The Inside Scoop at State

March 6, 2001

Galesburg was sent off on Thursday, February 28, 2001, with an assembly before school started and was escorted out of town with a police escort as Galesburg made its sixth consecutive trip to the state finals. The next three days will prove to be plenty busy for the Streaks.

Thursday's schedule was kept busy by two practices, a media session, and a state finals banquet featuring Sheryl Swoopes, and a team meeting.

In Friday's quarterfinal session, Galesburg was matched up with a fimiliar foe in Peoria (HS). The two teams met in the Galesburg Streaks Classic at Thanksgiving with Peoria edging the Streaks by four points (58-62). This game was convincingly different. Galesburg had its biggest lead in the first half with 2:58 remining at 24-12, but it was Galesburg's 8-0 run to end the third quarter and increased the Streak lead to 16 that put the Lions away. The 22 point win was the biggest of the day by any team.

Saturday's games didn't go as well for the Streaks, however. Galesburg couldn't connect on a basket until 2:11 left in the 1st period. By then Neuqua Valley had jumped to a 14 point lead and led by as many as 20 in the first half. In the third quarter, Galesburg had trimmed the Neuqua lead to 7 by the quarters end and were poised to take command of the game but Neuqua went on a 12-0 run of its own to take back control of the game. Galesburg shot 26% from the field for the game.

The shooting woes continued for the Streaks on Saturday night. Galesburg shot 24% in the first half while New Trier was shooting 70% from the three point arc. Yikes! The combination of those two things gave Galesburg the 4th place trophy.

Senior Sarah Pacheco was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association second team while junior Shannon Williams was named to the IBCA third team.

Sarah Pacheco was also selected to the AP state finals all-tournament first team. Her 47 points tied her for second most points scored in the tournament with Sarah Kwasinski of Oak Park (Fenwick). Pacheco ended the tournament with 26 rebounds two fewer that tournament leader Kwasinski. In addition to Pacheco and Kwasinski, Erin Lawless-Fenwick, Lindsay Wisdom-Neuqua Valley, and Cappie Pondexter-Marshall were first team members.

Sunday's welcome home celebration included a fire truck ride, parade, and assembly in John Thiel Gym.

Thanks to all the Streaks fans for thier support throuout the season and down the tournament trail. We've received lots and lots of e-mails in support of the team and we are very appreciative of all of your kind words.

There's still time to cast your vote for the all-time best Streaks game. Voting will end on Friday, March 9, 2001 and results will be posted Monday, March 12, 2001.

February 28, 2001

Sixth Sense! Return to Normal! Be there or be square!

February 27, 2001

The "Chick" has been very good to the Galesburg Silver Streaks. Northern Illinois University's Chick Evans Fieldhouse provided a familiar and friendly atmosphere for the Streaks. The team has never lost when playing there and last night's 64-53 win over Rockton (Hononegah) proved to be no different. The win jets the Streaks to the Elight Eight to face the Peoria Lions in Friday's 8:00 pm state quarter-final game. Galesburg put 4 players in double figures and will be making their 6th consecutive state finals appearance tying them with East St. Louis Lincoln ('79-'84) for consecutive state finals appearances.

Tickets for Friday's class AA girls’ state finals will be on sale to GHS ALL-SPORTS or Girls Basketball pass holders on Wednesday, February 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the north corridor of the high school. Fans will not be allowed to get in line until after school is dismissed at 2:55 p.m.

A pass holder may purchase a limit of four tickets. A person must have on pass for each ticket purchased. All remaining tickets will be available to the general public from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will not be any sales after this time.

GHS faculty and staff may sign up for a maximum of two (2) tickets for Friday's girls’ state finals in the athletic office on Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Reserved seat tickets in the lower level are $9. General admission tickets in the upper level are $7. Galesburg will play on Friday at 8:00 p.m.

Arrangements are being made for a fan bus on Friday. Check with the athletic office for details (343-9830). There will not be a fan bus on Saturday.

State finals t-shirts will be available at toinght's boys regional game at GHS vs. Geneseo. Shirts are $10.00 with procedes going to the girls' basketball team. Get yours today!

February 23, 2001

Galesburg claimed its seventh consecutive sectional title by beating East Moline 58-51. The Streaks had a 2 point lead at the half before a solid second half increasing the lead to as many as nine points during the game. The win moves Galesburg to Monday night's super-sectional game vs. Rockton (Hononegah), a 61-55 winner over Cary Grove. Monday's game will be played at Northern Illinois University's Chick Evans Fieldhouse with gametime at 7:30 pm.

GHS will sponsor fan busses to Monday's game. Price of the bus is $14.00 and does not include a ticket to the game. Tickets to Monday's game can be purchased at the GHS Athletic Office for $5.00. All seating is general admission and seating capacity is 6,000+.

Sectional Championship T-Shirts can be purchased at GHS this afternoon for $10.00. All proceeds will help the girls basketball team.

February 22, 2001

Galesburg will go for its seventh consecutive sectional title when they take on East Moline tonight at 7:30 in Dixon. Should the Streaks win, it would tie them with Paris and Champaign Central boys for the most consecutive sectional titles in the state (boys or girls). Further ahead on the list is Teutopolis (girls) who won 8 consecutive sectional titles from 1983-1990.

February 21, 2001

Fans wishing to take the fan bus to the game can still do so by contacting the GHS Athletic Office at 343-9830. Price for the bus is $12.00 which does not include the price of the ticket to the game which is $5.00. Plenty of seats are still available on the second and third fan busses. The busses will leave at 4:30 pm from the gym circle.

February 20, 2001

Its funny that motivation comes in all shapes and sizes throughout the season. Galesburg's win over Sterling was fueled by a variety of sources as the Streaks cruised in their 20 point win last night redeeming its two point overtime loss at Sterling in January. Galesburg will now face East Moline, a 60-50 winner over upstart Rock Island. It will be the third meeting of the year with East Moline. The Streaks split the previous two meetings with each team winning on its home floor. Thursday's game is set for 7:30 pm.

Galesburg's Amanda Gunther did not advance in the Country Companies Three-Point Showdown. Gunther made 6 three pointers but needed 7 to get to the finals to advance. Not bad considering that the last time she shot a basketball was in Thursday's three point competition. The sophomore has been out sick since Friday.

February 19, 2001

Of Galesburg's 25 different opponents this year, 15 of the 25 are sectional quality teams or better. 11 of the AA teams are current sectional qualifiers and 4 of the A teams were sectional qualifiers with two of the A teams, (Alleman and Rochester), as super-sectional qualifiers.

Galesburg is hoping to redeem it's two point overtime loss at Sterling from earlier in the year. The Streaks have lost once since Christmas (at Sterling).

February 16, 2001

Galesburg cruised to its 14th straight regional championship in a row by beating the DeKalb Barbs 73-47. The Streaks placed four players in double figures and will meet Sterling, a 48-46 winner over Geneseo, on Monday night in the 6:00 game at the Dixon Sectional.

Galesburg's Amanda Gunther won the Country Companies Three-Point Showdown by hitting 7 three-point shots as the night's final shooter. She will advance along with Kari Bakken of DeKalb, Jesse Kirk of Princeton, and Meghan Wiesbrock of Ottawa to Monday's Shootout prior to Galesburg's 6:00 game which should begin approximately 5:10 pm. Doors open in Dixon at 5:00 pm.

Galesburg fans can sign up for the fan bus to Dixon at tonight's boys game vs. Alleman at the Booster Club store located just off John Thiel Gym or by calling the GHS Athletic Office at 343-9830. Price for the bus is $12.00

Below is a list of consecutive regional championship winners:

Consecutive Regional Titles (All Classes)

Centralia Boys 25 1945-69
Paris Boys 18 1938-55
E.St.Louis Lincoln Girls 18 1978-95
Maine West Girls 17 1985-2001 (Current)
Stephan Decatur Boys 17 1936-52
Mt.Vernon Boys 16 1940-55
Galesburg Boys 16 1955-70
Quincy Boys 15 1942-56
Galesburg Girls 14 1988-2001 (Current)
Manual Boys 14 1986-99 (Current)
Peoria Central Boys 13 1987-99 (Current)
MacAuley Girls 12 1987-98
Carthage Girls 11 1977-87

February 15, 2001

Galesburg will go for its 14th straight regional championship tonight in a 7:30 game vs. DeKalb. Strange as it may seem, the current freshman on this year's team, Jenna Bicego and Brittany Stephan, were only one year old when the streak started.

February 13, 2001

DeKalb's win over Ottawa last night makes them the next opponent for Galesburg on Thursday night. DeKalb posted a 54-45 win over Ottawa to advance to the Regional Championship. Game time for Thursday's game against DeKalb is 7:30 pm.

In the Country Companies Three-Point Showdown, Galesburg's only advancement was made by sophomore Amanda Gunther who made 5 three-pointers. She is joined by Kari Bakken Jr. DeKalb, Jesse Kirk So. Princeton, Dawn Nissen So. Princeton, Jenni Norris Jr. DeKalb, Michelle Rowley Jr. Princeton, Stacey Siska So. Ottawa, and Meghan Wiesbrock Sr. Ottawa. Shooting festivites begin at 6:40 on Thursday.

Freshman coach Jay Barshinger is a graduate of DeKalb High School as is super model Cindy Crawford. The two did cross paths as Barshinger student taught at DHS while Crawford was a student there.

The only hitch in last night's game was in the public address system. Just as announcer Bill Allison was ready to give the starting lineups for Galesburg, the public address system failed. Too bad. The problem has been a reoccurring one all season but still hasn't been solved yet.

February 12, 2001

The Princeton Tigers invade John Thiel Gym tonight in the first round of the Galesburg regional. Princeton comes in with a 6-18 record and appears to be making its last appearance in the Class AA tournament. Next year Princeton will be a Class A team. Game time is 7:30 pm.

Streaks assistant coach Steve Peachey is a Princeton native. His family moved to Galesburg while Steve was in junior high.

Tonight's shooters for Galesburg in the Country Companies Three-Point Showdown will be: Junior-Melissa Pacheco, Sophomore-Amanda Gunther, Sophomore-Elizabeth Hauslein, and Freshman-Jenna Bicego.