EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
by Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal/Fennimore Times
Lily Krahn, Sr., PG, Prairie du Chien girls basketball
Prairie du Chien standout Lily Krahn capped her standout prep career with yet another postseason honor. The 5'10" point guard was recently named Division 3 first-team All-State by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association for the third-straight year.
Krahn, who is signed with the Wisconsin Badgers, led Prairie du Chien to a regional final appearance and 24–2 overall record while averaging 20.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game for coach Paula Shedivy and the Blackhawks as a senior. Krahn was one of the top shooters in the state. Krahn shot 56.7 percent from the field (183 of 323), a sizzling 50.6 percent on 3-pointers (89 of 166) and 91.8 percent on free throws (45 of 49), missing just four from the charity stripe all year.
She was a four-time first-team All-SWC pick, was named the SWC Player of the Year the past two years and finished her career as the Blackhawks' all-time leader in points (1,712) and three-pointers made (244). She was also named the 2021–22 Telegraph Herald Girls Basketball Player of the Year last week.
Prairie du Chien posted a 79–14 overall record during her four years and a 35–4 mark in the SWC, won three conference titles (2019, 2021 and 2022) and three regionals titles (2019, 2020, 2021). She was also a finalist for the 2022 Wisconsin Ms. Basketball award.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Bridee Burks, Sr., G, Lancaster girls basketball
Burks, an NCAA Division I Idaho State signee, was named WBCA All-State first team after leading Lancaster to an 18–8 overall record and a third-place 5–5 finish in the SWC. Burks and Flying Arrows advanced to a regional final, before falling to state champion Mineral Point. The 5'10" guard averaged 13.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.6 steals per contest for coach Mark Uppena and the Flying Arrows, and finished her four-year varsity career with 912 points.
Joah Filardo, Sr., G, Mineral Point boys basketball
Filardo was named WBCA Division 4 All-State First team and the SWAL Player of the Year the Pointers to a share of the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League championship with Cuba City and a 23-4 overall record and a 12–2 mark in league play. Filardo averaged a team-high 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game lead the Pointers, who handed league rival Cuba City (24–3, 12–2 SWAL) all three of its losses this season, including a 61–46 regional final win over the Cubans on Saturday, May 5.
Mallory Lindsey, Sr., PG, Mineral Point girls basketball
Lindsey earned WBCA Division first-team all-state honors for a second straight year after leading the Pointers to a perfect 30–0 record and the program’s second state title, a third consecutive SWAL title this year. The 5'4" guard, who has committed to NCAA Division III UW–Oshkosh, averaged a team-best 15.9 points, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game for coach Michael Keyes and the Pointers. She also and connected on a state-best 109 three-pointers while shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the arc. Lindsey, who helped the Pointers finish as the state runner-up as a junior, was named the SWAL Player of the Year and ended her high school career with 1,131 points.
Carter Olson, Sr., PG, Cuba City boys basketball
Olson earned WBCA Division 4 All-State first team this year and All-SWAL honors for a second straight year after he averaged a team-high 18.6 points, 4.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game as a senior. The exceptionally quick and aggressive Olson led the SWAL in both scoring and assists while sparking the Cubans to a 24–3 overall record, and a 12–2 mark in the league play to earn a share of the SWAL title.
Nate Reiff, Sr., C, Southwestern boys basketball
The 6'8" Reiff was named Division 5 first team All-State by the WBCA after leading the Wildcats (20–8) to a 10–4 third-place finish in the rugged SWAL and a berth in the Division 5 sectional finals before suffering a heartbreaking 79–74 loss to eventual D5 state runner-up Bangor (25–5) March 12 at Prairie du Chien. Reiff averaged 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots to lead the Wildcats, while also showing the ability to score around the basket or step outside and make jump shots.
Blair Watters, Sr., F, Mineral Point girls basketball
Watters joined teammate Mallory Lindsey on the 11-player WBCA Division 4 All-State first team after helping the Pointers win the D4 state title and post a perfect 30–0 season. The 6'0" NCAA Division III UW–Platteville recruit averaged 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 4.4 steals per game this year to earn first-team All-SWAL honors. Watters helped the Pointers finish as the state runner-up last season and finished her career with 766 points.
