Sports roundup, Dec. 3

Galesburg High School

Wyatt, Crummer boost Galesburg boys past Pekin

Seniors Jaxon Wyatt and Keigen Crummer traded high-scoring halves to lead Galesburg to its third consecutive win, a 63-42 home victory over Pekin on Dec. 2.

Wyatt scored all 16 of his points in the first half to push the Silver Streaks to a 36-18 lead at halftime. Crummer added 11 of his 17 points in the second half as Galesburg maintained control.

Jaxon Wyatt, 42, looks to get the ball inside against Pekin’s Bray Kormah, 1. Wyatt scored 16 first half points for the Silver Streaks. (Photo by Loran Lewis)

“It was the most physical game so far, and the most no-calls,” Wyatt said. “But some games are going to be like that — Rock Island will probably be the same thing, so we’ve got to prepare.”

Wyatt’s first half featured an intense inside presence for the 6-foot-5 power forward on both offense and defense.

Physical play defines matchup

“The plays were there, and my teammates always tried to hit me,” Wyatt said. “We knew coming into this game they were going to be undersized, losing their big guy. So I already knew.

“(Volunteer coach) Joey (Range) told me, get on the block. He kept telling me, ‘on the block, on the block.’ I went right there, and it all came to me. And (the Dragons) were being really physical, so it was a physical game. I just kept trying to fight.”

“On the block” refers to the area around the free-throw lane where players — especially centers and power forwards — can take advantage of physical positioning.

Galesburg’s Demetrius Watson, 20, moves past Pekin guard Zavion Purdle, 3, during the Dec. 2 game at John Thiel Gymnasium. (Photo by Loran Lewis)

The first quarter was tight until the final moments when the Streaks moved ahead 20-13. Along with Wyatt’s six points and Crummer’s four, Cesaire Bile added four.

The game broke open in the second quarter as Wyatt scored nine of the team’s 16 points and Galesburg’s defense held Pekin to five points.

Wyatt said the game felt closer than the score suggested because of Pekin’s physical play.

“I kind of was upset on the bench,” he said. “I’m like, ‘This looks too close; I don’t like it.’ But it’s fine. Winners will win. Yeah, we’ll bounce back better.”

Crummer takes over in third

Crummer took over in the third quarter, hitting four field goals and a 3-pointer as Galesburg pulled away to a 52-31 lead. Reserves closed out the fourth quarter.

The win improved the Streaks to 3-0 on the season. The 21-point margin was the closest any opponent has come during those three games.

“We’re on all cylinders for sure,” Wyatt said. “The biggest difference between this year and last year is it’s way more of a brotherhood. We all like each other a lot more, and we enjoy being here and playing together.”

Galesburg plays at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at 2-2 Alleman before returning home at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 against Rockford Jefferson (1-2).

Galesburg leaders: Crummer 17, Wyatt 16, Cesaire Bile 7, Rakhim McCellan 4, Leslie Kelley 4, Tobi Kivunina 3, Stone Thiel 2, Day’Vion Jones 2, Shawn Taylor 2, Demetrious Watson 2, Eden Mayala 2, Gabe Irizarry 2.
Pekin leaders: Brogan Benassi 17, Bray Kormah 10.

Galesburg girls remain undefeated with win at Dunlap

The Galesburg girls basketball team continued its torrid start to the 2025-26 season with a 51-37 win at Dunlap on Dec. 2, improving the Silver Streaks to a perfect 6-0.

The 14-point margin of victory marked the first time any opponent has finished within 20 points of Galesburg this season. The Silver Streaks outrebounded Dunlap 32-22 and recorded seven steals. Galesburg shot 39% from the field to Dunlap’s 34%, 25% to 20% from 3-point range and 71% to 57% at the free-throw line.

The Streaks play their third straight road game at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Sterling. Home games against Peoria Notre Dame and Winnebago were canceled Nov. 29 because of a snowstorm.

They return home at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6 against Moline and at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 against Quincy.

Carl Sandburg College

Sandburg men win big over Culver-Stockton JV

Carl Sandburg’s men’s basketball team improved to 5-3 with a 78-50 road win over Culver-Stockton’s junior varsity on Dec. 2.

Rylan Carton led the Chargers with 18 points. Ralph Wires added 10 points and five steals. Nine Chargers scored at least six points.

Sandburg shot 51.7% from the field (30-of-58) and 23.3% from 3-point range (7-of-30).

The Chargers play at 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at Rock Valley.

Knox College

Knox men hand Lawrence first loss

The Knox College men’s basketball team handed Lawrence its first loss of the season with a 77-65 win Dec. 2 at Memorial Gymnasium.

Sophomore Noah Campbell scored 17 points as Knox (4-2, 1-1 Midwest Conference) made a season-high 11 3-pointers. Lawrence fell to 5-1 overall and 0-1 in the league.

Carl Dortch was one of 11 players who scored for Knox in its win over Lawrence University Dec. 2.(Photo courtesy of Knox College)

Campbell shot 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Willie Rogers added 11 points and Josh Stewart had 10 with a game-high six assists.

The Prairie Fire defeated Lawrence for just the fifth time in 38 meetings — and the third time in the last six.

Knox’s 4-2 start is its best since opening the 2003-04 season at 5-1.

Knox hosts rival Monmouth College (4-2, 0-0 MWC) at 1 p.m. Dec. 6.

Lawrence stays undefeated with win over Knox women

Despite 24 points from junior Bria Medina and a double-double from sophomore Nayeli Nidez Acuña, Knox lost to Lawrence 76-64 on Dec. 2 at Memorial Gymnasium.

Kylee Callahan, left, shown with Knox head women’s basketball coach Emily Carpenter, was honored before the Dec. 2 game for becoming the fifth player in program history to score 1,000 career points.(Photo courtesy of Knox College)

Lawrence’s Sophie Morey led all scorers with 26 points as the Vikings improved to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the Midwest Conference. Knox fell to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Medina, the third-leading scorer in Division III, went 8-of-17 from the field and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line.

Nidez Acuña finished 8-of-15 shooting with two 3-pointers — doubling her previous career total — and went 5-of-8 at the foul line. She also recorded five steals, four assists and two blocked shots.

Knox hosts Monmouth College (2-3, 0-0 MWC) at 3 p.m. Dec. 6.

On the Schedule

Wednesday, Dec. 3

• Carl Sandburg women’s basketball vs. John Wood, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 4

• GHS girls wrestling at Moline, 6 p.m.
• GHS boys wrestling at Moline, 6 p.m.
• GHS girls basketball at Sterling, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 5

• GHS boys basketball at Alleman, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6

• GHS girls wrestling at Sterling Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
• GHS boys wrestling at Sterling Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
• Knox men’s basketball vs. Monmouth College, 1 p.m.
• Carl Sandburg women’s basketball at Rock Valley, 1 p.m.
• GHS girls basketball vs. Moline, 1:30 p.m.
• Knox women’s basketball vs. Monmouth College, 3 p.m.
• Carl Sandburg men’s basketball at Rock Valley, 3 p.m.
• GHS boys basketball vs. Rockford Jefferson, 6 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 8

• Carl Sandburg men’s basketball vs. John Wood, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 9

• GHS girls wrestling at Sterling, 5:30 p.m.
• Knox women’s basketball at Millikin University, 5:30 p.m.
• GHS boys wrestling vs. Macomb, Farmington, 6 p.m.
• Galesburg boys basketball vs. Rock Island, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 10

• Carl Sandburg women’s basketball vs. Spoon River, 5:30 p.m.
• Knox men’s basketball at Greenville University, 7 p.m.
• Carl Sandburg men’s basketball vs. Spoon River, 7:30 p.m.