GAME OF THE WEEK (Jan. 7–Jan. 13)
WRESTLING: Fennimore (6–0, 2–0 SWAL) at Iowa–Grant/Highland (5–3, 1–1 SWAL), Friday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m.
The Iowa-Grant/Highland wrestling co-op will host undefeated and fourth-ranked Fennimore Friday at 7 p.m. in this week’s McDonald’s Swnews4.com Game of the Week.
Coach Ryan Allen’s Panthers are coming off a 48–33 victory on Tuesday over SWAL rival Riverdale, a team receiving honorable mention votes in the latest Division 3 Crossface.com rankings.
I–G/Highland (5–3, 1–1 SWAL) is led by returning state qualifiers Sawyer Sarbacker and Max Maylor. Sarbacker, a junior from Iowa–Grant, is 22–2 on the season and most recently finished third at 113 pounds at last week’s 57-team Bi-State Classic in La Crosse. Maylor, a sophomore from Highland, is 18–5 after a sixth-place finish at Bi-State. Sophomore Brady Peat (16–4, 160) and freshman Drew Hennessey (13–6) are also having solid seasons for the Panthers, who must find a way to overcome three potential forfeits Friday night.
Fennimore (6–0, 2–0 SWAL) defeated Boscobel, 54–21, on Dec. 17 before taking part in the two-day Dvorak Invitational on Dec. 22–23 in Machesney Park, Ill. Sophomore standout Alston Nutter (15–4), a 2015 WIAA state champion at 120 pounds, placed fifth at 126, while seniors Louis Heberlein (16–3, 195 pounds) and Riley Lull (15–3, 120) each placed seventh at the 30-team event.
A year ago, the Golden Eagles dominated the Panthers, 57–18, in a SWAL dual at Fennimore High School. Two weeks later they defeated defending SWAL champion Mineral Point, 45–25, to win a share of the conference title. Fennimore went on to win the WIAA Division 3 Lancaster regional, the D3 Riverdale team sectional before finishing the season at the D3 team state championships.
The Golden Eagles, now under the guidance for first-year head coach Chad Steldt (an assistant on the 2015 team), once again have their sights set on a return trip to team state, but there first goal is to repeat as SWAL champion.
OTHER AREA WRESTLING EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Thursday, Jan. 7
Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka–Steuben at Richland Center, 7 p.m.
Belmont/Platteville at Lancaster, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 8
Weston/Ithaca at River Valley, 7 p.m.
Fennimore at Iowa–Grant/Highland, 7 p.m.
Darlington/Black Hawk at Mineral Point, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9
Lancaster Invitational, 9:30 a.m. – Participating area teams: Boscobel, Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern, Fennimore, Lancaster, Richland Center, Riverdale, River Ridge/Cassville.
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Lancaster at River Valley, 7 p.m.
Dodgeville at Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka/Steuben, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
Benton (7–4, 2–2 Six Rivers West) at Potosi (7–2, 3–1 SRW), Thursday, Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Coach Brad Bierman’s Chieftains look to take a big step in the race toward this year’s conference title. Sophomore forward Abby Kaiser leads Potosi in both scoring (17.9 ppg) and rebound (6.9 ppg). Senior point guard Maddie Hawes averaged 13.9 points and a team-high 7.9 assists per game. The Chieftains defeated Pecatonica 51–35 in a non-conference game Tuesday night.
The Zephyrs, who are coming off a 59–38 loss to top-ranked Barneveld on Monday, can’t afford another conference loss if they hope to keep pace with league-leading Shullsburg (9–0, 3–0). Sophomore Emma Lawrence averaged 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for Benton.
Platteville (9–2, 3–0 SWC) at Prairie du Chien (6–3, 2–1), Friday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Coach Brandon Temperly’s Hillmen will attempt to retain their place as sole leader of the Southwestern Wisconsin Conference when they travel to second-place Prairie du Chien on Friday night. Senior forward Sierra Brecke (23.0 ppg) scored a game-high 26 points in Platteville’s 68–41 non-conference blowout of Iowa–Grant. Fellow senior Claire Tashner, who is averaging 10.8 points per game, scored a season-high 18 points in Platteville’s 66–39 victory over Bellevue Marquette (Iowa) on Saturday. Sophomore forward Skye Digman is averaging 9.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Hillmen.
Prairie du Chien hasn’t played since a 44–40 non-conference victory over Decorah (Iowa) on Dec. 22. How will the long layoff affect the Blackhawks. Senior guard Brooke Trautsch leads PdC in scoring at 13.3 points per game.
OTHER AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL GAMES THIS WEEK:
Thursday, Jan. 7
Fennimore at Boscobel, 7:30 p.m.
Iowa–Grant at Darlington, 7:30 p.m.
Riverdale at Mineral Point, 7:30 p.m.
Cuba City at Southwestern, 7:30 p.m.
Belmont at Cassville, 7:30 p.m.
Shullsburg at River Ridge, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 8
Lancaster at Dodgeville, 7:30 p.m.
River Valley at Richland Center, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9
Benton at Prairie du Chien, 4 p.m.
Southwestern at Clayton Ridge (Iowa), 6 p.m.
Shullsburg at River Ridge/Scales Mound (Ill.), 6 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 11
Lancaster at Potosi, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Boscobel at Cuba City, 7:30 p.m.
Mineral Point at Fennimore, 7:30 p.m.
Southwestern at Iowa–Grant, 7:30 p.m.
Darlington at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.
Mount Horeb at Dodgeville, 7:30 p.m.
Onalaska at Richland Center, 7:30 p.m.
Highland at River Ridge, 7:30 p.m.
Cassville at Shullsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Belmont at Benton, 7:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL:
Thursday, Jan. 7
Richland Center at Dodgeville, 7:30 p.m.
River Valley at Platteville, 7:30 p.m.
Lancaster at Prairie du Chien, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 8
Mineral Point at Cuba City, 7:30 p.m.
Boscobel at Darlington, 7:30 p.m.
Iowa–Grant at Fennimore, 7:30 p.m.
Southwestern at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.
Cassville at Belmont, 7:30 p.m.
Potosi at River Ridge, 7:30 p.m.
Highland at Shullsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9
Waukon (Iowa) at Prairie du Chien, 2 p.m.
Southwestern at Clayton Ridge (Iowa), 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 11
Evansville at Dodgeville, 7:30 p.m.
River Valley at Ithaca, 7:30 p.m.
Potosi at Mineral Point, 7:30 p.m.
Highland at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.
Fennimore at Pecatonica, 7:30 p.m.
Monticello at Benton, 7:30 p.m.
North Crawford at Cassville, 7:30 p.m.
Wauzeka–Steuben at River Ridge, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Platteville at Darlington, 7:30 p.m.
Prairie du Chien at Viroqua, 7:30 p.m.
Iowa–Grant at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
Seneca at Boscobel, 7:30 p.m.
Galena at Potosi, 7:30 p.m.
