EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.

Hannah Butler, So., G, Black Hawk girls basketball

     Sophomore guard Hannah Butler finished with a game-high 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the undefeated Warriors, (8–0, ranked number one in Division 7), to a  55–37 victory over top-ranked 4A team in Iowa, Springville High School, Saturday at the Wendy’s/American Trust Classic at Loras College.

     The Warriors buried 10 shots from behind the 3-point arc through three quarters, and then went 10-for-10 at the foul line over the final 1:06 of the game to seal the victory over the two-time defending 4A Iowa state champion Orioles (6–2). Black Hawk held an 11–9 lead at the end of the first quarter; and, after trading the lead with Springville several times early in the second quarter, grabbed the lead for good on Butler’s second 3-pointer of the period.

     “We knew it was going to be difficult,” said Black Hawk head coach Michael Flanagan. “We came out here and beat a team favored to win a third straight state championship. For us to persevere and find ways to maintain our composure in spots where it felt like we might let it slip was huge. I can’t say enough about our kids. That’s all on them. Those kids got it done today, and they should be very proud of their efforts.”

     Butler also chipped in 16 points and five rebounds in a lop-sided 81–15 victory over Juda last Tuesday night.

     Black Hawk (8–0) will host Darlington in a non-conference game tonight at 7:30 p.m.

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order): 

Brayden Dailey, Fr., F, Mineral Point boys basketball

     The sharp-shooting 6’5” freshman drilled five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Pointers to a 96–75 victory over previously undefeated and seventh-ranked Fennimore last Thursday night.

Kiera Holzemer, So., G, Cuba City girls basketball

     Holzemer poured in a game-high 18 points and nearly outscored visiting Fennimore singled-handedly in a 60–20 Southwest Wisconsin Activities League girls’ basketball game last Friday night. She also scored 10 points in the Cubans’ 48–42 non-conference win over Lancaster.

Tristen Gilbertson, So.,  106 pounds, Belmont/Platteville wrestling

     Gilbertson (10–4) went 4–0 to win the 106-pound title at last Saturday’s 17-team Richland Center Invitational. After a bye he pinned Thomas’s Caden Griffin and notched an 8–2 decision over Wisconsin Dells’ William Van Dinter to reach the finals. He then defeated Sugar River’s Joe Quaglia 7–4 in the finals.

Brady Olson, So., G, Cuba City boys basketball

     Olson led three Cubans in double figures with a game-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Cuba City to a dominating 66–45 victory over sixth-ranked and previously unbeaten Darlington last Thursday night. Olson also had 11 points on Monday to lead Cuba City (4–0) to a 59–45 non-conference victory over Potosi.

 Amber Udelhoven, Jr., G, Potosi girls basketball

     Udelhoven made four 3-pointers and scored a season-high 18 points to lead Potosi to a key 50–44 Six Rivers West road victory at River Ridge last Thursday night. Udelhoven buried back-to-back triples early in the second half to tie the game at 24–24, then steals and breakaway layups on back-to-back possessions with 10 minutes left to play to give the first-place Chieftains a 29–26 lead.

Leah Wacker, Sr., F, Boscobel girls basketball

     Wacker had a game-high 24 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals to lead the undefeated Bulldogs to a 65–44 victory over Iowa–Grant last Friday night.