a very good decision for her program. It took courage for her to go to this style.

Winning & Losing- Learning From Them

An old adage is that losing “builds character.” I am sure this was said by a coach of a team that was struggling, and the coach wanted to give the players a reason to think what they were going through was worthwhile, despite the pain. While I believe “losing builds character” can be true, I tend to feel like there is a better saying:

“Winning and losing can be used to build character.”

I would like to believe the reason sports are in our school system is that the experience of working, goal setting, competing, being a teammate—can all be used as valuable tools to teach important life lessons that often cannot be duplicated in traditional classrooms. And part of my point is that not just losing can be used to “build character.” Winning can be used to teach important character lessons also—things like the value of humility and of sharing success.

Chloe Anderson- She Gets It

Chloe Anderson is a junior on the varsity. She played mainly on the soph team last year. At the end of the year we started playing her several shifts a night with the varsity, and she sure took advantage of it. She was important in our run to the Elite 8. Chloe is a very good fit for what we are doing in “The System”, she gets it in terms of just playing hard. She NEVER goes half speed.

What did you enjoy the most in the summer basketball program?

            I enjoyed the trip to Carolina.  It was a much different experience from Tennessee.

New Assistant Coach- Next Head Coach??

Coach Rux has been an assistant coach for over 20 years. Coach Barshinger has been coaching for over 10 years. And Coach Andie Allison has been coaching for several years. I have been coaching at least 50 years. So it is probably time we begin to train the next generation of coaches to run the Streaks program. On Saturday at Queen of Peace we started our training program for the future of the Streaks program.

So, who is the coach in waiting for the Streaks program?

Dani Teel- Non-Stop Action

Dani Teel is a junior for the Streaks, playing her first year of varsity basketball. She would be considered someone with “an active motor.” She definitely “gets it” in terms of knowing that she is supposed to go at 100% of her max while she is in. Definitely the system is a good fit for Dani.

What did you enjoy the most in the summer basketball program?essage body

I think I enjoyed learning what the system was about and bonding with the whole team.  Marisa and I met a lot of friends in NC so that was fun!

How do you feel you have improved since last year?

Even though it doesn't show much I think my shooting has improved (definitely needs more work though) and my defense.

Allison Mangieri- Runs & Shoots

Allison Mangieri has emerged as one of those players meant for playing the system. She athletic and can press, she can run (not as long as her sisters), and she can shoot. Quite simply she can contribute so many different ways. Probably most of all, she is able to be a leader by her unselfishness and her work ethic. We are certainly lucky to have Allison in our basketball program!!

What did you enjoy the most in the summer basketball program?

I enjoyed games the most because we got to play numerous teams and I wasn't scared to try new things like dribbling behind the back. If I made a turnover, I didn't get down on myself because it was just a summer league game as oppose to a conference game.

You have had a chance to go to Tennessee and to Carolina to camp. What is your analysis of the pros/cons of each?

I liked Tennessee because we had the chance to watch the Tennessee girls play and it was a shorter bus ride than Carolina. However, i disliked the food at Tennessee, the hills, and the dorms were scary haha. Carolina had better dorms and food. Plus, there was a pool just outside the dorms so that was nice. The only downfall about Carolina was how long it took to get there, but we did alot of fun things on the way which helped.

Queen of Peace- How Did That Happen?

How does Galesburg end up playing a private school from Chicago?

It all started in the 1980's when AD Mike Hellenthal said he thought would be a good idea for us to get out and play some Chicago schools on a non-conference level. I was happy to have an AD encourage that, so he looked and he found Chicago Maria. Chicago Maria was an all girls school who had a team go to state earlier in the 1980's. Maria was located on the south side of Chicago, near Marquette Park and west of US Cellular Field (it was Comiskey Park then).

Great Christmas Surprise

I got a wonderful Christmas present yesterday!! It was surprise and really neat. What do you think I got?

Charleston Tourney Recap

Wed, Dec 28
8:45am- Arrive Thiel Gym- pack the cars.
- Rainee, Allison, Casey, Marisa, Becca, Dani super excited, they get to be in my van!!!
- Jennifer Lieber takes "Secret Santa" presents and coolers to save us room.

9:00am- We pull out with Coach Rux the lead car, not sure that is good judgement on my part.

9:02am- My van vetoes listening to the WSCR sports radio, I thought I was in charge.

Pictures from Charleston Tourney

Effingham vs. Galesburg 1968

In 1968 Galesburg defeated #1 rated and undefeated Effingham in the Elite 8 game at the Assembly Hall.

In scouting for Effingham, John Thiel had the luxury of flying to Effingham to scout. Chauncy Kenney (a physics teacher at GHS & my cousin), had a pilots license and flew Thiel after practice to Effingham to scout.

Streaks with Good Win Over Effingham

We jumped out to a 10 point lead in the early second quarter, only to see Effingham take a lead in the late second quarter. We went up 40-37 at half. The first half was a foul fest by both teams. Effingham went to the line just under 20 times in the first half.

In the second half, we cut back on fouls and gradually opened up the lead. Jessica Lieber had 28 points and Sharron Diggins finished with 19. We were able to go into a delay and then hang on for the win.

We will play Charleston in the championship game on Friday at 7:00pm.

Winning Cultures

This past week I had a conversation with a coaching friend who took over a basketball program. The coach is very experienced and has been very successful.

He described his first year at his new school. Initially parents greeted him with how excited their sons were because they were really hungry to win. The parents pointed out how bad the last coach had been- the message being that past failures were certainly not their kids fault, the old coach had screwed things up.

The players told the coach how anxious they were to work and get after things. They told the coach that old coach did not push them hard enough. Again the message- we are willing to do whatever we can to win, the old coach screwed things up.

Jay Hatch- WB6 Coaching

We were fortunate to beat Alleman on Thursday night. Coach Hatch’s teams are always well prepared and know exactly what we are going to do. Last week, Jay coached the 400^th win at Alleman.

In girls basketball in the WB6, in the last 30 years, the average tenure for a coach has been about 4.5 years. Jay has surpassed that by some margin- Coach Hatch is in his 19^th season at Alleman. In the time I have been coaching, he has the longest service of any girls basketball WB6 coach.

Jay Hatch                           Alleman                  19 years*

Rod Leatherman               Rock Island            15 years

Steve Ford                         Moline                  13 years*

Steve Ebner                       Alleman                11 years

Ed Swaggard                     Rock Island          11 years

·              *    Still coaching.

·      No one else has coached over 10 years.