Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Brett Minick of DeForest boys basketball has been selected as the Army National Guard Athlete of the Week for the week of March 4th through the 11th following a statewide vote on WisSports.net.  The Norskies' junior hit the game-winning shot with only a fews seconds left in the fouth quarter to punch Deforest's ticket to the state tournament this weekend.  Minick clashed with Pius' Larry Fitzgerald all week for the ARNG top honors, but eventually prevailed with 54.5% of the total vote (6,265) compared to Fitzgerald's 40.9%, or 4,702 votes.  The other three nominees totaled just 537 combined votes.

The Norskies reached the state tournament for the first time in school history last weekend when they defeated two No.1 seeds in the Janesville Craig Sectional.  DeForest (18-8) will face top-seeded Kaukauna in the semi-finals tonight at the Kohl Center.  Minick, a 5-foot-11 guard, had only scored 17 points in the Norskies' first three playoff games, including only 6 in a sectionals semi-finals win over Waunakee, but saved his best for last.  Literally.  With less than six seconds left on the clock against Stoughton, and the game tied at 39, the junior sank a 17-footer as time expired.  The basket was only the second of the night for Minick, he ended the game with four points.

Remember, the only way your favorite player can be named Army National Guard Athlete of the Week is to vote and share the word. Look for the next week's nominees to be posted Sunday afternoon.