Silver Streaks Pass Maine West Test
By John Ring
Some
coaches would panic.
Some
coaches would already be making excuses.
But
Evan Massey isnÕt one of those coaches.
MasseyÕs
Silver Streak basketball team was pretty much decimated by graduation losses. Five
of his top seven players are gone from last years team that finished with
a 24-8 record.
Add
to the mix that his lone returning senior--- Whitney Dehler--- hasnÕt played at
all this summer because of a knee injury suffered last year.
But
Massey plugged away. He hasnÕt whined or cried. HeÕs just been honest. Maybe
thatÕs why Galesburg basketball fans appreciate him so much.
Galesburg
had a so-so .500 record this summer, a time when records are more incidental
than the practical experience of playing. Then the Streaks took their annual
trip to Maine West this past weekend.
ÒWe
had a very good weekend,Ó said Massey. They did indeed; they knocked off
Sandburg, Maine West, Elmhurst York and Buffalo Grove, losing only to Hersey.
ThatÕs some good results against some very good competition..
ÒWe
have found that going up there is always a good experience because the suburban
kids have spent most of the spring playing and are so organized in the summer
that you have to handle a lot of situations,Ó said the Streaks coach. Ò
ÒWe
talked at the beginning of summer about having a lot of improvement to make and
while we still have a lot of work to do, the girls have made great improvement
in the last three weeks.Ó
Returning
for Galesburg next season is one starter in Jessica Howard, who will be a
sophomore. Dehler started the first 12 games of the season before injuring her
knee. Others that saw significant varsity time were junior Sara Baker and juniors
Maddy Boyer and Myneka Warner later in the season.
ÒKatarina
Mangieri and Baylie Boyer handled the point guard position and really did a
good job pushing the ball and getting us running,Ó said Massey about the trip
to Maine West. ÒBaker, Warner and Shelby Pacheco were pretty good on the
boards.Ó
ItÕs
clearly a rebuilding year for the Silver Streaks, something Massey really
hasnÕt dealt with in a few years. ÒI donÕt think people are going to view us as
being one of the top teams in the area but the positive is our juniors have won
at every level they have played at.Ó
GalesburgÕs
defense was consistent last year but the offense sputtered. It started to show
in losses to New Trier (34-27) and Moline (37-34) but bottomed out in the
Regionals when Rock Island Alleman defeated the Streaks 35-25 and limited them
to just one basket in the first quarter. ÒA horrible shooting night,Ó conceded
Massey. ÒWe couldnÕt get any consistency because of our shooting, In the
Western Big 6, itÕs pretty much smash-mouth defense and the physical play has
really caused a lower scoring game to occur in girls basketball.Ó
ÒBut
I am really, really happy with this groups approach this summer. With our lack
of experience and with our only senior still out, the groups work ethic and
sense of team has really been impressive. Last week, we had eight players ask
me to open the gym to come and in and shoot extra and as coach, it really makes
it exciting to see that kind of commitment.Ó
Howard
started as a freshman, surrounded by four seniors. Her job was basically to
score and she shot a lot from the outside and the seniors put her in a comfort
zone. Massey didnÕt ask Howard to do a lot and most freshman canÕt at that age.
Baker was a substitute guard but was moved to the post this off season. Massey
already sees some improvement from both. ÒJessica is shooting better and she is
also doing good things off the dribble. Sara Baker gives us another ballhandler
on the floor and sheÕs adjusting well. Warner and Boyer gave us big minutes
late in the season and Mangieri has had a great spring and put herself in the
mix for playing varsity.Ó
ÒIÕm
hopeful we will have better depth this year. Every coach says that they want to
run and IÕm no different. To be successful, we need to have presses that other
teams will prepare for so we need to have that ability.Ó
The
Streaks finished second in the Big 6 to a Moline team that sailed through
conference play undefeated while Galesburg finished a distant second with a 7-3
record. ÒMoline is going to be good again because they lost just one starter,Ó
said Massey, Òand Richwoods is going to be very good as well.Ó
ÒA
work in progress,Ó is how Massey describes his Streaks at this point. And while
heÕs smart enough to know predictions this early are treacherous territory, he
did conclude by saying, ÒWeÕll be all right.Ó
TheyÕve
been a little more than Òall rightÓ in the last twenty years despite the lowest
enrollment of any public school in a rugged conference. MasseyÕs description of
smash-mouth defense is correct. You donÕt see it in the Mid State 6 or the NIC-9
or any conference from downstate.
Silver
Streak girls basketball has used this as a competitive strength instead of as
an excuse. For that, Coach Massey and Mike Rux should be applauded.
ItÕs a Òwe
can do thisÓ approach instead of Òwe canÕt do this because ofÓ excuse.
Good for
them. Good for us. Good for Galesburg.
Keep firing
those shots, girls.
Top 5 Rivals
(This changes over the
course of years. Peoria Manual would have been in the mix years ago but their
program has collapsed.)
1. Moline: Has dominated
the Western Big 6 at times like Galesburg has done. Big enrollment advantage
over the Streaks and they play at Wharton Field House.
2. Peoria Richwoods:
Always a strong competitor in the Peoria region. Peaked a few years ago when
the Knights won it all but still strong.
3. Rock Island: ShouldnÕt
lessen even though Leatherman is gone.
4. Quincy: Quincy is
Quincy. ItÕs that simple. We donÕt like them, they donÕt like us. Case closed.
5. Morton: Put them in
this category because of the downfall of Manual, Dixon and Geneseo.
Top 5 Broadcasters
1. Dave Klockenga: Will
always be known locally as the Voice of Silver Streak girls basketball. Helped
expose the program while at WAIK for its excellence and substance. A constant,
always there.
2. Jerry Hise.
KlockengaÕs sidekick. It was obvious they enjoyed each others company and it
reflected in their broadcasts. Marty and Joe in Galesburg.
3. Jim Wyman: Made quite
an impact his first year with WGIL. Strong broadcasting background with
Galesburg ties. Hope he sticks around.
4. Amy Fort: Nice
addition for a few years based on her coaching experience at Knox College.
5. Tom Meredith: Great
sports background, veteran broadcaster.
Top 5 Dynamic Duos
1. Watson-Wood-Pendry: OK
we cheated here but The Three Amigas were actually the Trail Blazers for the
Silver Streaks. Took Galesburg to a 3rd place finish in 1996 and
broke down a ton of barriers for this program. Fans loved them.
2. Bicego-Wright: Hard to
imagine how many points LaToya Wright scored off fast break long passes from
Jenna Bicego. They played together just one year but were a fantastic
combination to watch on the fast break. Wright had the speed, Bicego had the
eyes and a passers touch.
3. Pacheco-Pacheco:
Sisters Megan and Sarah both started for the 1999 Streak team that finished 2nd
in the State. Both were fearless on the court and brutally physical.
4. Parkin-Gunther: Both
Annie Parkin and Amanda Gunther broke in together as freshmen and kept
Galesburg at a high level for four years.
5. Saline-Anderson: Same
recipe for these two. Saline blossomed earlier but Anderson made herself a
better player, very similar to Sara Wood. Inseparable. Keep the program at a
high level.
6/26/08