EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
Adam Larson, Sr., F, Fennimore boys basketball
Fennimore senior Adam Larson was recently named first-team All-SWAL after leading the Eagles to a 16–6 record and a 10–4 third-place finish in the league.
The 6’9” senior forward and Division 1 Southeast Missouri State recruit was also named this year’s SWAL Player of the Year and recently named Division 4 first team All-State by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association after leading Fennimore to a WIAA Division 4 regional championship.
Larson led the SWAL in scoring (24.7 ppg), rebounding (10.4 rpg) and blocked shots (4.6 bpg), while shooting 56.5 percent (195 of 345) from the field, 77.3 percent (102 of 132) from the free throw line and 40.8 percent (51 of 125) from the 3-point arc. He also averaged 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals per game.
Larson poured in a game-high 37 points to go along with nine rebounds and four blocks in Fennimore’s season-ending 70–62 overtime loss to eventual D4 state runner-up The Prairie School (24–4) in a D4 sectional semifinal two weeks ago.
He also posted 25 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks in a 51–44 comeback win over River Ridge in the regional finals Feb. 20, and had a monster game of 25 points, 23 rebounds and nine blocks in a 66–53 win over #1-ranked Cuba City (21–3) on Feb. 11.
Larson poured in a career-high 41 points in a 72–59 win over Riverdale Feb. 2, and posted a triple–double of 33 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks in a win over River Valley Feb 8.
“Adam is obviously deserving of first team all-conference for a third time, but deep down he wanted more this year,” said Fennimore head coach Troy Larson. “He stepped his game up, especially the last month of the season, and he became a dominant force on both ends of the court and the league coaches saw that and rewarded him with the Player of the Year as well. He may not have been in the running for that award until the final month, but he took his game to another level and the coaches rewarded him.”
Larson averaged 27.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game over Fennimore’s final 10 games.
He finished he career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1736 points (18.5 ppg), 583 rebounds (6.2 rpg), 291 blocks (3.1 bpg) and 186 made 3-pointers on 471 career attempts (39.5 percent).
“We know where the SWAL has been at the last four or five years,” said coach Larson. “It has been unbelievable the level of talent in our league. The all-state recognition is deserving regardless of our school size. Adam’s number’s got stronger each and every year. He is very deserving of all the accolades after the amount of work he has put in.”
HONORABLE MENTION: OTHER AREA WBCA BOYS ALL-STATE SELECTIONS
DIVISION 3
Dillon Garthwaite, Jr., G/F, Dodgeville — Honorable Mention (19 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg, 19–59 3P), SWC POY
Wes Keller, Sr., F, Richland Center — Honorable Mention (16.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.8 bpg, 53.0% FG)
DIVISION 4
Carter Lancaster, Sr., F, Darlington — 1st Team (19 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1,631 career points)
Jack Misky, Sr., F, Cuba City — 1st Team (19.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2 spg, 1,268 career points)
Joah Filardo, Jr., G, Mineral Point — Honorable Mention (17.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg, 42 3PM)
Carter Olson, Jr., PG, Cuba City — Honorable Mention (14.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5 apg, 2.1 spg)
Cayden Rankin, Sr., F, Darlington — Honorable Mention (12.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 spg, 1 bpg)
Braden Crubel, So., G, River Ridge — Honorable Mention (16.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2 spg, 56–147 3P)
DIVISION 5
Dominick Cummins, Sr., G, Benton — Honorable Mention (19.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 44–88 3P)
