MONROE - A total of 48 basketball teams will be in Monroe this weekend for the seventh annual Summer Slam tournament.
Monroe High School and Monroe Middle School will be converted into a basketball kingdom, with a 24-team junior varsity tournament scheduled for Saturday and a 24-team varsity tournament Sunday.
The Monroe varsity basketball team graduated all five starters from last year's sectional team and will use the tournament as a training ground for next season.
"We are using it as a contact day," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We are hoping to gain some game-like experience."
Monroe assistant varsity coaches Brian Bassett and Ken Gratz will coach the team. With a roster of 15 players, Monroe coaches will get a look at many new faces on the court.
"We are trying to put the pieces together," Murphy said. "The summer is a great time for it."
The tournament will also showcase several area teams including Black Hawk, Brodhead, Monticello, New Glarus, Albany and Juda.
"If I'm a smaller town, I would like nothing better than to beat a bigger school," Murphy said. "You like to show you can compete with the bigger schools."
Black Hawk made a run to the sectional last year where the Warriors lost to eventual Division 5 state champion Randolph 56-53.
"I feel with what Black Hawk did last year they have to feel really good about their summer things," Murphy said.
Teams will play two pool games and then be seeded in one of three brackets for the finals. Each team is assured of three games. Making a run to the championship would mean a daunting challenge of playing five games in one day. Monroe has won the tournament once in six years. Lake Mills is looking to repeat as champions.
The Monroe varsity team will open the tournament against Wisconsin Heights at 8 a.m. Sunday. Monroe will then play Highland at 9 a.m. before the brackets are seeded.
Admission for adults is $4 per day of the tournament and admission for kindergarten through high school seniors is $2 per day of the tournament. A concession stand will be available during the tournament.
Monroe High School and Monroe Middle School will be converted into a basketball kingdom, with a 24-team junior varsity tournament scheduled for Saturday and a 24-team varsity tournament Sunday.
The Monroe varsity basketball team graduated all five starters from last year's sectional team and will use the tournament as a training ground for next season.
"We are using it as a contact day," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We are hoping to gain some game-like experience."
Monroe assistant varsity coaches Brian Bassett and Ken Gratz will coach the team. With a roster of 15 players, Monroe coaches will get a look at many new faces on the court.
"We are trying to put the pieces together," Murphy said. "The summer is a great time for it."
The tournament will also showcase several area teams including Black Hawk, Brodhead, Monticello, New Glarus, Albany and Juda.
"If I'm a smaller town, I would like nothing better than to beat a bigger school," Murphy said. "You like to show you can compete with the bigger schools."
Black Hawk made a run to the sectional last year where the Warriors lost to eventual Division 5 state champion Randolph 56-53.
"I feel with what Black Hawk did last year they have to feel really good about their summer things," Murphy said.
Teams will play two pool games and then be seeded in one of three brackets for the finals. Each team is assured of three games. Making a run to the championship would mean a daunting challenge of playing five games in one day. Monroe has won the tournament once in six years. Lake Mills is looking to repeat as champions.
The Monroe varsity team will open the tournament against Wisconsin Heights at 8 a.m. Sunday. Monroe will then play Highland at 9 a.m. before the brackets are seeded.
Admission for adults is $4 per day of the tournament and admission for kindergarten through high school seniors is $2 per day of the tournament. A concession stand will be available during the tournament.
