The 4th Annual 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam Slam at the Dam High School Basketball Showcase is Saturday at the Beaver Dam High School Fieldhouse. With the impending snow storms, the times of games have been moved up a few hours. The 12-team, six game event will be broadcast on 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam and DailyDodge TV presented by JB Mechanical and Summit Automotive.
New Schedule
9:00am Watertown v Waukesha South
10:30pm Monona Grove v Hartford
Noon Seymour v Lake Mills
1:30pm Slinger v Waupun
3:00pm Freedom v Lakeside Lutheran
4:30pm Beaver Dam v Monroe
Team Capsules (Information from Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook)
Beaver Dam – Tim Ladron (18th season)
The Golden Beavers return three starters from a team that went 14-13 last season. 2nd Team All-Badger Large pick EJ Salettel (17ppg, 5rpg), Parker Blank (12ppg, and Isaiah Yuenger (12ppg) lead a team that expects to contend in the Badger Large. Salettel is listed at #37 in the WBY Top 50 Seniors list while Wittnebel is listed as a “Top Sophomore” in Wisconsin. Mark Miller picks Beaver Dam to finish 3rd in the Badger Large. BoundWisconsin.com has BD at #9 in their Preseason D2 rankings.
Freedom – Head Coach Andrew Gibbons (3rd season)
After a state runner-up finish in D3 last year, the Irish return another talented squad that expects to contend for the North Eastern Conference crown. 2025 WBCA D3 All-State pick Donovan Davis (22ppg, 12 rpg) leads three starters back this year that also includes Kaden Vandenberg (10ppg) and Cal Calhoon. Mark Miller picks Freedom to win the league again
Hartford – Head Coach Chris Smith (5th season)
The Orioles continue to grow under 5th year coach Chris Smith. Last season they went 9-16 overall and finished 9th in the tough North Shore Conference. The Orioles return three startersw including 2nd Team All-North Shore selection Sam Richter (14ppt, 6 rpg), Alex Kuepper (14.5ppg) & Ethan Webb (9ppg). The WBY picks them 6th in the North Shore this season.
Lake Mills – Head Coach Steve Hicklin (14th season)
Despite losing three starters and All-Stater AJ Bender, the L-Cats look to repeat as Capitol South champs and make a run at the WIAA State Tournament. All-Capitol South 1st Teamer Tyler Wollin (11ppg, 8rpg) and 2nd Team pick Brady Benish (12ppg) will lead a deep and talented squad. Benish is listed as #43 on the WBY Top 50 Seniors list while Wollin makes the “Top 60 Juniors” chart. Mark Miller picks Lake Mills to head to state out of Sectional #3 in Division Three and has them ranked #3 in the WYB Preseason D3 Top 10.
Lakeside Lutheran – Head Coach Todd Jahns (7th season)
Veteran Coach Todd Jahns returns a squad eyes a Capitol North crown this season. 2025 D3 WBCA All-State pick Wes Rahn (Minn-Duluth commit} returns after averaging 20ppg & 13rpg as a junior. He is listed at #13 in Mark Miller’s Top 50 Seniors to Watch. Brady Wolfram (10ppg) also returns to the starting lineup for the Warriors. Lakeside Lutheran is picked 2nd in the Capitol North by the WBY behind Lake Mills.
Monona Grove – Dan Zweifel (30th season)
The Silver Eagles have their eye on a Badger Large title as they open up the 2025-26 season. Junior Austin Luchetti (2nd Team All-Badger Large) averaged 15.5 points and 9 rebounds per game as a sophomore. He was injured at their scrimmage earlier this month and will not be available on Saturday. Luchetti is listed as one of the ‘Top 60 Juniors To Watch” By Mark Miller. The Silver Eagles were 18-10 last year and 5th in their league. The WBY predicts a 2nd place finish behind Waunakee in the Badger Large this season.
Monroe – Head Coach Brian Bassett (10th season)
The Cheesemakers return a pair of players from their Rock Valley (Valley) championship team including reigning league player of the Year Mekhi Brown (15ppg) and 2nd team pick Marcus Ott (10ppg). Other players returning to the starting lineup include Logan Taylor (17ppg) and Kam Gerber-Reamer (5ppg).
Seymour – Head Coach Bob Kuchta (6th season)
The Thunder open their season with hopes of a Bay Conference title and more as they return a deep and talented roster from last year’s team that went 19-7 and 10-4 in the Bay Conference (3rd place). They return five staters; WBCA D3 Honorable Mention All-State pick Kyler Marks (21ppg, 8.9 rpg), Isaac Feske (14ppg, 7rpg), Xavier Salzman (9.6ppg), Teage Cornell (9.3ppg) and Sam Geyso (4.6ppg) as well as Jordan Krause (11ppg). Marks, a 2025 WBCA-D2 All-State pick, is listed as the #40 in the WBY Top 50 Seniors and was a 1st Team All-Bay Conference Pick. Feske was 2nd Team all-league. Mark Miller picks the Thunder to head to state out of Sectional #2 in Division Three and tabbed them #4 in the WBY Preseason D3 Top 10.
Slinger – Head Coach Alex Levine (8th year)
The defending North Shore champs return all five starters from last year’s squad that went 24-3. 1st Team All-North Shore pick Jack Kohnen (23ppg, 12 rpg). Joey Kohnen (11ppg), Brett Palm (8.4ppg) Bryson Fogle (10ppg), and Colton Mantz (8ppg) highlight the Owls returning players. Mark Miller has Slinger ranked #2 in his preseason D2 Top 10.
Watertown – Head Coach: Chad Hayes (4th season)
Watertown returns just one starter from last year’s team in junior Macallister Hayes (8.6 ppg) that went 5-21 and finished 8th in the Badger Large. Junior Landon Washetas averaged 7ppg last year for Watertown. The Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook predicts a 7th place finish this season in the conference.
Waupun – Head Coach Alex Dunlap (3rd season)
After going 17-8 last season and winning the East Central Conference, Waupun shifts to the Capitol North in 2025-26. Players to watch for Waupun include: Gage Stelsel (5.9 ppg), Finn Katzenberger and Owen Kloosterboer. The WBY picks Waupun 5th in the Capitol North.
Waukesha South – Head Coach: Lee Montez (3rd season)
The Blackshirts went 8-17 last season and were 5th in the Classic Eight. Junior Jorge Garcia returns to the starting lineup after averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds per game last year. Mark Miller picks South 7th as they play their debut season in the Woodland West. We appreciate South for jumping into last year’s event at the last minute to fill an unexpected opening and we are excited to have them back this year!
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