GAME OF THE WEEK (Feb. 10–16)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Richland Center (17–1, 7–1, #5 in Division 3) at Platteville (14–4, 7–0 SWC), Friday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., WPVL (1590 AM), WRCO (100.9 FM)

     Platteville can clinch the Southwest Wisconsin Conference title with a win over the fifth-ranked Hornets Friday night. Richland Center needs a win to force a tie for first-place. The Hillmen handed the Hornets their only loss of the season, 87–81, on Friday, Jan. 6. Senior Brooklyn Leigel scored a game-high 28 points in that game, but Platteville’s twin towers of junior Skye Digman (24 points, 7 rebounds) and freshman Sami Martin (27 points, 10 rebounds) were too much to overcome.

    Digman, who averaged 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, had 25 points and 11 rebounds in Platteville’s 59–56 win over Mount Horeb Monday night.

     “Skye Digman dominated the paint for most of the night and it was good to see her taking advantage of matchups,” said Platteville head coach Brandon Temperly. “Teams are starting to game plan against our size and we will need to exploit different matchups for the remainder of the season. Teams are really focusing on Sami Martin lately but she has been very willing to find her teammates when she is double teamed. Sami Knockel has really come on strong the last 3 weeks and has earned more playing time. Between those three, there are not many teams that can match up with us.”

     “Richland Center is a talented team that is well coached,” added Temperly. “We are always excited to get the opportunity to play the Hornets. The game was a fun one to be a part of up there and we anticipate a good one down here. It will be a playoff atmosphere in the gym and a great opportunity for our team. It's a great time of year for basketball.”   

Shullsburg (15–3, 10–0 SRW, #5 in D5) at Benton (13–5, 8–2 SRW), Friday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., WGLR (97.7 FM)

     The former co-op mates will meet at Benton High School Friday night. Shullsburg has already clinched at least a share of a second-straight conference title with a 61–32 victory over Cassville Tuesday night. The fifth-ranked Miners defeated the Zephyrs 60–39 on Saturday, Jan. 21 to begin their current six-game winning streak. Shullsburg has won 10 of its past 11 games. Benton junior Emma Lawrence surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career in that January loss at Shullsburg. Benton hammered Highland 75–43 on Tuesday for its fourth straight victory.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Area games of note this week

Platteville (13–5, 6–1 SWC) at Prairie du Chien (14–2, 7–0 SWC), Tuesday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., WPVL (1590 AM)

     Platteville will look to regain a share of first-place in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference in Tuesday night’s makeup game at Prairie du Chien. The Blackhawks came to PHS last Friday and left with a 68–51 victory and a one-game lead in the conference standings. Josh Lenzendorf scored a game-high 23 points to lead coach Andy Banasik’s team. Neither team can look ahead as both play key conference games Friday night. Prairie du Chien goes on the road to third-place Dodgeville (10–9, 5–3 SWC), which has won seven straight games since a 58–55 loss at Platteville on Jan. 13. Platteville will host Richland Center (7–9, 3–5) before hosting Black Hawk (14–4) in a non-conference game on Saturday night. 

Darlington (17–0, ranked #2 in Division 4) at Shullsburg (17–1), Saturday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., WPVL (107.1 FM)

     SWAL-leading Darlington travels to Six Rivers West-leading Shullsburg for one of the more intriguing non-conference games in the area this year. Darlington survived a scare from second-place Mineral Point last Friday. Trevor Johnson (23 points) and Ryan Glendenning (20) combined for 43 points as the Redbirds escaped with a 72–67 victory that gave them a two-game lead over the Pointers in the league standings. Shullsburg was the top-ranked team in Division 5, until a 57–36 non-conference loss at Barneveld last Friday night, but the Miners bounced back with dominating victories over Argyle (67–29) on Monday and Cassville (67–32) on Tuesday.  

PREP WRESTLING: WIAA Regionals

WIAA Division 2 River Valley Regional (at Spring Green), 11 a.m., WGLR (97.7 FM)

     River Valley will host host a seven-team regional Saturday. Teams in attendance will include Belmont/Platteville, Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern, Dodgeville, Mount Horeb, Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka–Steuben, Richland Center and the host Blackhawks, who finished second at last week’s SWC/SWAL Clash. The top two finishers at each weight class will advance to next weekend’s D3 Richland Center Sectional. The winning team will each a spot in Tuesday’s Edgerton Team Sectional.

WIAA Division 3 Riverdale Regional (at Muscoda), 10 a.m., WGLR (97.7 FM)

     Riverdale will host one of the toughest regionals in the state Saturday. SWC/SWAL Clash champion Fennimore, third-place Mineral Point and fourth-place Iowa–Grant/Highland will all be attendance, as well as Lancaster Boscobel, River Ridge/Cassville and the host Chieftains. The top two finishers at each weight class will advance to next weekend’s D3 Mineral Point Sectional. The winning team will each a spot in Tuesday’s Orfordville Parkview Team Sectional. 

PREP GYMNASTICS: Platteville/Belmont/Lancaster Lisa Steger Memorial Invitational (at Platteville High School), 11 a.m.

     The Platteville/Belmont/Lancaster gymnastics team will host the annual Lisa Steger Memorial Invitational on Saturday. Participating teams include the host Hillmen, Baraboo, Dodgeville/Mineral Point, Mount Horeb, Prairie du Chien, Reedsburg, River Valley, Sauk Prairie, Southwestern/Cuba City, Waunakee and Whitewater.