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Greatest Game

Galesburg High School has been involved in some great basketball games since the start of the girls' basketball program in 1972-73. But is it possible to pick the greatest of them all?

Thanks to you, now we can. After a vote during the 2000-2001 season, here are the results of your votes of the Greatest Streaks' Game of All-Time

17 1996 Peoria Manual Tournament vs. Bloomington

Down one with under ten seconds remaining, Galesburg threw a long pass to Molly Watson who shot a layup, missed, shot again and was fouled and shot two free throws to win the game for Galesburg.

16 1997 DeKalb (HS) SuperSectional vs. Belvidere

This win sent Galesburg to it's second straight state appearance. The physical game allowed the Galesburg students a day off of school due to the early Friday start time.

15 1999 Bloomington Normal Tourney Grand Championship vs. Quincy Notre Dame

Galesburg needed double overtime to get past Quincy Notre Dame. With 12 seconds remaining in regulation and Galesburg trailing by two, the Steaks set up their strategy for their last shot. QND's defense forced an errand pass that drooled out to half court. With time running down, Streak Megan Pacheco launched up a prayer from 35 feet that came up short but was answered by Galesburg's Ashley Shepherd who collected the short attempt and layed in the tying basket as time expired. Overtime one saw the score tied at 54 when time expired. Galesburg took the final lead for good with 1:28 remaining in the second overtime.

14 1996 State Quarter-Final vs. Normal West

In their first trip to the state finals, Galesburg faces nearly the same team it lost to a year ago at the Pekin Supersectional in Normal Community. As the school district split to form Normal West, it took many of the players from Normal Community a year ago. Galesburg trailed by five at the half 35-30. The Streaks forged a 49-45 lead in the third quarter, and delayed to defeat Normal West 59-54. The win pitted Galesburg vs. Stevenson in the semi-finals.

13 1996 State Third Place Game vs. Morris

Going for its first trophy in ever in school history, Galesburg ran and ran and ran. Galesburg built a 27-13 lead at the half, and a 49-37 lead by the end of three quarters before settling on a 79-68 win and its first state trophy.

12 1996 sophomore game vs. Limestone

Who was it that started the tradition of yelling, "Hi-Ho Silver" before each game? Jay Silverheels and "The Shadow" know. It was at this game that "Hi-Ho Silver" makes its debut.

11 1996-97 regular season game at Rock Island

Physical and tough game on the floor and physical and tough in the stands as a shoving match breaks out about who should sit where.

11 tie 1998 Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament vs. Washington

In a close game throughout, Galesburg needed a length of the court pass from Sarah Larson to Jenny Zolper who layed the ball in at the buzzer giving Galesburg the win.

10 1998 Regular Season Galesburg at Richwoods

Facing one of Richwoods best post Nora Lewis teams ever, Galesburg needed Sarah Larson's buzzer beating basket at the end of regulation to give Galesburg a one point win over the host Knights. Galesburg needed two consecutive timeouts to get their selected play in order.

9 1997 Rock Island Sectional Championship vs. Rock Island

In its third meeting of the year, Galesburg faces Rock Island at the Rocky Feildhouse; a game where Galesburg's Megan Pacheco faced pre-game flu-like symptoms, but was able to fight them off to help lead Galesburg to the Sectional Championship.

8 1999 Geneseo Sectional Final vs. Rock Island

Another Galesburg-Rocky matchup that was all it was billed to be. Galesburg benefited from a string of Sarah Larson points that lifted the Streaks to the win.

8 tie 1999 State Semi-Final vs. Lincoln

This game came down to the final seconds as well sending Galesburg to it's first ever state championship game. Galesburg used delay tactics late in the fourth period to hold for a last shot. Galesburg's Sarah Larson was fouled with 5 seconds remaining and made both of her free throw attempts to give Galesburg a 41-39 edge. Lincoln's half court attempt for the win came up short allowing the Streaks to advance. -- The game was Galesburg's third consecutive buzzer beater.

8 tie 1999 State Farm Bloomington-Normal Tourney AA Championship vs. Chicago Washington

Galesburg's AA championship game with #3 rated Chicago Washington featured two Division I athletes in Dejeanette Flournoy (Illinois State) and Leslie Hill (Minnesota) and Division I potential Angelina Williams. The two teams battled to a 28-28 tie at the half before Galesburg turned up the defense and put on a vice grip death hold, holding Chicago Washington to a tournament record low of 0 points in the third period and only 7 points for the second half.

7 1995 Galesburg Sectional Semi-Final vs. Quincy

Stef Mitchell's 3-point basket with 1:57 left cuts Quincy's lead to 48-45. After a Quincy FT and another Mitchell 3-point basket, the Quincy lead is 49-48 to force a Quincy timeout. Misses by both team resulted in a Quincy foul on Mitchell. Galesburg takes a 50-49 lead with 0:06 left and finish the game at the free throw line with Molly Watson making both free throws giving Galesburg a 52-49 lead and Quincy one last attempt to tie. Their half court three-point attempt misses by bouncing off the front of the rim, while sending Galesburg to the Sectional Semi-Final vs. Peoria Notre Dame.

6 1996 Dixon SuperSectional vs. Belvidere

Galesburg trails by two points at the end of the first, second, and third quarters but remains close. Trailing the Amanda Leven's led Bucs, by one (50-49) with 1:54 to play, Galesburg's Ami Pendry hits a huge three-point shot from the top of the key to give Galesburg a 52-50 lead it would not give up. Sara Wood and Molly Watson finished off the game by hitting free throws late to preserve the win sending the Streaks to their first state finals appearance.

5 1996 Ottawa Sectional Semi-Final vs. Freeport

In a tightly contested game, Freeport has the opportunity to lock the game up at the free throw line. Freeport's Lindsey Werntz and Kristine Ambronski both miss free throws to ice the game away. After both players missing their respective opportunities, Galesburg's Molly Watson takes the ball the length of the floor to give Galesburg a 67-66 lead. Lindsey Werntz's shot at the buzzer falls short to send Galesburg to the Sectional Final vs. Moline.

4 1999 NIU SuperSectional vs. Harlem

A rollercoaster of emotion left the Galesburg fans in a frantic state on their way home to Galesburg. Harlem, led by Division I Anamna Yanni, gave the Streaks fits; but the game came down to a Galesburg timeout in front of their bench with the game tied and 0:11 to play. While trying to inbound, Rachel Bicego threw the ball to a Harlem defender who went the length of the court for an uncontested layup only to miss. Galesburg's Jaque Howard was fouled on the rebound and shot a one and bonus with 0:02 remaining. The 80% accurate Howard missed her attempt and to overtime we went.

Trailing by one late in the overtime Galesburg used another time out to set their final strategy. After inbounding the ball and the play braking down, Galesburg's Rachel Bicego found Sarah Pacheco unguarded on the weakside of the floor and hit her for an uncontested layup and a one point buzzer beating win.

3 2000 Streator Sectional Championship vs. Moline

Galesburg trailed by 10 at the half and remained down as late as 4:00 left in the 3rd period. Galesburg forced a tie with 5:31 left in the game and then came the decisive end. With Moline up 55-52, 14 seconds left, Moline's Alexa Lingis was at the free throw line to ice the game away. After her miss, the Streaks drove the length of the floor and Galesburg's Jaque Howard attempted a three-point shot that missed left. Galesburg's Michelle Flaar wrestled away the rebound and kicked it out to a wide open Megan Pacheco on the left wing and watched as Pacheco drained the three with 0:00.9 remaining to tie the game and force overtime. In the overtime, Galesburg got on track and cruised to win by 10 (69-59).

2 1998 Bloomington Normal Tourney Grand Championship vs. Mendota

Down by 17 points in the second half of the Bloomington Normal Tournament Grand Championship game, Galesburg had trouble guarding Mendota's Jaci Bice. After a second half defensive adjustment, Galesburg got back on track and back into the game. Jaque Howard's three-point basket at the buzzer, lifted Galesburg over Mendota, the fans into hysteria, and the players and coaches into a impromptu mosh pit leaving one participant seriously injured.

1 1999 State Quarter-Final vs. Loyola

Trailing by 10 points at the half (34-24), it looked as Galesburg were going to be blown out for a second consecutive year by powerful Loyola, the defending state champions. Galesburg went into the half off the momentum of Jaque Howard's deep three-point basket at the halftime buzzer. In the third period, Galesburg inched back into the game and with 3:58 remaining in the game, Galesburg got within one point 49-48. After exchanging baskets, and a Loyola FT, Jaque Howard once again knocked down a three-point basket giving Galesburg its first lead. With the game tied, and time winding down, Galesburg ran its final play of the game. Megan Pacheco's 12 ft. attempt from just right of the lane missed and after a scramble, and a tip by Galesburg's Jenny Zolper, Silver Streak Sarah Larson grabbed the offensive rebound and put the ball in over the 6'2" Loyola defender sending the Streaks to the medal round, and dethroning the defending state champs. -- The game was Galesburg's second consecutive buzzer beater.