By John Ring
See the full version in this week's edition of The Burg newspaper
2022 Record: 23-8, including an 8-6 record in the Western Big 6. Galesburg lost their first game in the Regional Tournament to Peoria Manual by a 46-33 score.
Coach: Chad Thompson, second season.
Roster
Gino Williams Jr
Ian Dominic Jr
Leslie Kelley Fr
Talen Davis Jr
Easton Steck Sr
Jace Keith Jr
Ayden Almaguer Jr
Nolan Carl - Sr
Jackson Crock-Sibbing Fr
Cody Jones So
Carter Clary Sr
Jackson Hillhouse Jr
Jamal Waters Jr
Brandin Lewis Sr
Outlook: The Streaks return two starters from Coach Thompson’s first team in Easton Steck and Ian Dominic. But this second edition will be a lot different than last year’s Streaks. “We’re going to have a deeper team,” said Thompson. “We will go nine deep. We’re looking good right now
and will have a new nucleus, a good corps of kids that will play ball for us.” Seniors Nolan Carl and Carter Clary should see a lot of playing time and you could probably include Gino Wlliams, Jace Keith and Taylor Davis in the equation as well.
Strengths: Dominic, who is a sharpshooter from the three-point arc, and Steck have been
through the Big 6 wars. This will be a fast team, one that gets up and down the floor in a hurry.
Good depth. Thompson also likes their work ethic. “That’s the number one thing about this team,” said Coach Thompson. “For 32 minutes, they will give it everything they got. We’re not changing our defensive philosophy at all.”
Concerns: Lack of experience. The Western Big 6 is loaded this season. Graduation losses. “It’s going to be trial by fire,” said Thompson. “I believe in their ability. They are a coachable team.
But experience will be a factor at the start because we really only have three players with varsity experience.”
Young Streaks on the rise: Thompson loves both his sophomore and freshmen classes and one young player you may get a quick look at is freshman Jackson Crock-Sibbing, a 5’11” guard. “I believe he will be an asset to our team,:” said Thompson. “We’re going to be a little guard-heavy but Jackson is a talented young player. He’s going to be in there sooner rather than later.”
Chad’s learning curve: Asked what he learned from his first season coaching at the varsity level, Coach Thompson replied, “I learned the importance of building on relationships and how vital they are on the team. I also learned that we need to put our team in the right place at the end of February, just as the regular season is ending and the Tournament starts. This is a young team for sure, but this is Easton’s time and Dominic’s time and they’re getting better and better.”
Camp Quote: “Nolan Carl was saying the other day that it’s not ‘if we win’ but ‘when we win’ and that’s our culture here. Every team loses games during the season, it’s how you handle it and bounce back that’s important.”
Forecast: The Streaks mission is to run and press like crazy and create a frenzied environment on the court. Being deep on the bench will help that along. They have a strong and supportive coaching staff, which is going to be needed because the Big 6 is incredibly strong. A road trip to Moline or Quincy is going to be a nightmare. If the seniors stay injury free and focused and if Dominic has a few big games and if a young player or two emerges . . . that’s a lot of ifs.
But this is Silver Streak basketball after all. They should be a fun team to watch.