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

Zeke Zuberbuhler, So., G, Darlington boys basketball
PLATTEVILLE — Monday was not a celebratory night for Lucas Ludlum and the Platteville Hillmen; instead Darlington sophomore guard Zeke Zuberbuhler stole the show.

Zuberbuhler hit four 3-pointers and erupted for a career-high 33 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals to lead the D4 #7-ranked Redbirds to a comfortable 73–53 non-conference victory in a hyped show down that turned into a letdown for the home team at Platteville High School.

Ludlum, who entered the game averaging a Southwest Wisconsin Conference-high 23.2 points per game and needing just 27 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone for his career, was held to just seven Monday night by the Darlington’s swarming defense.

Platteville (7–2) hung with the Redbirds (7–2) for the better part of the first half — thanks to eights point each from seniors Eli Langmeier and Nathan Mumm — and pulled within four at 24–20 on a spinning reverse layup by Langmeier with 6:02 left in the first half.

But Darlington closed the half on a 18–3 run to built 42–23 halftime advantage. Zuberbuhler scored 11 points in the run, including a pair of free throws with 4.1 seconds left before halftime. The visitors pushed their lead to as many as 30 points at 63–33 with just under 11 minutes left in the game and cruised from there.

Zuberbuhler was coming off a 18-point, five-steal game in a 66–54 non-conference win over Highland last Saturday, one day after posting 14 points and five rebounds in last Friday's 75–66 SWAL win over Southwestern.

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Brandon Davis, Jr., PG, River Ridge boys basketball
Davis recorded a game-high 16 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals and undefeated River Ridge's 68–21 Six Rivers Conference win over Monticello last Friday night as the Timberwolves improved to 9–0 overall and 5–0 in the SRC. Davis coming of a sensational 20-points, 10-rebounds, 6-assist game in last Thursday's 61–39 Six Rivers Conference win at Barneveld.

Bevyn Dennis, So., PG, Riverdale boys basketball
Davis made five 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals in a 65–39 SWAL win at Boscobel last Friday night. Dennis also battled through a rough shooting night by making 12 of 15 free throw attempts and put up a wild stat line of 25 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals with 13 turnovers in a 65–45 blowout win over La Farge last Thursday night as the Chieftains recorded their first win of the season.

Eli Lindsey, Sr., G, Mineral Point boys basketball
Lindsey made 5 of 9 3-point attempts and went a perfect 8 for 8 at the free throw line on his way to to a career-high 35, along with 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, in a 66–60 non-conference win at Whitefish Bay Dominican Saturday, Dec. 28 at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout. He then made 8 of 11 from the field (including four 3-pointers) and had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 63–35 SWAL win at Fennimore last Friday night, before posting 11 points, seven boards and five steals in a 52–44 win SWAL over Cuba City Monday night.

Macy McKay, Jr., C, Riverdale girls basketball
McKay had 11 points, a career-high 19 rebounds, and three steals to lead Riverdale to a 53–23 non-conference victory over La Farge/Youth Initiative last Thursday night, then scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 13 boards and three steals in Tuesday's 53–51 SWAL win over visiting Boscobel.

Grady Poppy, So., G, Shullsburg boys basketball
Poppy recorded a monster double–double of 24 points and 16 rebounds, to go along with five assists, three steals and two blocks in a 68–50 win over host Benton in the consolation game of the Mike Alexander Benton Christmas Tournament in late December. He then had a team-high 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in last Friday's 72–59 Six Rivers loss to Pecatonica.

Tannah Radloff, Sr., G, Prairie du Chien girls basketball
Radloff posted a monster all-around game of 28 points, 6 steals, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 of 4 on 3-pointers to lead the undefeated Blackhawks to a dominating 75–40 victory over Chatfield (Minn.) (6–8) in the second day of the Winona State Lewiston Auto Holiday Classic Friday, Dec. 27. Radloff then led Prairie du Chien (14–0, 4–0 SWC) to a dominating 54–35 SWC win over third-place Lancaster last Friday night.

Dawson Weber, Sr., F, Potosi boys basketball
Weber scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Chieftains to a 67–63 non-conference win over Lancaster last Monday night, Dec. 30. He then recorded another double–double of 13 points and 10 rebounds in a 80–43 Six Rivers Conference blowout win over visiting Juda last Friday night, and finished with 13 points and six rebounds in Monday's 53–49 non-conference win over Brodhead Monday night.

Mandi Wehrle, Sr., G, River Ridge girls basketball
Werhle caught fire Monday night and made 9 of 15 3-point attempts and poured in a career-high 33 points, to go long with seven rebounds, in a 67–19 non-conferecne victory over Seneca.