EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
Hayden Knapp, Sr., G, Lancaster boys basketball
The Lancaster boys basketball team is off to a 5–1 start, its best since an 11–1 start 16 years ago in 2004–05. Senior guard Hayden Knapp is the driving forced behind the Flying Arrows quick start this season.
Knapp scored a game-high 25 points on 8 of 12 shooting and 8 of 11 from the free throw line, grabbed four rebounds and passed out three assists in Lancaster's 58–46 Southwest Wisconsin Conference win over visiting Platteville (1–5) last Thursday night. Knapp again scored 25 points in a 72–62 non-conference win at Mauston (3–3) Monday night. It was Knapp's fifth 20-point game of the season.
The crafty senior, who excels at getting to the basket and finishing with each hand, or drawing a foul, is averaging a SWC-best 22.7 points, 5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for his father/coach's Flying Arrows. He is shooting 47 percent from the field (32 of 68) and 76.3 percent at the line (45 of 59) through six games. The younger Knapp scored a career-high 28 points, including the game-winning basket on a reverse layup with 20.5 seconds left in a 50–48 season-opening win over Southwestern Dec. 5. He also scored 20, including four straight free throws in the final minute of Lancaster's 50–48 comeback victory over Belleville, Dec. 10. Knapp and the Arrows return to action Tuesday with a Lancaster Christmas Tournament game at LHS.
HONORABLE MENTION (In alphabetical order):
Isaac Hill, Sr., G, Iowa–Grant boys basketball
Hill scored 21 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and a passed out a career-high 12 assists to notch his first career triple–double in a 82–56 win at Riverdale last Thursday night. Hill's big game certainly caught the attention of Cuba City head coach Jerry Petitgoue, who made it a point of emphasis to get the ball out of Hill's hands in the Cubans' 97–32 win at Iowa–Grant Saturday. Despite being limited to just three field goal attempts in Saturday's loss, Hill is averaging 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists for the Panthers (2–3) through five games.
Lily Krahn, Jr., G, Prairie du Chien
The 5'10" junior point guard, who already has Division 1 offers from Bradley, Illinois State, Kansas State, UW–Milwaukee, Nebraska–Omaha and Oklahoma State, scored a game-high 25 points in the undefeated Blackhawks' 72–45 victory over Decorah (Iowa) Tuesday night. She opened the season with a 27-point game in a 78–12 win over River Valley lat Tuesday, then scored 26 points in a 52–30 win over Tomah on Friday night. Krahn is averaging a SWC-best 21 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists through four games.
Brody Lee, Sr., 145/152, Fennimore wrestling
The Fennimore senior moved up a weight class and scored 31-second pin over Logan Gaulke at 152 pounds to give Fennimore a 42–20 lead and clinch the undefeated Golden Eagles' 42–35 non-conference victory over Stratford last Friday night at FHS. Lee's pin was one of five for Fennimore, which has won four of the six head-to-head meetings with Stratford in the past six years, including three straight.The Golden Eagles have faced the mighty Tigers each of the last five years at the Team State Tournament. Fennimore defeated Stratford 31–24 in the 2019 D3 Team State championship match, then defeated the Tigers 37–31 in a D3 state semifinal a year go. Startford defeated the Golden Eagles in both the 2017 and 2018 state championship dual, after Fennimore defeated the Tigers 27–26 in the 2016 state championship.
Curtis Stone, Sr., G, Darlington boys basketball
Stone hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left and finished with 15 points in Darlington's SWAL 69–64 victory at Fennimore last Thursday night. He also scored 11 points in a dominating 84–49 win over Shullsburg Monday night. Stone is averaging 12.3 points per game, one of four Redbirds (6–1) averaging in double-digit points.
Meg Tarrell, Sr., G, Highland girls basketball
Tarrell connect on 5 of 8 3-point attempts and made 6 of 7 free throws and erupted for a career-high 27 points in the Cardinals' 82–74 victory over visiting Potosi/Cassville Monday night. She also had four steals, three rebounds and three assists in the win. Tarrell is averaging 13.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game for Highland (5–2, 3–0 SRW).
Gavin Wunderlin, Fr., F, and Sam Udelhofen, So. G, Potosi boys basketball
Wunderlin scored a game- and career-high 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting, including 3 of 4 from beyond the 3-point line in Potosi's 68–58 victory over Benton last Thursday night. Udelhofen added 17 points, six rebounds and three assists and leads the Chieftains (3–2, 2–2 SRW) in scoring at 15.8 points per game.
