'Nothing is easy' for Streaks: Galesburg girls basketball team hopes to end four-game skid
GALESBURG — After four straight losses to state ranked teams, the Galesburg High School girls basketball team hopes to get things going in the other direction this week.
The Silver Streaks will have to do so in a pair of Western Big 6 Conference games.
Galesburg (17-8, 5-4 in WB6) pushed No. 1 ranked Geneseo into overtime last Thursday night in league play but the Streaks fell to the Maple Leafs 51-46.
Galesburg played a pair of games Saturday in its Downstate Classic. The Streaks fell to the Peoria Central Lions 51-36 in the afternoon, and Galesburg suffered a 54-35 loss to Morton in the evening.
The losing skid began for the Streaks on the road against the Railsplitters of Lincoln when Galesburg was edged 47-41 on Saturday, Jan. 15 to open the Downstate Classic.
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“Five years ago, we ended the King tournament. It had just gotten to be overbearing as far as trying to find teams, get them matched up and meet everyone's needs. We came up with the Downstate Classic and simplified it," Streaks coach Evan Massey said Tuesday morning. "For us, it has turned out to be a bad idea because the games have been sandwiched around our toughest conference games. Having them all condensed into the short time hasn’t been a positive because you just run out of gas, and you run out of gas against the top teams in the state.
"We’re going to reorganize the schedule and try to spread some of those games out in the future," Massey added. “I have always believed it's really valuable to play the best teams. It helps prepare our kids for the postseason."
Despite the recent downfalls, the Streaks' mindset is the same as it was going into the 2021-22 season.
"Individual games are not going to change how we feel about who we are and what we’re capable of and that still holds true," Massey said. "Our self image and our goals haven’t changed despite the frustrations of the last four games."
Road trip to Quincy next for GHS
Up next for the Streaks is a road trip to Quincy on Thursday to face the Blue Devils (6-8, 3-6) in a WB6 contest.
Back on Thursday, Dec. 9, Galesburg didn't help itself against Quincy at Thiel. Sixteen turnovers burned the Silver Streaks, and the Blue Devils handed them a 46-27 loss.
Galesburg was without the services of sophomore Kiarra Kilgore, who is averaging 19.6 points per game and is netting 20.3 points per league affair, in its first meeting with Quincy, as she was out of state attending a family wedding.
Senior Kadynce Lydic finished with 11 points to lead the Streaks against the Blue Devils, and junior Capre Ferguson chipped in eight points for GHS.
Quincy sophomore post Taylor Fohey had a game-high 16 points, and senior Laci Novosel added 10 points for the Blue Devils.
"Quincy, we just din’t play well against them the first time and they dominated us," Massey said. "Hopefully, we can do better the second time we play them."
Looking ahead
The United Township Panthers seek revenge against the Streaks on Saturday afternoon in a WB6 matchup at Thiel.
Galesburg's first conference win this season came against UT in East Moline on Saturday, Dec. 4, as the Streaks routed the Panthers 64-31.
"UT we dominated the first time at East Moline but they’re a different team now," Massey said. "They've improved every week they’ve played.
"Nothing is easy.”
Galesburg's schedule
Tue., Nov. 16: Galesburg 66, Limestone 49
Sat., Nov. 20: Galesburg 70, Freeport 28
Sat., Nov. 20: Galesburg 55, Springfield 32
Tue., Nov. 24: Moline 61, Galesburg 36
Sat. Nov. 27: Galesburg 73, Peoria Manual 48 (Turkey shootout)
Sat. Nov. 27: Galesburg 72, Champaign Centennial 35 (Turkey shootout)
Thur., Dec. 2: Geneseo 60, Galesburg 52
Sat., Dec. 4: Galesburg 64, United Township 31
Thur., Dec. 9: Quincy 46, Galesburg 37
Thur., Dec. 16: Galesburg 46, Alleman 41
Sat., Dec. 18: Galesburg 71, Burlington (Iowa) 23 (Streaks Invite)
Sat. Dec. 18: Galesburg 62, Bloomington 39 (Streaks Invite)
Mon., Dec. 27: Galesburg 65, Altamont 56 at Mattoon Holiday Tourney
Mon., Dec. 27: Galesburg 57, Richland County 31 at Mattoon Holiday Tourney
Tue., Dec. 28: Galesburg 57, Effingham St. Anthony 33 at Mattoon Holiday Tourney
Tue., Dec. 28: Mahomet-Seymour 39, Galesburg 34 at Mattoon Holiday Tourney
Wed., Dec. 29: Galesburg 61, Richland County 34 at Mattoon Holiday Tourney (3rd place game)
Tue., Jan. 4: Galesburg 51, Rock Island 41
Sat. Jan. 8: Galesburg 57, Peoria Manual 26
Mon., Jan. 10: Galesburg 60, Sterling 32
Thur., Jan. 13: Galesburg 56, Moline 40
Sat., Jan. 15: Lincoln 47, Galesburg 41 (Downstate Classic)
Thur., Jan. 20: Geneseo 51, Galesburg 46 in OT
Sat., Jan. 22: Peoria 51, Galesburg 36 (Downstate Classic)
Sat., Jan. 22: Morton 54, Galesburg 35 (Downstate Classic)
Thur., Jan. 27 at Quincy, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 29 vs. United Township, 1:30 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 1 at Canton, 7 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 3 at Rock Island, 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 5 at Alleman, 7 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 9 vs. Sterling, 7 p.m.
Matthew Wheaton can be reached at (309) 315-6073 or at mwheaton@register-mail.com. Follow him on Twitter @matthewlwheaton
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA Basketball: Streaks girls look to rebound this week after quartet of losses
