GAME OF THE WEEK (Dec. 31–Jan. 6)
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Barneveld (8–0) at Benton (7–3), Monday, Jan. 4, 7:30 p.m.
The 7–3 Benton Zephyrs will take their crack at the undefeated and top-ranked Barneveld Golden Eagles in a Six Rivers Conference crossover game Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in the McDonald's Swnews4u.com Game of the Week.
Barneveld improved to 8–0 on the season with a 56–49 win over Platteville (7–2) Wednesday night in the championship game of its holiday tournament. The Golden Eagles are led by University of Nebraska recruit Hannah Whitish, who leads the team in scoring at 22 points per game. Barneveld, which is now coached by Doug Pickarts, has won two straight WIAA Division 5 state championships, after finishing second in 2013.
A year ago, the Eagles defeated Benton/Shullsburg 46–15 in a D5 sectional semifinal, but the Benton/Shullsburg co-op was broken up in the offseason leading the Zyphrs to play alone.
Sophomore forward Emma Lawrence, and her mother, coach Lisa Lawrence, have led Benton to a 7–3 mark to start the year. The younger Lawrence is leading the team in both scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg). Junior Kayla Dougherty is averaging 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while senior guard Payton Bastian is also scoring in double figures at 10.3 points per game.
The Zephyrs are coming off an emotional 56–50 loss at Shullsburg on Tuesday, Dec. 22 in the first meeting between Benton and its former co-op partner.
OTHER AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL GAMES THIS WEEK:
Saturday, Jan. 2
Bellevue Marquette (Iowa) at Platteville, 11:30 a.m.
The Hillmen will host Bellevue Marquette Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. as part of a non-conference boys–girls doubleheader. Platteville fell to 7–2 with a 56–49 non-conference loss to Barneveld (8–0, ranked #1 in D5) in the championship game of the Barneveld Holiday Tournament on Wednesday. Senior forward Sierra Brecke leads the Hillmen and the Southwest Wisconsin Confernece in scoring at 23.0 points per game.
Monday, Jan. 4
Dodgeville at Brodhead, 7:30 p.m.
Lancaster at Cuba City, 7:30 p.m.
Platteville at Iowa–Grant, 7:30 p.m.
Galena at Southwestern, 7:30 p.m.
Cassville at Fennimore, 7:30 p.m.
Black Hawk at Mineral Point, 7:30 p.m.
Highland at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.
Shullsburg at Darlington, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 5
Westby at Richland Center, 7:30 p.m.
Mauston at River Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Boscobel at North Crawford, 7:30 p.m.
Pecatonica at Potosi, 7:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL:
Saturday, Jan. 2
Cuba City vs. Columbus, (at Just A Game Fieldhouse, Wisconsin Dells), 12:45 p.m.
Cassville vs. New Lisbon at Ithaca Tournament, 12 noon
Cassville at Ithaca, 2 p.m.
Bellevue Marquette at Platteville, 1 p.m.
Dodgeville at Sauk Prairie, 3 p.m.
Wisconsin Heights at River Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 4
Mount Horeb at Dodgeville, 7:30 p.m.
Lancaster at Potosi, 7:30 p.m.
Galena at Southwestern, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 5
Richland Center at Mauston, 7:30 p.m.
Cuba City at Fennimore, 7:30 p.m.
Boscobel at Iowa–Grant, 7:30 p.m.
Riverdale at Mineral Point, 7:30 p.m.
Darlington at Southwestern, 7:30 p.m.
Black Hawk at Belmont, 7:30 p.m.
Shullsburg at Benton, 7:30 p.m.
River Ridge at Cassville, 7:30 p.m.
Potosi at Highland, 7:30 p.m.
WRESTLING:
Tuesday, Jan. 5
Dodgeville at River Valley, 7 p.m.
Viroqua at Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka–Steuben, 7 p.m.
Riverdale at Iowa–Grant, 7 p.m.
