MONROE - The city of Monroe will turn into a basketball kingdom this weekend with the eighth annual Monroe Summer Slam tournament that brings 48 teams to town.
There will be a 24-team junior varsity tournament Saturday and a 24-team varsity tournament Sunday at Monroe High School and Monroe Middle School.
"It's a small window to try and cram in some things to get better," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "Before you know it they will be practicing and playing their fall sports."
In the past seven years of the tournament, the Monroe varsity boys team has won the tournament just once. Edgerton won the championship last year.
There will be a lot of local flavor in the tournament. Other local teams that will be showcased include Juda, New Glarus, Argyle, Albany, Darlington, Monticello and Freeport having JV and varsity teams in the tournament. Badger South Conference rival Milton will also play in the varsity tournament.
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. The Monroe varsity team opens the tournament at 8 a.m. Sunday against Juda at the high school. Monroe will then take on Delavan-Darien at 9 a.m.
"Everyone likes to win," Murphy said. "If you win or lose all of your games, it's not the start or end of something."
Monroe graduated five seniors from last year's team and will be looking for some players to step into new roles.
"We lost a lot of senior starters," Murphy said. "It will be fun to see guys compete and step up. There are plenty of opportunities."
Murphy has two goals for every player in the summer.
"I like to see every kid in our program get stronger in the weight room this summer and improve their ability to shoot," he said. "You want to see everyone improve whether it's their post moves or distance shooting. It may not be as noticeable on the court if they improve in the weight room."
Freeport, in addition to Milton, Baraboo and Edgerton, could be one of the top contenders for the title.
"I would think Freeport would be very good," Murphy said. "The way high school basketball is going, everyone has talent. There are a lot of solid programs."
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.
There will be a 24-team junior varsity tournament Saturday and a 24-team varsity tournament Sunday at Monroe High School and Monroe Middle School.
"It's a small window to try and cram in some things to get better," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "Before you know it they will be practicing and playing their fall sports."
In the past seven years of the tournament, the Monroe varsity boys team has won the tournament just once. Edgerton won the championship last year.
There will be a lot of local flavor in the tournament. Other local teams that will be showcased include Juda, New Glarus, Argyle, Albany, Darlington, Monticello and Freeport having JV and varsity teams in the tournament. Badger South Conference rival Milton will also play in the varsity tournament.
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. The Monroe varsity team opens the tournament at 8 a.m. Sunday against Juda at the high school. Monroe will then take on Delavan-Darien at 9 a.m.
"Everyone likes to win," Murphy said. "If you win or lose all of your games, it's not the start or end of something."
Monroe graduated five seniors from last year's team and will be looking for some players to step into new roles.
"We lost a lot of senior starters," Murphy said. "It will be fun to see guys compete and step up. There are plenty of opportunities."
Murphy has two goals for every player in the summer.
"I like to see every kid in our program get stronger in the weight room this summer and improve their ability to shoot," he said. "You want to see everyone improve whether it's their post moves or distance shooting. It may not be as noticeable on the court if they improve in the weight room."
Freeport, in addition to Milton, Baraboo and Edgerton, could be one of the top contenders for the title.
"I would think Freeport would be very good," Murphy said. "The way high school basketball is going, everyone has talent. There are a lot of solid programs."
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.
