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

Myron Reuter, Sr., SG, Platteville boys basketball
PLATTEVILLE — The Platteville boys basketball team continued turning heads last week by winning a third straight WIAA Division 3 regional title with victories over River Valley, Mauston and Lodi.

Following a dominating 71–50 upset at No. 3 Mauston in Friday night’s regional semifinal, No. 6 seed Platteville rallied from a 14-point deficit early in the second half to dispatch of No. 7 Lodi (17–10) in Saturday night’s regional final, 72–61.

After scoring just two points in the first half, senior Myron Reuter scored 20 points in the final 18 minutes and spurred a tide-turning 33–9 run with a three-point play and three open court layups to give the home team a 56–46 lead with five minutes left.

After the Blue Devils, who upset No. 2 seed La Crosse Aquinas (20–5) 54–52 Friday night, cut the Platteville lead to six at 59–53 with 3:23 left, Reuter delivered the knock blows by making 7 of 8 free throw attempts in the final three minutes to close out the win.

Junior Grady Poppy kept the Hillmen in the game in the first half when Lodi controlled the pace of play. Poppy finished with a team-high 27 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Jauron Blevins and sophomore Braden Streight chipped in nine points each.

“I think the comeback really started on the defensive end,” said Hillmen head coach Mike Huser. “We were able to string together some stops and that allowed us to get out in transition, which is where we’re at our best. Our guys played with great pace during that stretch. When we rebound and run, we can put a lot of pressure on teams.” 

“I thought our energy picked up and we started attacking instead of reacting, and that really changed the momentum of the game,” added Huser. “We were able to wear them down and that definitely was to our benefit.”  

Platteville (18–9), which has now won 13 of its last 14 games after a 5–8 start, advances to face fellow SWC tri-champion Lancaster (18–9) Thursday night at Prairie du Chien High School at 7 p.m.

The winner will advance to face either No. 1 seed Lake Mills (24–2) or No. 3 Watertown Luther Prep (21–3).

Lancaster upset No. 1 Mineral Point Saturday night, 79–62 to win its first regional title since 1998. The Hillmen and Flying Arrows, who shared this year’s SWC title with Dodgeville, split their previous two meetings this season — both in blowout fashion — with Lancaster winning at home Dec. 18, 84–53, before Platteville returned the favor Feb. 6, 83–59.

“Lancaster is a really good team and obviously we know each other very well,” said Huser. “For us it’s going to come down to defending at a high level, taking care of the basketball, and playing with the pace that gives us the best chance to be successful. In games like this, the little things; rebounding, loose balls, execution usually make the difference.”  

In Friday night’s road win at Mauston (18–6), Reuter had 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals, while Poppy chipped in 21 points and 14 rebounds. Reuter also moved into second place on Platteville’s all-time scoring list Friday night, passing 1967 graduate Jim “Louie” Lawinger, who was Platteville’s all-time leading scorer with 1,197 points until last year.

Lucas Ludlum, the two-time SWC Player of the Year finished his career with 1,334 points. Reuter has 1,221 points entering Thursday’s sectional semifinal.

“We’re proud of what this group has accomplished, but our guys know the job isn’t finished yet,” added Huser. “This time of year is about playing your best basketball and enjoying the opportunity in front of you. Thursday will be a great challenge, and we’re excited for the chance to compete for another step forward.” 

The No. 6 seeded Hillmen began their Cinderella run through their regional bracket with a 76–66 victory over No. 7 River Valley last Tuesday night.

Senior guard Jauron Blevins caught fire in the first half and  finished with a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while making 6 of 10 3-point attempts. Myron Reuter, and juniors Brody Digman and Poppy scored 12 points apiece for the Hillmen.

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Dayne Kauffman, Sr., PG, and Zach Hermsen, Sr., F, Lancaster boys basketball
Kauffman scored 14 of his game-high 24 points as Lancaster raced out to a commanding 27–9 lead en rout to a 79–62 upset victory No. 1 seed Mineral Point (20–6)  in last Saturday's WIAA Division 3 regional final. It was Lancaster's first regional title since 1988. Kauffman also scored 18 points in Friday's 71–58 win over No. 5 seed New Glarus, and a had 14 points in last Tuesday's 65–52 regional quarterfinal win over No. 13 Richland Center. Fellow Lancaster senior Zach Hermsen averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in the three regional victories for the Flying Arrows (18–9), who will face No. 6 seed and fellow SWC tri-champion Platteville (18–9) in a D3 sectional semifinal Thursday night at Prairie du Chien High School.

Madelyn Klein, Jr., and Faith Hoffman, Sr., All-Around, Dodgeville/Mineral Point/Iowa–Grant/Highland gymnastics
A day after winning the D2 Team State title, Iowa–Grant junior Madelyn Klein and Highland senior Faith Hoffman returned to competition for last Saturday’s WIAA D2 Individual State Championships. Klein won the individual state title on the vault with a score of 9.450, just nipping Monona Grove’s Kennedy Sefcik (9.4333) to win her second individual state title. Klein, who won the D2 individual state title on the uneven bars a year ago as a sophomore, finished second on the bars this year with a score of 9.1167, just behind Sparta’s Gabrielle Bjorkman  (9.1667). Klein also finished tied for sixth on the floor (9.1333) and placed third in the all-around at 37.0333. Hoffman medaled with a fourth-place finish on the floor (9.2333), and placed seventh in the all-around (35.5333), eighth on the beam (8.80) and tied for eighth on the vault (8.90).

Last Friday night at the WIAA Team State Championships at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School, coach Jessica Oellerich’s co-op team cemented its legacy as THE best team in Division 2 for 2025–26 by winning the program’s first state title with a combined team score of 139.6834. The Dodgers edged out runner-up Mount Horeb (138.2001) and Marshfield (137.25) to win the championship.

Grady Poppy, Jr., F, Platteville boys basketball
Poppy scored a team-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Platteville's 72–61 WIAA Division 3 regional final victory over No. 7 seed Lodi (17–10) last Saturday night. A night earlier, Poppy had 21 points, 14 rebounds and two seals in a 71–50 blowout win at No. 3 Mauston (18–6). Poppy also finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists in last Tuesday's D3 regional quarterfinal win over No. 11 seed River Valley (12–13) last Tuesday night. Poppy and the Hillmen (18–9) will face No. 4 seed and fellow SWC tri-champion Lancaster (18–9) in a D3 sectional semifinal Thursday night at Prairie du Chien High School.

Zeke Zuberbuhler, Jr., PG, Darlington boys basketball
Zuberbuhler tallied 20 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and four assists in No. 1 seed Darlington's 75–42 WIAA Division 4 regional final victory over No. 4 seed Iowa–Grant (16–10) last Saturday night. He also posted 18 points, seven steals, four assists and three rebounds in the Redbirds' 84–42 regional semifinal blowout win over Belleville (9–17) last Friday night. Darlington (23–3) will face No. 2 seed Cambridge (17–9) in a D4 sectional semifinal Thursday night at Dodgeville High School.