March 18, 2026 – Slinger, Wi – The road to Madison has been anything but easy for the Slinger High School boys basketball team. It’s been bruising, loud, emotional — and, as head coach Alex Lavine puts it… “This tournament run has been special. We had a tough draw starting with playing Nicolet here at home. It was a really physical, grinded-out game.”
That opening test set the tone for a postseason journey defined by resilience. The Owls followed it up with a high-stakes matchup at Cedarburg High School against Port Washington, a chance to erase an earlier loss — and they did it in front of a packed house. The final 62-33.
“The environment at that game was incredible,” Lavine said. “It was sold out. People were 20 deep on the baseline and the bleachers were completely full — just an incredible environment and a lot of red, mostly red.”
By Saturday night’s sectional final, the energy tilted fully in Slinger’s favor.
“The people that were there were Slinger people,” he said. “Kind of felt like a home game.”
Now, the Owls turn their attention to the WIAA Boys Basketball State Tournament at the Kohl Center, where they will face McFarland in a Division 2 state semifinal Friday at 1:35 p.m.
For Lavine, the experience goes beyond wins and losses.
“How we’re playing, how enjoyable it is to coach this team on a daily basis, coupled with the fan support — it’s been really special,” he said. “There’s been some fun regular season games, but the postseason just takes on a whole new life of its own when it’s win-or-go-home time.”
That urgency has revealed something deeper about his team — a collective commitment.
“You’ve got a group of kids who are highly committed,” Lavine said. “They pour so much into it.”
As Slinger prepares for the state stage, Lavine believes his team’s ceiling may still be just ahead.
“You just try to get better each day,” he said. “I hope that our best basketball is next weekend.”
Part of that optimism comes from the Owls’ balance. Throughout the postseason, different players have stepped into the spotlight when needed.
“It’s been different people stepping up in different games and in different ways,” Lavine said. “Our ability to win multiple ways has been impressive.”
Even when shots aren’t falling, contributions come in other forms.
“Maybe Jack hasn’t shot it the best the last two nights, but he’s facilitated at a really high level,” he said. “You can’t just put it all on one or two people’s shoulders and say, ‘Hey, go get a win.’ It’s a team effort.”
That team-first mentality extends well beyond the starting lineup. Lavine was quick to highlight the role of his bench and scout players, who sharpen the team daily in practice.
“Jude Siikarla, who’s a junior, could be a starter. He’s very selfless in his approach,” Lavine said. “There’s times where he plays more minutes than starters.”
He also pointed to senior Devin Berger for making the most of limited postseason minutes.
“Those two-, three-, four-, five-minute stretches… have been really important,” Lavine said. “He’s done a nice job.”
Behind the scenes, the scout team has been just as vital.
“Their effort over the last couple weeks has been great,” he said. “They’re exposing us. We’re making mistakes in practice because of their efforts, and it allows us to fix things.”
It’s a philosophy rooted in growth through adversity.
“If you go through practice and you don’t make any mistakes, you start to think you’re great,” Lavine said. “You’ve got to get challenged.”
This week also marks a personal milestone for Lavine, who is making his first trip to the state tournament as a head coach. While new to the stage, he’s leaned on experienced voices — including assistant Derek Berger, who has seven state championships from his time at Whitefish Bay Dominican.
Still, Lavine keeps his approach grounded.
“At the end of the day, it’s just basketball,” he said. “My connection to the kids is really strong — reading the room, having conversations with them, trying to understand what they need.”
That balance of relationships and accountability defines his coaching style.
“I set the tone for what happens every day, and I take that responsibility seriously,” Lavine said. “The relationships are strong, but they’d be the first to tell you that I’m really hard on them.”
And that, he believes, is where success begins.
“You’re not going to get better unless you’re getting pushed and challenged,” he said. “There has to be accountability.”
Slinger tips off against McFarland at 1:35 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2026. Stay with WashingtonCountyInsider.com for full game-day coverage.
On a side note:
-Slinger School District will be doing a send off for the team at 1 p.m. Thursday from the district office lobby.
-Slinger School District is offering fan buses for students. That sign up is in the athletics office.
– The WIAA ticket link was sent to district families for the Slinger section which is in the southeast corner of the Kohl Center.
