Game 127: Moline @ Galesburg (Girl's Basketball)

Galesburg Seniors
Source: Massey Basketball

Game 127
Moline @ Galesburg (Girl's Basketball)
(2/10/11)

Senior Night at Galesburg High School.  There are five senior basketball players (Tai Peachey, Jessica Howard, Megan Young, Mickey Rodriguez, and Jamie Johnson) and two managers (Sarah Main and Lauren Riggs).  It's an extremely tight-knit group of girls.  Coach Evan Massey talked about this group of seniors on Sportsline today.



Coach Massey and I did an interview, above in Sportsline, discussing the GHS seniors.  I talked with Moline head coach Steve Ford in the afternoon.  I arrived at John Thiel Gymnasium around 4:45. 

When I plugged in the equipment, I was getting nothing on our Cellcaster unit, no power.  I plugged my laptop into the same outlet, and it had power.  This was something that I had expected would happen.  The power supply was frayed a year ago, bound together by electrical tape.  I placed a call for some backup equipment to be delivered, but was able to rig the power supply for the time being with some fresh duct tape.  The backup equipment came just in case.  Move over dog, duct tape is man's best friend.

Along with Senior Night, a Western Big 6 title is on the line.  Moline has won the past three league titles.  After tonight, the Maroons and Silver Streaks will combine to win 19 of the last 25 Western Big 6 championships. 

Galesburg has a 44-43 record against Moline, historically.  Their first meeting was during the 1972-73 season.  In their last meeting, on January 6th (a Galesburg win), Moline's Marquisha Harris became the school's all-time leading scorer, breaking Holly Hallstrom's record.

Following Senior Night introductions

Jimmie Carr lined up some interviews, as he will be talking with sophomore coach Mike Rux at halftime, and three of the seniors over the next week.  He has already had Jessica Howard and Jamie Johnson on the air.  Mickey Rodriguez, Tai Peachey, and Megan Young are next.

As the game neared, by our naked eye estimates, it appeared that tonight's crowd was the biggest crowd at Thiel Gymnasium all season, exceeding the crowds in the boy's Rock Island and Moline games.

Both teams have a winning streak entering the contest.  The Silver Streaks have won six straight games, while the Maroons have won seven straight.  The last loss for Moline came at home against this Galesburg squad.

Jimmie Carr interviews Mike Rux

Moline took a 13-2 lead to start the game, and Galesburg was not able to dig themselves out of the big hole.  The Streaks went just 2-23 from the three-point line in the first half, and trailed 37-20 at the break.  Galesburg turned the ball over 8 times in the first half, which isn't too bad, but only forced 4 turnovers.

During halftime, Jimmie talked with sophomore head coach Mike Rux.  His team won an exciting game earlier in the night.  The Streaks held off Moline, 43-39. 

Moline outscored Galesburg 18-8 in the 3rd quarter, and held on to win easily, 74-45.  The Silver Streaks went just 5-32 from the three-point line.  Marquisha Harris scored a game-high 20 points, while Tiana McCormick added 19 points, and Kylie Romeo scored 13 points.  Both Morgan Gerard and Jordan De Los Reyes scored 10 points.  Sadee Hamilton paced Galesburg with 11 points, and Emma Junk added 10 points.

Outside of Western Michigan-bound Marquisha Harris, the Maroons are an extremely young team.  The Maroons have one senior (Harris), three juniors, six sophomores, and four freshmen on their roster.  Sophomore Becky Lankford was unavailable for Moline due to injury. 

The Silver Streaks played their entire roster of 15 in the end.  Sophomores Sharron Diggins, Chloe Anderson, and Allison Mangieri saw minutes late in the 4th quarter.  Moline played nine girls. 

The Maroons are now 18-11 and win their 4th consecutive Western Big 6 title.  Galesburg falls to 24-6 overall. 

Game 127 Miles:  100