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
Lucas Ludlum, Sr., G, Platteville boys basketball
PLATTEVILLE — There is a new name atop the Platteville boys basketball all-time scoring list.
Platteville senior Lucas Ludlum scored a game-high 21 points in Saturday’s 93–41 Senior/Parent’s Night blowout of winless Prairie du Chien to break Jim Lawinger’s 58-year-old school record.
The Hillmen opened the game on a 20–6 run over the first six minutes and the outcome was never in question.
The only drama Saturday night was Ludlum’s quest to chase down Lawinger, who led the Platteville boys to the 1966–67 SWC title and to the semifinals of the 1967 one division WIAA state tournament.
With a contested pull-up bank shot from the left block with 6:34 left in the first half Ludlum surpassed Lawinger’s previous all-time school record of 1,197 points (in 68 career games), which last nearly six decades.
The basket gave the home team a insurmountable 46–14 lead. Platteville coach Mike Huser called a quick timeout and Ludlum’s teammates poured on to the court to congratulate their unassuming leader.
Huser gave Ludlum a big hug and an announcement was made to delight of the home crowd celebrating the accomplishment.
Lawinger was in the crowd and recognized as the previous record holder. He also personally congratulated Ludlum in a ceremony following the game. Lawinger averaged 26.7 points per game as a senior and set a single-game high with 44 points in a game that season.
Ludlum scored 20 of his 21 points in the first half before taking a seat early in the second half with the outcome well in hand. He finished the game 7 of 12 from the field and had a team-high nine rebounds and a team-best seven assists on a night where he became the program’s all-time scoring leader, now with 1,202 points.
“When you reflect on Lucas breaking Jim Lawinger’s school record, I guess a couple of things stood out,” said coach Huser. “The first is how consistent Lucas has been over the course of the past three years and this year as well. The second is that Jim’s record stood for a long time, and we greatly appreciated Jim being able to be at the game and participate in the ceremony after the game with Lucas, our team, family and friends.
“It was a special night for our program and Lucas, but Lucas also gave credit to his family, teammates and coaches, so everyone handled the historic milestone with class and grace. I believe Lucas really enjoyed the moment and he deserved this achievement with his hard work and relentless work ethic in the gym and dedication to improving each season along the way. It was definitely a night we will remember for a long time come.”
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Kylie Burns, So., F, Richland Center girls basketball
Kylie Burns converted three straight free throws with 3.2 seconds left in overtime to give the Richland Center Hornets a 55–54 non-conference win here Tuesday night. The win was the Hornets’ first of the season and ended a 45-game losing streak dating back to the end of the 2022–23 campaign. The Hornets rallied to pull within 27–21 at the half and finally tied the game midway through the second half. The lead changed hands several times down the stretch before Regan Schoepp scored from close range to put the Hornets ahead 47–45. Viroqua freshman Allyah Schwenn quickly penetrated and scored to tie the game, 47–47, and force overtime.In the extra period, Burns accounted for all eight of the Hornets’ points with a three-pointer and five of five from the free throw line, and finished with 16 points in the win.
Broker Buschor, SR., G/F, Darlington boys basketball
Buschor scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Redbirds to a 80–44 SWAL victory over Iowa–Grant last Thursday night. Buschor made 10 of 16 field goal attempts, including 3 of 8 3-point attempts, and added seven rebounds and three steals and in the process reached the 1,000-point career milestone. Buschor then posted a team-high 14 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals to lead Darlington (15–5, 9–3 SWAL) to a 70–62 win over Southwestern (17–5, 8–4) to move into sole possession of second place in the SWAL.
Doug Kauffman, Jr., G, Lancaster boys basketball
Thanks in large part to a 31-point performance by Lancaster junior Dayne Kauffman, coach Brian Knapp and his Flying Arrow boys basketball team sent visiting Dodgeville home with a 72-66 loss last Friday night in Southwest Wisconsin Conference action. Kauffman, who missed some time this season with a knee injury, is second on the team with an average of 14 points per game, but has shown the ability to explode, especially from beyond the 3-point arc. But on Friday night, Kauffman went 7-of-12 from inside the arc and 14-of-19 from the free throw line, accounting for all but three of his game-high 31 points. The Arrows needed every one of Kauffman’s points against the Dodgers, who outscored the Arrows 40-39 in the second half after trailing 33-26 at the intermission.
Ella Mackiewicz, Sr., G, UW–Platteville women's basketball
The UW–Platteville women’s basketball team’s third quarter 13–2 run got the Pioneers back in the game, but the rally fell short 75–65 at UW–La Crosse last Wednesday night. Junior Ella Mackiewicz scored a game-high 19 points, becoming the 12th player in team history to join the 1,000 Point Club in the process.