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

Brianna Leahy, Jr., C, Shullsburg girls basketball

     The Shullsburg girls basketball team opened the season two weeks ago with an overtime loss to defending Southwest Wisconsin Conference champion Platteville. But 6-foot senior standout Brianna Leahy and the Miners bounced back with a pair of big wins over Juda and Albany.

      Leahy is this week’s Mast Water Technology SWnews4U.com co-Athlete of the Week after averaging 23.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7 blocks and 3.5 assists per game in the the two victories. 

     Last Friday, Leahy posted 17 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks as Shullsburg handled host Juda 61–41. Three nights later, Leahy scored a game-high 30 points, to go along with 11 boards, seven blocks and five assists as the Miners’ pummeled visiting Albany 63–26. It was Leahy’s third straight double–double to open the season . 

     Leahy, a WBCA Division 5 honorable mention all-state pick a year ago, is averaging 20 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.7 blocks per game in three games this season for Shullsburg (2–1). The Miners return to action Tuesday at Belmont (4–2) when they open Six Rivers West play and defense of their conference title.

Isaac Wiegel, Jr., 113, Belmont/Platteville wrestling

     Issac Wiegel earns a share of this week’s SWnews4U.com co-Athlete of the Week award after dominating the competition at last Saturday’s Black Hawk Invitational. 

     The Belmont junior and two-time state qualifier won all four of his matches via pin to win the 113-pound title at Black Hawk and was also named the lower weights MVP following the tournament after helping the Braves finish sixth out of 15 teams. Wiegel spent less than seven minutes total on the mat to collect his four pins en route to winning his five-man round robin weight class. 

     “Luke (Futage, who won the 182-pound title at Black Hawk) and Isaac both wrestled very well Saturday,” said Belmont/Platteville head coach Andrew Campbell. “Every match they took control and went after what they wanted. Isaac was dominant all day.”

     Wiegel, who went 40–10 a year ago and placed fourth at state as a sophomore, will return to action at Saturday’s Sugar River Invitational in Belleville.  

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):

Hannah Jones, Jr., G, Dodgeville girls basketball

     Jones pumped in a game-high 37 points to lead Dodgeville to a 58–46 victory at River Valley last night. It was the Dodgers’ (1–4, 1–0 SWC) first win of the season. Jones is currently leading the SWC in scoring with an eye-popping 28.2 points per game.

Liam Kenney, Jr., F, Fennimore boys basketball

     Kenney scored a game-high 22 points, including 8 for 9 from the free throw line, to lead the Golden Eagles (3–1, 1–0 SWAL) to a 70–59 victory over host Highland last Tuesday. Kenney then posted 21 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds in a 68–50 triumph at Boscobel last Thursday night to open SWAL play.

Emma Lawrence, Jr., G/F, Benton girls basketball

     Lawrence tallied a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and four steals to lead the Zephyrs (2–1) to a 52–40 victory at River Ridge last Friday night in the Six Rivers West opener for both teams.

Isaac Lindsey, Fr., G, Mineral Point boys basketball

     The freshman sensation drained six 3-pointers and scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Pointers to a 82–56 win at Southwestern last Thursday night. Two days earlier he scored 35 points in his high school debut during a 92–86 win over Dodgeville.

Kennedy McMillian, Sr., F, Cassville girls basketball

     McMillian had 16 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks and three assists in the Comets’ 48–39 victory oat Southwestern last Tuesday. She then led all scorers with 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots as Cassville defeated Pecatonica 40–22 Friday night to improve to 2–2.

Hattie Rennert, Sr., G, Shullsburg girls basketball

     Rennert sank five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 19 points in a 61–41 victory at Juda last Friday. She then scored 17 points in a 63–26 win over Albany on Monday night.

Devon Schmitz, Jr., G, Richland Center boys basketball

     Schmitz scored a game and season-high 38 points to lead the Hornets to a 93–71 victory at Boscobel Tuesday night. Schmitz is averaging a league-best 28.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for Richland Center (1–3, 0–1 SWC).

Will Schwartz, Sr., G, Darlington boys basketball

     The senior guard scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in Darlington’s 34–0 run to open the second half as the Redbirds blew the doors off of Cuba City 69–20 last Thursday night. The win made first-year Darlington head coach Tom Uppena a winner in his varsity coaching debut.