MATTOON - After a one-year absence, the Galesburg High School girls basketball team returned to championship status at the Mattoon Holiday Tournament on Friday.

The Silver Streaks knocked off the host Mattoon Green Wave 42-29 to avenge a loss in last year's title game. That loss interupted a run of their four straight championships in the tourney.

The title came after an improbable start to the tourney. Galesburg started 1-2 in pool play and due to ties between teams in the pool, advanced to a shot at the championship by virtue of the fewest points allowed tiebreaker.

The Silver Streaks (9-8) jumped Mattoon with an 11-2 start, led 13-5 at the quarter and 20-9 at halftime.

Mattoon cut the margin to 29-23 after three quarters but an Andrea Sampson jumper early in the fourth quarter helped stem the Green Wave's momentum.

Mattoon got 25 of their points from two players - Bella Coffey had 16 and Ashlynn McDonald had 9.

Sampson and Emiiy Meinert each scored 12 points to lead Galesburg. Kelsi Legge scored seven points on a 7-for-9 effort at the free throw line.

Sampson and Yvonne Mixon were each selected to the all-tourney team. Sampson also made the team last season. 

The Streaks lost to Salem 30-27 to open the tourney Wednesday, then beat Sullivan 53-48 before falling to Altamont 50-43 on Thursday. They topped Olney 62-53 on Thursday night to qualify for the championship.