Galesburg will be host to an IHSA Boys Basketball Regional on Wednesday, February 25 and Friday, February 27.
Galesburg Regional
Wednesday at Thiel Gym
6:00pm- #2 East Peoria (26-4) vs. #7 Washington (13-17)
7:30pm- #3 Peoria (22-6) vs #6 Galesburg (18-12)
(Seeds in the Sectional complex are listed before the teams.)
Friday at Thiel Gym
6:00pm- Regional Championship Game
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| Galesburg Coach- Taylor Thiel |
The winner of the Galesburg Regional will advance to the Ottawa Sectional the following week.
Ottawa Sectional
Morton Regional (1-Morton, 4-Metamora) vs. LP Regional (2-LP, 3-Ottawa)
Geneseo Regional (1-Kankakee, 4-Plano) vs Galesburg Regional (2 EP, 3 Peoria, 6 Galesburg)
Galesburg Regional Teams
East Peoria- The Raiders enter the Regional as the #6 ranked team in 3A in Illinois. East Peoria defeated Washington twice by 6 and 15 points. In their step into the WB6, the Raiders beat UT 56-37. They are led by Illinois commit, Quinton Kitt. He is a 6’6” junior.
Washington- The Panthers were state ranked earlier in the year but have fallen on hard times. In February, they had a 7 game losing streak. They have lost twice to East Peoria.
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| Peoria Interim Head Coach- Ryan McElmurry |
Peoria- GHS grad, Ryan McElmurry brings the Lions to Galesburg as the Interim Head Coach of Peoria High. The Lions are ranked #7 in 3A State Poll at 22-6. The Lions went undefeated to win the Mid-State 12 Conference. Peoria four sophomores- Kayden Turner (6’4, sophomore): 11.4 ppg, Nigel Moore (5’9, sophomore): 10.9 ppg, Jacob Duffin Jr (6’3, sophomore): 10.3 ppg, and Orlando Edwards Jr (5’10, sophomore): 10.1 ppg. The fifth starter is Fenix Foy (6’5, senior): 8.5 ppg. Their young talent has finished strong, going 13-1 since the first of January. They hold wins over East Peoria and Moline. Their losses were to Bolingbrook, Richwoods, Metamora, Rock Island, SHG, and Niles North.
Galesburg– The Streaks come into the Regional after an exciting regular season under first year coach, Taylor Thiel. The Streaks finished 18-12 and 7-7. Galesburg is led by all-purpose guard, Keigen Crummer. The 6’1” senior has come on at the end of the season, becoming a solid scorer for the Streaks. Galesburg lost senior guard, Stone Thiel at mid-season and has had to adjust to his loss. Two sophomores have shown steady improvement- Cesaire Bile- 6’4” and Eden Mayala- 6’5”, which has helped the Streaks get a different level at the end of the season.
#1 Tobi KiVunina- 6’1” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Pasta
Sports Idol
Solo ball
Pre-Game Rituals
Breathing exercises
One Word to Describe Your Team
Diverse
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Understanding
Season Highlight to Date
Finding my confidence on the court
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Staying consistent with everything Coach Thiel preaches
#2 Stone Thiel- 6’0” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Chipotle
Sports Idol
Steph Curry looked up to him forever
Pre-Game Rituals
Always hit the door frame before i run out the locker room
One Word to Describe Your Team
FAMILY
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Competitor
Season Highlight to Date
Greatest highlight was getting in against Moline 1 last time on senior night in-front of the home crowd
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
To stay together and block out the outside noise
#3 Keigen Crummer- 6’1” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Steak and shake
Sports Idol
Steph Curry
Pre-Game Rituals
Eat subway + praying
One Word to Describe Your Team
Family
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Transparent
Season Highlight to Date
Having a positive record for the first time in a while
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Staying together through adversity
#4 Leslie Kelley IV- 6’2” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Bdubs
Sports Idol
KD
Pre-Game Rituals
Eat during sophomore game
One Word to Describe Your Team
Funny
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Funny
Season Highlight to Date
Winning
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Playing together
#5 Grady Hickey- 6’0” Soph
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
My favorite post game meal would be Raising Cane’s
Sports Idol
LeBron James is my favorite sports hero
Pre-Game Rituals
Something I do before every game is pray
One Word to Describe Your Team
Determined
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Enthusiastic
Season Highlight to Date
Best moment for the team I think would be eating Quincy at home.
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
A key to success this post season is to get off to a quick start and not wait until the second half
#10 Cesaire Bile- 6’4” Soph
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Steak n Shake
Sports Idol
Kevin Durant
Pre-Game Rituals
Listen to gospel music
One Word to Describe Your Team
Energetic
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Funny
Season Highlight to Date
Win in OT at our last game in Dekalb
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Togetherness
#11 Malakai Casillas- 6’0” Junior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Culver’s
Sports Idol
Kobe Bryant
Pre-Game Rituals
Eat a Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich before every game
One Word to Describe Your Team
Thrilling
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Consistent
Season Highlight to Date
Our 5 game win streak in the middle of January
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Staying together and never giving up despite being underdogs
#12 Day’Vion Jones- 5’10” Soph
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
B-dubs or Dairy Queen
Sports Idol
Steph Curry
Pre-Game Rituals
Praying
One Word to Describe Your Team
Family
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Driven
Season Highlight to Date
Hitting a deep 3 to put us up during the Dekalb Tourney.
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Playing together as a team
#20 Demetrius Watson- 6’0” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Pasta
Sports Idol
Dennis Rodman, DK Metcalf
Pre-Game Rituals
Listen to inspirational sayings
One Word to Describe Your Team
Family
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Energetic
Season Highlight to Date
Beating Quincy
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
To play our best basketball and stick together no matter what.
#25 Eden Mayala- 6’5” Soph
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Ice Cream
Sports Idol
Anthony Edwards
Pre-Game Rituals
Praying
One Word to Describe Your Team
Diverse
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Cool
Season Highlight to Date
My windmill against Geneseo
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Consistency and energy
#30 Derrick Curtis- 5’11” Junior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Wendy’s
Sports Idol
LeBron
Pre-Game Rituals
Listen to rock music
One Word to Describe Your Team
Loud
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Lively
Season Highlight to Date
The greatest highlight for the team this season felt like when we went against Lincolnway West and beat them. Everyone had energy that game and we all felt great after.
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
The key for success is continuing to work hard and staying true to our fundamentals.
#32 Rahkim McCellan- 6’3” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Buffalo Wild Wings
Sports Idol
Popeye Jones
Pre-Game Rituals
I eat a ton of candy
One Word to Describe Your Team
Cockamamie
One Word to Describe Coach Thiel
Strong-willed
Season Highlight to Date
Having a winning season
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
To win a Regional
#33 Gabe Irizarry- 6’0” Junior
#42 Jaxson Wyatt- 6’6” Senior
Favorite Post-Game Meal/Place
Bdubs
Sports Idol
Giannis
Pre-Game Rituals
Listen to NBA YoungBoy
One Word to Describe Your Team
Funny
Season Highlight to Date
First game of the season we beat limestone by 26 and 3 players had 20+ points (Jaxon, Keigen, Ceasaire)
What’s Needed for Post-Season Success
Sticking together
