Former Galesburg High School girls basketball coach Evan Massey shares his insights on the game and other topics through his Massey Basketball blog, now featured here on WGIL.
•••
Basketball season is ready to tip-off. Our two hometown college teams will be having a busy winter. Here is some info that will help you follow the Chargers and the Prairie Fire.
Carl Sandburg Women’s Basketball
Head Coach- Kellen Fernetti
Last Year- 22-10 (Overall), 7-1 (Conference)
Area Players- Antonia Kisler (Galesburg), Abbie Ackers (Farmington), Lajaya Angel (Kewanee Wethersfield), Paige Huffman (Kewanee Wethersfield), Ryleigh Clark (Galesburg), Hailey Redding (A-Town), Cameron Anderson (United).
Key Returnees- Antonia Kistler 5’9” So, 15.5ppg, 8.9rpg, Tiera Hall 5’6” So, 7.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 3.0apg, Paige Huffman 5’8”, So, 6.0ppg, 3.4rpg, Tyriunna Steele 5’6”, So, 3.4ppg.
Of Interest
- Galesburg grad, Antonia Kisler just missed averaging a double-double last year with 15.5ppg and 8.9rpg.
- Last year, the Sandburg women averaged 72.9ppg.
Games to Circle
- Saturday, November 15- Madison at 1pm is Alumni Reunion Day.
- Saturday, December 13- Sandburg hosts perennial power Illinois Central
November/December Home Games
- Sunday, November 2- Culver-Stockton JV- 1pm
- Tuesday, November 4- Southeastern- 5:30pm
- Saturday, November 15- Madison- 1:00pm (Alumni Day)
- Wednesday, December 3- John Wood- 5:30pm
- Wednesday, December 10- Spoon River- 5:30pm
- Saturday, December 13- Illinois Central- Noon
- Friday, December 19- DuPage- 5:00pm
(Always check CSC website for schedule changes)
Carl Sandburg Men’s Basketball
Head Coach- Ryan Twaddle
Last Year- 18-13 (Overall), 4-2 (Conference)
Area Players- Lewis Siegfried (West Hancock), Gavin Grothaus (West Hancock), James Blackwell (Sherrard), Keauntrey Barnes (Farmington), Tanner Sedam (Mercer Co), Rylan Carton (Sherrard).
Key Returnees- Ralph Wires 5’10” So (Quincy), 8.2ppg, Larry Oliver Jr 6’0” So (Rock Island), 6.2ppg, Matt Beckman 6’2” So (Decorah, Ia), 6.0ppg, Camron Williams 6’4” So (Peoria Hts) 3.9ppg.
Of Interest
- Sandburg averaged 75ppg last year.
- Camron Williams (Peoria Hts) is son of Sarah Pacheco (Galesburg All-State Player, 2001).
- Sandburg men have a number of area 3A/4A players – Larry Oliver Jr (Rock Island), Ralph Wires (Quincy), Deng Awour (Moline), TJ Sturdivant (Peoria), Ashton Grieves (Metamora).
- Sandburg will hold an Alumni Reunion on Saturday, November 15.
November/December Home Schedule
- Sunday, November 2- Culver-Stockton JV- 3pm
- Saturday, November 15- Madison- 3pm (Alumni Day)
- Saturday, November 29- St. Louis- 3pm
- Monday, December 8- John Wood- 6pm
- Wednesday, December 10- Spoon River- 7:30pm
- Saturday, December 13- Elgin- 3:00pm
- Friday, December 19- DuPage- 3:00pm
(Always check CSC website for schedule changes)
Knox College Women’s Basketball
Head Coach- Emily Carpenter
Last Year- 15-10 (Overall), 10-6 (Conference)
Area Players- Carly Smith (Galesburg)
Key Returnees- Bria Medina 5’6” Jr, 18.2ppg, 5.0rpg, Kylee Callahan 5’8” Sr, 13.3ppg, 5.2rpg, Nayeli Nidez-Acuna 5’10” So, 12.4ppg, 6.8rpg, Izzy Robinson 5.6ppg, 3.2rpg
Of Interest
- Knox lists 4 players from Illinois and 6 players from out of state.
- Knox has players from Arizona (3), Florida, Michigan, and Utah.
- Kelsi Legge is an assistant coach for the Prairie Fire. The last three years the GHS grad had been an assistant for the Silver Streaks.
- If you are looking for a road trip to follow the Prairie Fire, try December 21-22 when they travel to play in Hawaii.
November/December Home Games
- Tuesday, December 2- Lawrence- 7:30pm
- Saturday, December 6- Monmouth- 3pm
- Saturday, December 13- Wisconsin-Whitewater- 3pm
(Always check the Knox website for schedule changes)
Knox College Men’s Basketball
Head Coach- Corey Harvey
Last Year- 4-21 (Overall), 1-15 (Conference)
Area Players- Carl Dortch (Galesburg), Logan Nichols (Canton), Zach Hendricks (Moline).
Key Returnees- Josh Stewart 6’3” Jr (Auckland, NZ) 8.6ppg, 6.8rpg, Russell Wright 6’3” So 7.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Sean Gallagher 6’5” Jr 6.2ppg, 4.5rpg, Duane Martin 6’2” So 5.9ppg, 3.1rpg
Click here to visit Evan Massey’s blog Massey Basketball.
Follow Massey Basketball on Twitter
Follow Massey Basketball on Faccbook
