Elgin Public-Pope John Wins First NVC Girls Basketball Title

Wolfpack defeat Santee Warriors 67-43 to claim conference championship

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Elgin Public-Pope John Lady Wolfpack basketball team won their first-ever Niobrara Valley Conference (NVC) girls basketball tournament championship on Saturday night, defeating the Santee Warriors 67-43. Junior Braelyn Martinsen led the Wolfpack with a career-high 29 points, while Mady Kurpgeweit added 14 and Kayton Zwingman scored 11. EPPJ jumped out to a 15-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back, improving their record to 16-5 on the season.

Why it matters

This championship marks a significant milestone for the Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball program, which has been a consistent contender in the NVC but had never before won the conference tournament title. The victory showcases the Wolfpack's depth and talent, and provides momentum heading into the final week of the regular season.

The details

The Wolfpack dominated the game from the opening tip, with Martinsen scoring the team's first 11 points to help EPPJ build a 24-9 lead after the first quarter. Kurpgeweit, Lammers, and the Zwingman sisters also contributed scoring as the Wolfpack took a 40-22 lead into halftime. Santee tried to mount a comeback, but EPPJ answered every Warriors' score and pulled away in the second half to win by 24 points.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 12, 2026.
  • EPPJ improved their record to 16-5 on the season heading into the final week of the regular season.

The players

Braelyn Martinsen

A junior on the Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball team who scored a career-high 29 points in the NVC championship game.

Mady Kurpgeweit

A player for the Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball team who scored 14 points in the NVC championship game.

Kayton Zwingman

A player for the Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball team who scored 11 points in the NVC championship game.

Randy Eisenhauer

The head coach of the Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball team.

Santee Warriors

The opponent of Elgin Public-Pope John in the NVC girls basketball championship game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball team will look to carry the momentum from their NVC championship victory into the final week of the regular season as they prepare for the upcoming district and state tournaments.

The takeaway

The Elgin Public-Pope John girls basketball program has finally broken through to win their first-ever NVC tournament title, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches who have built the program into a consistent contender over the years. This championship victory showcases the depth and talent of the current Wolfpack squad, and provides them with confidence and motivation as they set their sights on postseason success.