The boys gather in celebration as they receive their Section 2A championship plaque following a win over #3 Springfield at the MSU Mankato Taylor Center on Wednesday, March 11.
To quote senior captain Caleb Quast, it’s a dream every kid who plays basketball has: winning a championship and making a trip to the state tournament.
And the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton boys’ basketball team did just that on Wednesday, March 11, at the Minnesota State University Taylor Center when they defeated third-seed Springfield 80-65 in a game that had it all: fast breaks, clutch scoring, threes from all around the court, defensive stops, and some beautiful plays. It was the first time the JWP boys’ basketball team won their section and qualified for state since 2008.
It was truly a team effort, as some players who usually don’t score stepped up to get some crucial points. Players like junior Parker Geariety and sophomore Tyson Kronbach provided clutch plays that were easily the difference between a comfortable lead throughout most of the second half and a tight game that could have gone either way.
The boys were familiar with Springfield, as they started 2026 with a game against the Tigers at the Southern Minnesota Hoops Fest in Kasson-Mantorville, where they defeated the offensive juggernauts in a high-scoring affair 93-80. This time, they seemed to have a better handle on Springfield, as they forced the Tigers into challenging shots and punished them with their transition game.
“The boys…they played so hard,” Head Coach Nick James said. “We told them from day one, we have to be able to rebound and finish plays. This was the perfect game to show why we did that.”
It was a relatively slow start compared to the last time the two teams played. Springfield scored first off a contested two-pointer a minute and a half into the game. Senior Daulton Bauer responded two seconds later, and Caleb Quast fought his way into the paint to give the Bulldogs the lead. After that, they let the Tigers tie it once or twice, but they never let them get ahead.
Sophomore Gavin Bauer has been the spark that the team has needed since his return from injury, and he was supplying twos here and threes there. A three-pointer by Springfield sent their fans into a frenzy, but G. Bauer’s three made them go quiet. Geariety also hit a clutch three-pointer that had nothing but net.
The Tigers were forced to take their first timeout of the game when it was 26-17. The boys went into double digits, but Springfield showed they weren’t going to go quietly as they went on a short run to stay in the game. Quast saw that and padded their lead with five straight points. A D. Bauer two forced another Springfield timeout at 37-26. Sophomore Tyson Kronbach hit a three-pointer and two free throws as the Bulldogs went into the half up 45-31.
Junior Gavin Weedman opened the second half for the Bulldogs with a three-pointer. From there, it was Bauer Power time, and the student section let everyone know it. But credit is due to sophomore Jaxon Wolff, who faked a layup shot, shimmied past between two defenders, and set up G. Bauer for an uncontested two-pointer.
Springfield had one last burst of energy near the latter half of the second and threatened to cut the lead down to single digits. Coach James called a timeout to get the boys to settle down.
“We’ve watched Springfield a lot this year,” he explained. “They don’t panic, and they keep coming at you. We told the boys to be ready for it. If they make a run, we have to keep fighting it.”
A D. Bauer two-pointer, a Kronbach two, and six straight points by G. Bauer put some much-needed distance between the Bulldogs and Tigers. The outcome seemed certain when Parker Geariety hit a three-pointer in the closing minutes of the game. D. Bauer showed some extra spunk with a behind-the-back two, which ended up being the final two points scored in the game.
With less than two minutes left, it was sinking in for Springfield that, despite their valiant efforts, they weren’t making the state tournament. Instead, JWP was celebrating, and the student section was cheering with a sign that said, “State bound!” When the clock struck zero, and the scoreboard read 80, JWP, 65, Springfield, the Bulldog bench stormed the center of the court.
Both teams showed great sportsmanship as they shook each other’s hands when receiving their plaques and medals. This was truly a great game from both sides. JWP celebrated extra by snipping parts of the basket netting for keepsakes.
Ladies and gentlemen, the boys have accomplished what hasn’t been done in 18 years. Assistant Coach Connor Morton was a freshman at JWP, and the stars on that team, according to Coach James, were Tyler Witt, Jacob Schrom, and Josh Kopachek, among others.
Now, perhaps it’s not the best time to ask the team’s captains to describe the feeling of winning the section and making the state tournament. After all, they had only received the hardware a few minutes prior to being interviewed. But Daulton Bauer tried his best.
“It was a hell of a game from the boys,” he started. “There’s not much more that I can ask for. Players stepped up when they needed to, and my brother had a hell of a game.”
That phrasing was very appropriate. G. Bauer ended the night with 37 points, ten rebounds, and seven steals. D. Bauer was limited to only 12 points but provided six assists. But other players had a chance to shine and contribute. Tyson Kronbach had nine points, while Parker Geariety provided six clutch points (although it felt like he scored more) with five rebounds. Quast had seven points.
Quast added, “This is what we dreamed of all our lives, and the work finally paid off.”
D. Bauer agreed. “And in this environment, too, with the community all around us…it’s a blessing. It truly is.”
Quast also gave due credit to the other players who stepped up. “It’s awesome to have such great players around us and not feel like we have to score a bunch every night,” he said.
“I didn’t play the best tonight,” D. Bauer admitted. “But it’s great seeing others step up and score. It’s awesome.”
“We couldn’t ask for better,” Coach James commented. “Seeing them step up…it’s what makes us tough. You can’t guard two or three of our players. You have to guard them all.”
It will be a while before JWP gets to play games again. The first games of the Class A state tournament won’t be until Thursday, March 26.
When asked how the team will prepare until then, Coach James chuckled a bit. “I have no idea,” he said. “We’ll worry about that in a couple of days. It’s a long break, so it’ll feel a bit odd. But we’ll figure it out.”
D. Bauer recognizes that their work isn’t finished yet. In a way, it’s just begun. “We have to keep the energy and keep a positive mindset,” he said. “We’re not done yet. We still have games to play.”
The first round of the state tournament will take place at Target Center. From there, the semifinal and state championship games will be played at Williams Arena. The consolation and third-place games will take place at Concordia University’s Gangelhoff Center.
Until then, JWP will celebrate. They did so only a couple of hours after winning the section with an escort by the Janesville Fire Department on the way back to town.
