For 34 minutes on Tuesday night, it looked as though the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) Lady Dawgs were destined for the Section 2AA finals. Behind a masterclass in perimeter shooting from senior guard Weimert and a suffocating defensive front, the Bulldogs held the lead from the opening tip until the final minute of regulation.
However, sports can be a cruel game of inches and whistles. In a stunning late-game turnaround, the three-seeded NYA Central Raiders erased a double-digit deficit, taking their first lead of the game with 23 seconds remaining to steal a 52-46 victory, ending JWP’s season in the section semifinals.
Heading into the matchup, the Bulldogs swept the home stretch of their postseason run with convincing victories over Le Sueur Henderon and Tri-City United; however, in the high-stakes environment of a neutral-court semifinal at Minnesota State University, the third-seeded Norwood Young America Central Raiders proved to be the immovable object that finally halted the Bulldogs’ momentum. As preparations were underway, Coach Goebel seemed confident a neutral playing field would have little to no impact on his squad, “We have to control what we can control,” Goebel noted. “Both teams are in unfamiliar territory, so we just have to play our game the best we can.”
Early on, it looked as though that game plan was being executed to perfection. Wolff wrangled with an imposing Raider frontcourt, but landed JWP’s first points at the rim, setting an immediate physical tone to the contest. On the other end, the Lady Dawgs brought their own level of intensity, limiting Central to zero points in the first four minutes of play. The Bulldogs held a slim 4-0 lead, but as the half progressed, the Raiders adjusted their defensive scheme to double Wolff every time she approached the paint. As the first half progressed, the Raiders’ defense adjusted, collapsing on the interior and doubling Wolff every time she touched the leather. With the Bulldogs struggling to find open looks in the paint, they needed a spark from the perimeter.
They found it in Weimert.
While teammates Olson and Wheelock battled through early shooting woes, Weimert caught fire. She drilled her first triple to make it 7-2, followed shortly after by a stop-and-pop three on the break to extend the lead to 19-9. As the Raiders mounted a 7-2 run of their own to stay within striking distance, Weimert answered again—and again. She scorched the nets for four first-half triples, accounting for half of the team’s 24 points at the break.
Despite the 24-17 halftime lead, the signs of a struggle were there. Without Weimert’s historic shooting display, the Bulldogs would have likely trailed a gritty Raiders defense that refused to concede anything easy inside.
The second half began with Olson bullying her way inside to keep the scoreboard moving, followed by a highlight-reel play from Wheelock, who zipped a pass to Mulder for an “and-one” bucket.
But the Raiders were relentless. A 5-0 run closed the gap to 29-25, turning the game into a defensive slog where every point felt earned. By the 11-minute mark, the Bulldogs were in foul trouble, sending Central to the free throw line time and time again.
Wheelock, despite her shooting struggles, became a force of nature on the glass, using pure heart to extend possessions and keep the Raiders at arm’s length. With 7:25 remaining, Central hit a three to make it a one-point game. Just as the momentum seemed to fully shift, Weimert silenced the crowd with her fifth three-pointer of the night—a spectacular four-point play that pushed the lead back to 44-38.
The Bulldogs led 46-41 with just over four minutes to go, but the offensive well went dry at the worst possible moment. Fatigue and the Raiders’ double-bonus advantage began to take their toll. Central tied the game at 46 with a minute left in regulation.
With 23 seconds on the clock, the unthinkable happened: the Raiders took their first lead of the entire game, 48-46. A late steal and free throws allowed the lead to balloon to four, and the final whistle blew on a 52-46 Raiders victory while the Bulldogs tucked their tails in utter disbelief.
While the scoreboard signaled the end of an otherwise incredible season for the Lady Dawgs, the post-game atmosphere was one of profound reflection for three of the team’s seniors: Olson, Wheelock, and Weimert.
Olson, who provided the muscle inside all season, reflected on the bonds formed: “This team became like a family. I’m going to miss spending every day with them. My takeaway is to keep working hard every day, especially when no one is watching.”
Wheelock, the emotional engine of the squad, looked toward the future: “The biggest thing was the strong bond we created as a team this year. To the younger girls: put time in the off-season. It will be noticed.”
Weimert, who led all scorers with 21 points in her final outing as a Bulldog, spoke of the responsibility of leadership: “Working with the younger kids was so important; I just wanted to help guide them. We wanted to leave the program better than we found it.”
While the 2025-2026 season ends in tragedy and heartbreak, the JWP program has set a new standard for excellence on both the individual and team levels.
Olson became the benchmark for Bulldog basketball by becoming the women’s all-time scorer and the first player in the entire program to reach 2000 points in a career. Her tireless work ethic both on and off the court will inspire an entire generation of Bulldog ballers to reach new heights.
Additionally, Weimert and Wheelock entered the pantheon of basketball greats with the former reaching the 1000-point milestone while the latter set a new school record with eight three pointers made in a single game. Other seniors like Krause, Adams, and Morsching contributed throughout the season, but their leadership amongst the pack is to be remembered and cherished.
The Lady Dawgs exit the tournament with their heads high, having proven that while games are won on the scoreboard, a program is built on the heart and leadership of those who wear the jersey. Six seniors departing may feel like a precursor to a rebuilding season for the Lady Dawgs, but with core pieces in Wolff and Mulder returning, JWP girl’s basketball may bite back sooner than expected.
