Game 87: Galesburg @ Moline (Girl's Basketball)

Game 87
(2/11/10)
Galesburg @ Moline (Girl's Basketball)
Dedicated to the late Maurice "Duzie" Atwell

It seems like there are people we meet in our lives that seem like they will be on Earth forever. No matter what life throws at them, they battle through and conquer any setbacks, illnesses, etc. Uncle "Duzie" was that person for me, my dad's oldest brother. He lived an exciting life, had a large family with numerous kids, grandkids, and now great-grandchildren. Uncle Duzie was that larger than life character around town that everyone knew, and brought a smile to each person he crossed paths with in life. He was having increasing health problems over the last decade, but he fought through whatever came at him. In his mid-80's, I was able to sit down with Uncle Duzie during Annawan Fun Days last summer. We shared a couple beers together and caught up. With our family so large, and not getting back home that often, we hadn't spent much one-on-one time together. Even though it was a half-hour conversation, it was one of those moments you never forget. For many years he ran a gas station/service shop on the east edge of Annawan on Route 6. My cousins and I would spend hours while our dad's would be helping in the shop, playing around the buildings and finding unique old pieces of metal, coins, etc. on the property. I received a voice mail following Game 87 as I walked out of the Wharton Field House and through the parking lot. My mom on the other end of the voice mail informing me that Uncle Duzie had passed away today. Rest in Peace Uncle Duzie!

Preparing for broadcast #87, I had to make a stop in Viola, that old familiar stop for gas along Route 67. This would be my first broadcast at the historic Wharton Field House in Moline. For some reason, I had never been there for any WWF wrestling events, either, though after the Mark opened up in the early 1990's, I had been to a few.

As I walked in, a helpful lady directed me to the broadcast set up, which is right behind the scorer's table at the gym. The first row is reserved for the newspaper writers, with the second and third rows reserved for radio. I took in the second row, not having to make the steep climb all the way up. Our friends at WGIL made the climb.

We had some online listeners from out-of-state tuned in for Moline's senior night. The aunt of Moline's 1,000th point scorer Emily Kauzlarich was tuned in from Tennessee, and she passed me an e-mail saying Emily's great-aunt Babo in North Carolina was also listening in. During the second quarter of the contest, a young lady approached our table and passed me a note, saying the Todd DeZale family was tuned in online from Montrose, Colorado.

One of the custodians, Gary (I think), helped me out with the plug-in located below us and behind the media table. He also shared some of his Galesburg experiences with us. At the start of the sophomore game, I headed over to talk with Evan Massey and get our pregame interview. I also asked about the future of the "System", and it sounds like it will be used for the next couple years with the amount of quick guards that will still be in the program. He also commented that the Streaks should get off to a better start next year, because of their experience this season. There are only three seniors on the varsity roster.

Afterwards, I walked up and chatted with my broadcast partner Jimmie Carr. He told me that between coach Massey and I, he was convinced that Moline was not quite at the level of winning a Class 4A state championship. It took most of the season to convince him that teams like Bolingbrook and Whitney Young are on a different level. Moline has an extremely talented team, and should make a deep run in the 4A postseason, but I just don't think they have the speed to keep up with the afforementioned teams.

Following that debate, I talked Maroons basketball with Moline head coach Steve Ford. I had caught his team in December back in the Sterling Shootout, in which they went (5-0), and even defeated a very, very talented Lombard Montini squad (featuring 5 D-1 players).

The sophomore game wrapped up with the Mike Rux-led Streaks prevailing by a point (66-65) and finished the season (14-12). A long fourth quarter in the preliminary game, couple with Moline's senior night gave us a late start. Moline had six seniors and a manager to introduced prior to the varsity game.

Brittany Bush was injured in late-December, and missed the first game between the Streaks and Maroons. I knew she was talented, but didn't know the scope she brought to this team. Galesburg fans found out tonight!

The Maroons controlled from the opening tip, to the final horn. Off the tip, Moline drove to the basket on a Emily Kauzlarich layup, in which she was fouled, then converted the three-point play. Moline would get four, three-point play opportunities in the opening eight minutes, converting half of them.

Moline jumped out to a 26-8 first quarter lead. Both teams were even in turnovers, but Moline had a distinct rebounding advantage all night long. Bush came up big, with three baskets in the first quarter, and added three more by halftime. The (6'0" Jr.) was a ton inside, finishing with 17 points.

Galesburg trailed 55-23 at halftime, and the onslaught continued over the next two quarters. Moline dominated every aspect of this game from start to finish. In the fourth quarter, the scoring kept coming for Moline, not letting off the pressure. Moline broke the school scoring record, and finished with 97 points. That sets a dubious mark at Galesburg, with the most points allowed in a game. Five Maroons reached double-digits, led by Marquisha Harris' 18 points, Bush with 17, Amanda Smith scored 16, and Miranda Geever added 12 and Emily Kauzlarich pitched in 11 points. Galesburg was led by Jessica Howard's 14 points.

After the game, I joined my broadcast partner Jimmie Carr at his favorite spot's the Green Briar in Moline. We were joined by the WGIL broadcast team of Tom Meredith and Eric Gibson, enjoyed a couple drinks and talked basketball, with the Regionals looming on Tuesday at GHS.

The Quest File Notes
Game 87
Date: 2/12/10
Result: Moline sets scoring record in 97-53 win over Galesburg
Miles: 168