Galesburg Silver Streak girls basketball head coach Evan Massey is nearing a historic milestone and will reach it probably sooner than later. Coach Massey is entering his 46th season as the head coach of the Streaks and counting his team’s Thanksgiving Tournament opening 66-51 win over Metamora, he has amassed 993 wins…seven short of the magic 1000 mark. Only two other Illinois high school basketball coaches have more wins than Massey. The late, great Gene Pingatore holds the record for most boys basketball wins with 1,035, all while coaching at St. Joseph High School. The girls, and overall, record for wins is held by now retired Dorothy Gaters. Gaters garnered 1,133 victories, all while coaching at Chicago Marshall. Along with the 2nd most girls coaching wins of all-time, Massey’s Silver Streak squads hold the state record for consecutive regional titles with 18 in a row from 1987 to 2004. The Streaks won 9 straight sectional tournament during that time span, as well. The Galesburg girls basketball program won their 1,000th game early last season and joined Marshall, Teutopolis, Richwoods and Illini West as the only programs to do so.
This season’s Silver Streak program includes 2-time All-Stater Kiarra Kilgore back for her senior season. She was named the Western Big Six Conference MVP last year, averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds in conference games. Kilgore recently signed her letter of intent to play collegiate basketball at Missouri S&T. The Miners play in NCAA Division 2 competition and are located in Rolla, Missouri, halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri. Kilgore went over the 1,000 point mark in her high school career last season and poured in 25 points in this season’s opening win on Tuesday against Metamora in the Galesburg Thanksgiving Tournament. The Streaks will attempt to win their 3rd straight regional this season.
