EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday or Friday throughout the calendar year.
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal / Fennimore Times / Boscobel Dial
Wyatt Temperly, So., G, Belmont boys basketball
BELMONT — Sophomore point guard Wyatt Temperly and the Belmont boys basketball team are lighting up scoreboards throughout southwest Wisconsin early this season.
Temperly poured in a career-high 30 points on an ultra-efficient 12 of 18 from the field (including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers), grabbed 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 74–38 rout of Wisconsin Heights last Monday night.
Temperly then made a new school record seven 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 28 points, six assists and two rebounds in a 96–70 blowout win over Warren (Ill.) last Thursday night. He then closed the week with a 15-point, five-rebound, two-assist performance in a 73–71 Six Rivers Conference victory at Pecatonica last Friday night. Classmate Thomas Freeman led the Braves with 27 points and seven rebounds in Friday's win.
"“We have some things to clean up at end of the game situations, and with our young team, I know we will learn and grow with that experience,” said Belmont head coach Beau Buchs. “I felt we could be competitive each night this season. I feel we are playing good team basketball and that is what I expect from the boys. We focus on one play at a time and one game at a time. We have an intelligent group and I know we will keep learning and improving each night.”
Temperly is leading Belmont in scoring (20.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 rpg), while averaging 4.2 assists and 1 steal per game for the undefeated and #9-ranked Braves (5–0, 2–0 SRW).
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Rianna Dye, Jr., C, Platteville girls basketball
Dye posted a monster double–double of 17 points and 18 rebounds (seven offensive) with three steals to lead D3 #7-ranked Platteville to a convincing 61–46 non-conference victory over reigning D4 state champion Cuba City (which is in Division 3 this year) Monday night. Dye also posted 19 points and 20 rebounds in a 62–55 win over Darlington last Monday night. The reigning SWC Player of the Year is averaging 13.4 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting a team-high 52.1 percent from the field for the undefeated Hillmen (7–0).
Ryder Fitzsimons, So., G/F, Darlington boys basketball
Fitzsimons scored a career-high 27 points and had three rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a 79–53 SWAL win at Cuba City last Friday night. Fitzsimons scored a game-high 20 points in an 81–53 season-opening win at Dodgeville, Dec. 4.
Zach Hermsen, Sr., F, Lancaster boys basketball
Hermsen poured in a game-high 27 points on 10 of 17 shooting and had six rebounds, four steals and two assists to rally Lancaster from a late 10-point deficit to a 79–78 SWC win over Dodgeville last Friday night.
Brayden Kilcoyne, Jr., G, Benton boys basketball
Kilcoyne posted a double–double of 13 points and 12 rebounds with three assists to lead the Zephyrs to their first win of the season, a 73–56 Six Rivers West win at Highland (2–2) last Thursday night. Kilcoyne then posted 18 points, six rebounds and five steals a night later in a 61–55 double overtime victory at Black Hawk last Friday night.
