Silver Streak boys basketball wins fifth straight
The Galesburg boys basketball team continued its second-half-of-the-season resurgence with a 64-41 victory at Kewanee on Jan. 20.
It was the fifth win in a row for the Silver Streaks, who are now 13-8 for the season; meanwhile, the Boilermakers dropped to 12-8.
Galesburg decided the game early, jumping to a 25-5 lead after one quarter. The teams then played evenly the rest of the way.
Cesaire Bile scored 23 points to lead the Streaks and set the tone early with four first-quarter field goals. Galesburg used pressure defense to force turnovers and limit Kewanee’s shot quality while running its offense efficiently and converting points off turnovers.
Kewanee responded in the second quarter as Chris Crowe and Abram Hicks began to assert themselves. Hicks, who was scoreless in the first quarter, scored nine points in the second as the Boilermakers outscored Galesburg 11-10.
Hicks added nine more points in the third quarter, when Kewanee again outscored the Streaks, 17-16.
Galesburg went cold from the floor in the second half and committed several turnovers that helped Kewanee cut into the margin. However, the Streaks maintained a lead of 15 to 20 points throughout.
In addition to Bile’s 23 points, Eden Mayala scored 12. Tobi Kivunina and Keigen Crummer each added seven, Jaxon Wyatt and Grady Hickey scored six apiece, Rahkim McCellan had two points and Demetrius Watson added one.
Galesburg has two home games this week. East Peoria visits John Thiel Gym for a 7 p.m. game Jan. 21, and Alleman comes to town for a 7 p.m. game Jan. 23.
Galesburg swimmers improve to 6-0 in dual meets
In its closest dual meet of the season, Galesburg’s 13 swimmers and divers defeated Dunlap, 96-87, on Jan. 20 at Dunlap.
Dunlap, which had more than 40 competitors, suffered its first dual meet loss of the season. The win pushed the Silver Streaks to 6-0 in dual meets.
Individual winners for Galesburg were Cordae Sanchez in diving; Cole Furrow in the 200- and 100-yard freestyle; Sam Puerta in the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle; and Brayden McGuire in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke.
The Silver Streaks have one remaining away meet before closing the regular season at home. Galesburg will compete Jan. 24 at the 44th Panther Invitational at United Township, with diving events beginning at 8:30 a.m. and swimming events at 1 p.m.
The Streaks return home Jan. 27 to host Rock Island in a 4:30 p.m. diving meet followed by swimming at 5:30 p.m. Normal visits Galesburg for an 11 a.m. meet Jan. 31.
The Western Big 6 Conference swimming and diving championship is scheduled for Feb. 7 at Sterling. Illinois High School Association sectional meets begin Feb. 21.
Sandburg women suffer first conference loss
Antonia Kisler scored 17 points, but host Sauk Valley handed the Carl Sandburg College women’s basketball team its first Arrowhead Conference loss with a 67-57 victory Jan. 20.
The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for the Chargers (13-7, 3-1), who had also won seven of their previous eight games. Sandburg struggled offensively, posting its third-lowest point total of the season while shooting 22 percent (19 of 88) from the field and 18 percent (7 of 38) from 3-point range.
Kisler finished 5 of 20 from the floor and added seven rebounds and three assists. The sophomore led Sandburg in scoring.
Sophomore guard Tiera Hall recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Six of her rebounds came on the offensive end, marking her eighth double-double of the season.
Freshman Camryn Atterberg also posted a double-double, collecting 10 rebounds — seven offensive — and a season-high 10 steals. Her previous high was six steals on Dec. 3 against John Wood.
Hailey Redding added 11 points for the Chargers.
Sandburg travels to Black Hawk for a 5 p.m. game Jan. 22.
