Big week of basketball at Thiel Gym: Girls sectional and boys regional preview

Galesburg hosts girls sectional and boys regional basketball tournaments this week at Thiel Gym. Preview of all four teams, schedules, and what to watch.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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This week, Thiel Gym in Galesburg will host the girls IHSA sectional and boys IHSA regional basketball tournaments. The girls sectional features Galesburg, Metamora, Washington, and Ottawa, while the boys regional includes East Peoria, Washington, Peoria, and Galesburg. The article previews the teams, schedules, and key storylines for the upcoming games.

Why it matters

Basketball is a major source of community pride in Galesburg, and these tournaments represent an exciting opportunity for local teams to advance in the state playoffs. The girls sectional features several highly ranked teams, including #3 Galesburg and #1 Washington, setting up the potential for competitive and thrilling matchups. The boys regional also features some intriguing matchups as teams vie for a spot in the next round.

The details

The girls sectional opens on Tuesday, February 24 with Galesburg (27-4, #3 in 3A) facing Metamora (24-8, #10 in 3A) at 6pm, followed by Washington (30-2, #1 in 3A) taking on Ottawa (20-9) at 7:30pm. The girls sectional championship game is scheduled for Thursday, February 26 at 6pm. On the boys side, the regional begins on Wednesday, February 25 with East Peoria (26-4) vs. Washington (13-17) at 6pm, followed by Peoria (22-6) vs. Galesburg (18-12) at 7:30pm. The boys regional championship is set for Friday, February 27 at 6pm.

  • The girls IHSA sectional is on Tuesday, February 24 and Thursday, February 26.
  • The boys IHSA regional is on Wednesday, February 25 and Friday, February 27.

The players

Galesburg Silver Streaks

The Galesburg girls team is 27-4 on the season and ranked #3 in Class 3A. They are led by Zaniyah Carter and Joz Kilgore and are known for their depth and pressure defense.

Metamora Redbirds

Metamora is 24-8 on the season and ranked #10 in Class 3A. They are led by Baylie Neena, Kesha Sell, and Addy Wooden, who were all Mid-Illini All-Conference selections.

Washington Panthers

Washington is 30-2 on the season and ranked #1 in Class 3A. They are led by a talented quartet of Avery Tibbs, Mazzy O'Brien, Dani Guedet, and Becca McDougall, all of whom have scored over 1,000 career points.

Ottawa Pirates

Ottawa is 20-9 on the season and unranked. They rely on a disciplined offense and strong man-to-man defense, aiming to keep games in the 30s and 40s.

Lexi Demott

Lexi Demott is in her 2nd year as the head coach of the Galesburg girls basketball team. She has impressed with her maturity, confidence, and willingness to take input from her veteran assistant coaches.

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What they’re saying

“Lexi is very mature for her age and wise beyond her years. She possesses a level of confidence and knowledge that, in my experience, is rare for someone who has been a head coach for such a short period of time.”

— BJ Dieterich, Varsity Assistant Coach (wgil.com)

“When a player comes out, what I talk to them about could be a list of different things. Sometimes I tell them about a read they might have missed or a read to look for. Sometimes I give them tough love. Sometimes I am highlighting something positive they have done.”

— Mark Harden Jr., Freshmen Coach (wgil.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This week's basketball tournaments at Thiel Gym showcase the strength of Galesburg's girls and boys programs, with several highly ranked teams competing for a chance to advance in the state playoffs. The games are sure to provide exciting and competitive basketball action for the community.