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
Jessica Morgan, Jr., G, Lancaster girls basketball
LANCASTER – Behind a career-high 31-point performance from junior Jessica Morgan, coach Courtney Feller’s Flying Arrows defeated visiting River Valley 49–24 last Thursday night in Southwest Wisconsin Conference girls basketball action. Morgan, who averages a conference-best 18 points per game for the Arrows, had the hot hand throughout, knocking down 11-of-18 shot attempts, which included 7-of-13 from 3-point range and 4-of-5 from inside the arc. The Arrows improved to 2–3 in league play and 4–7 overall with Thursday night’s victory, while the visiting Blackhawks fell to 1–4, 1–11.
In non-conference action this past Monday night, the Flying Arrows fell to visiting Fennimore, 49-43. After the two teams were tied at 22-22 at halftime, the Golden Eagles outscored the Flying Arrows 27-21 in the second half to claim a six-point victory. Morgan netted a team-high 20 points for Lancaster on 7-of-17 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-9 from long range.
In Lancaster's last six games, Morgan has averaged 23.8 points per game while shooting 50 percent (51 of 102) from the field and 41.8 percent on 3-pointers (20 of 48). She scored 26 points against Benton, 22 against Richland Center, 25 against East Dubuque, 19 against Prairie du Chien, 31 against River Valley and 20 against Fennimore.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Rose French, Sr., C, Fennimore girls basketball
French posted a game-high 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles to a 49–43 victory at Lancaster Monday night. French also had 19 points and four rebounds in last Thursday's 72–29 SWAL victory over Iowa–Grant. French is averaging 15.1 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game for the Eagles (10–5, 4–2 SWAL).
Aiden Keleher, Jr., PG, Southwestern boys basketball
Keleher made three 3-pointers and went 3-for-3 at the free throw line in the second half en rout to a game-high 21 points in Southwestern's 63–60 SWAL victory over Cuba City last Thursday night. The win snapped Southwestern's 13-game, seven-year losing streak to Cuba City.
Zach McClain, Sr., C, Platteville boys basketball
McClain was an unstoppable force on both ends of the court in Platteville's 70–49 SWC victory at Lancaster last Thursday night. McClain made 6 of 12 field goal attempts and was 6 of 8 from the free throw line to finish with a game-high 18 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks, two assists and two steals.
Grady Poppy, Fr., G, Shullsburg boys basketball
Poppy made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 34 points in Tuesday's 77–33 Six Rivers West win over Benton. Grady made 12 of 16 field goal attempts, including 8 of 11 from behind the 3-point line. He also had seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two assists in the win.
Lainey Riechers, Sr., G, Belmont girls basketball
Riechers scored a season-high 23 points, made four 3-pointers, and finished with seven rebounds to lead the Braves (10–5) to a 74–39 non-conference victory over East Dubuque (Ill.) Monday, Jan. 8.
Clye Steffl, Sr., G, Iowa–Grant boys basketball
Steffl made 12 of 19 field goal attempts, including 6 of 13 3-point attempts, and poured in a game-high 32 points to lead the Panthers to an 80–35 SWAL victory at Fennimore last Thursday night. Steffl also had six rebounds, four assists and two steals to help Iowa–Grant score its first win over the Golden Eagles since 2016.
