GAME OF THE WEEK (Dec. 10–Dec. 16)
BOYS BASKETBALL: Belmont (3–1, 1–0 SRW) at Shullsburg (2–0, 1–0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The upstart Braves are off to a strong start under first-year head coach Glenn Gaulke, who was Belmont's JV boys coach from 1999–2014. Gualke's team will travel to Six Rivers West preseason favorite Shullsburg Friday to face the Miners on their own court.
Belmont senior forward Raine Voigts has posted back-to-back 30-point games in wins over Juda last Thursday and Highland on Tuesday. Last Thursday he scored a career-high 30 points, including 17 in the second half, in a 69–42 at Juda. Tuesday night he was even better scoring 33 points in a 72–66 win over Highland.
The Braves, who went 15–8 overall and finished third in the Six Rivers West a year ago under Dave Michalkiewicz, are looking to take that next step this season under Gaulke. Belmont returns Voigts, as well as three-year varsity starters Jon Bahr and Lane Kamps, and seniors Quinn Cushman and Josh Lodgson. Bahr, a first-team All-SRW selection as a junior, is averaging 10.5 points per game this year.
“It's been two years since I was the JV coach so it's fun to be back and this is a great group of young men,” said Gaulke. “This is a highly talked about class for athletes and football didn't go so well for them. It's time for them to get the recognition they deserve. My goal is to teach them and encourage them and help them take the next step.”
A year ago Shullsburg dominated the conference and is expected to again this year. The sophomore-led Miners went 11–1 in league play to win the conference title and 25–2 overall, advancing all the way to the WIAA Division 5 sectional final before ending the season with a loss to eventual D5 runner-up Hillsboro.
Coach Mark Lierman's now junior-dominated team returns starters Joey Meyer (6'8”), Hunter Matye (6'5”) and Noah Wand (6'4”). Meyer scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Miners to a dominating 68–46 win over Potosi on Tuesday.
“Last year's success has set the bar very high for us, however now every team will be looking to knock us down,” said Lierman. “I think we can be above .500 this season and push for a conference title. But we can't win any games looking backwards to last year. We have a new team with new players, so we have to have everyone up to speed so we can attempt to play our best basketball when the clock is running.”
This Week's Other Area Boys Basketball Games
Thursday, Dec. 10
Platteville (0–3, 0–0 SWC) at Lancaster (2–0, 0–0 SWC), 7:30 p.m.
The unbeaten Arrows host the winless Hillmen to begin Southwest Wisconsin Conference play Thursday night at 7:30. Senior center Jayson Jones is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a game for Lancaster, which has opened the season with wins over River Ridge and Southwestern.
Junior guard Chase Bellmeyer has made 11 of 22 three-point attempts in three games this year and leads the Hillmen at 14.7 points per game.
Prairie du Chien (2–0, 0–0 SWC) at Richland Center (0–2, 0–0 SWC), 7:30 p.m.
Dodgeville (2–0, 0–0 SWC) at River Valley (1–2, 0–0 SWC), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11
Southwestern (1–1, 1–0 SWAL) at Iowa–Grant (2–1, 1–0 SWAL), 7:30 p.m.
Senior forward Isaac Anderson, a two-time, first-team All-SWAL selection, is averaging 23.7 points per game in three games for the 2–1 Panthers. Seniors Kurt Tranel and Ezra Vaassen each scored 17 points in the Wildcats' 60–47 season-opening win over Mineral Point last Thursday.
Riverdale (0–4, 0–1 SWAL) at Cuba City (2–0, 1–0 SWAL), 7:30 p.m.
The Cubans are off to a quick start with wins over Six Rivers East preseason favorite Pecatonica and preseason SWAL favorite Darlington. Sophomore guard Blake Robson made four three-pointers and 10 of 12 free throw attempts to score a game-high 22 points in last Thursday's 55–48 victory over Darlington. Coach Jerry Petitgoue's Cubans may have what it takes to reclaim the SWAL title that Mineral Point has won each of the past two seasons.
Darlington (1–1, 0–1 SWAL) at Fennimore (3–1, 1–0 SWAL, 7:30 p.m.
Boscobel (0–1, 0–1 SWAL) at Mineral Point (0–3, 0–1), 7:30 p.m.
Cassville (2–2, 0–1 SRW) at Potosi (0–2, 0–1 SRW), 7:30 p.m.
Benton (1–1, 1–0 SRW) at River Ridge (0–3, 0–0 SRW), 7:30 p.m.
Pecatonica at Highland (0–2), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12
Richland Center (0–2) at Hillsboro (0–0), (at Wisconsin Dells), 12:50 p.m.
Dodgeville (2–0) at Stoughton, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14
Platteville at Iowa–Grant, 7:30 p.m.
Wonewoc–Center at Richland Center, 7:30 p.m.
Southwestern at Shullsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Boscobel at Wauzeka–Steuben, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Dodgeville (2–0) at Barneveld, 7:30 p.m.
Darlington at Lancaster (2–0), 7:30 p.m.
Belmont at Albany, 7:30 p.m.
Benton at Argyle, 7:30 p.m.
De Soto at River Ridge, 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
Thursday, Dec. 10
Potosi (4–1, 1–0 SRW) at Belmont (4–1, 1–0 SRW), 7:30 p.m.
The Chieftains are off to a 4–1 start in the return of coach Brad Bierman, who came back to the program after a short one-year absence. Sophomore forward Abby Kaiser leads Potosi with 21.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Senior point guard Maddie Hawes is averaging 17.4 points and 7.7 assist per game. The Chieftains clobbered Argyle 78–47 on Tuesday.
Belmont is the early-season surprise of the conference under first-year coach Alan Seabrooke. The Braves are 4–1 on the year after a 55–49 upset of preseason league-favorite River Ridge last Friday. Senior Brook Knebel had 18 points and seven rebounds in the win. Belmont then thumped Albany 72–47 on Monday night. Knebel (20), sophomore Briana Ernst (19) and junior Caitlyn Gilbertson (15) each scored in double figures.
River Ridge (2–1, 0–1 SRW) at Benton (5–1, 2–0 SRW, ranked 8th in D5), 7:30 p.m.
The breakup of the Benton/Shullsburg girls basketball co-op hasn't really affected Benton. The Zephyrs and sophomore standout Emma Lawrence are off to a 5–1 start. Lawrence had 17 points and nine rebounds in Tuesday's 68–44 win over Cassville. River Ridge is looking to shake off last Friday's 55–49 loss at Belmont.
Shullsburg (3–0, 0–0 SRW) at Highland (0–2, 0–1 SRW), 7:30 p.m.
Southwestern (1–3, 0–1 SWAL) at Darlington (1–4, 0–1 SWAL), 7:30 p.m.
Fennimore (0–4, 0–1 SWAL) at Iowa–Grant (2–1, 1–0 SWAL), 7:30 p.m.
Boscobel (0–1, 0–1 SWAL) at Mineral Point (2–2, 1–0 SWAL, ranked 9th in D4), 7:30 p.m.
Cuba City (3–0, 1–0 SWAL, ranked 3rd in D4) at Riverdale (3–1, 1–0 SWAL, ranked 9th in D5), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11
Dodgeville (4–0, 1–0 SWC, ranked 6th in D3) at Platteville (4–0, 1–0 SWC), 7:30 p.m.
Senior Kara Crowley leads the conference in rebounding (12.4 rpg) and is second in scoring (21.0 ppg) for the undefeated Dodgers, who are ranked sixth in the latest wissports.net Division 3 poll. Senior Sierra Brecke is averaging a whopping 27.0 points per game for the undefeated Hillmen, who are off to a 4–0 start under first-year head coach Brandon Temperly.
Richland Center (1–3, 0–1 SWC) at Lancaster (3–2, 0–1 SWC), 7:30 p.m.
Prairie du Chien (3–2, 1–0 SWC) at River Valley (1–4, 0–1 SWC), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12
Cassville at Pecatonica, 2:30 p.m.
Iowa–Grant at Mineral Point, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14
River River at Prairie du Chien, 7:30 p.m.
Cassville at Argyle, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Lancaster at Belmont, 7:30 p.m.
Dodgeville at Black Hawk, 7:30 p.m.
Baraboo at Richland Center, 7:30 p.m.
Mount Horeb at River Valley, 7:30 p.m.
WRESTLING:
Thursday, Dec. 10
Richland Center at Viroqua, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11
Fennimore at Darlington/Black Hawk (South Wayne), 7 p.m.
Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton at Boscobel, 7 p.m.
Mineral Point at Riverdale, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12
Mineral Point, Iowa–Grant/Highland at Wisconsin Dells Tournament, 8 a.m.
Riverdale at Waunakee Invitational, 9 a.m.
Belmont/Platteville, Cuba City/SW/Benton, Dodgeville at Sugar River Invitational, 9 a.m.
Fennimore at Sauk Prairie Invitational, 9 a.m.
Lancaster, Richland Center at Tomah Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Richland Center at Dodgeville, 7 p.m.
