SOLON — The Lady Spartans improved to 5-0 on the season after a pair of WaMaC East vs. WaMaC West contests last week. Solon knocked off Vinton-Shellsburg 65-53 and upset Center Point-Urbana 52-40.
The ladies traveled to Vinton Tuesday, Dec. 6 and won the first period 18-14, led 38-30 at halftime, and were up 52-41 going into the final eight minutes.
It was a milestone game for junior Callie Levin as she hit her 1,000th career point. Levin produced 18 points, six rebounds, and made three assists and three rebounds. Hailey Miller, also a junior, was Solon’s top-scorer however leading everybody with a 26-point effort including three three-point baskets. Miller led on the boards with nine rebounds. Mia Stahle (junior) and Delainey Durr (freshman) put up eight points each with three from senior Kerrigan Lyons and two from sophomore Kobi Lietz.
Friday, Dec. 9 was a battle of ranked Class 3A teams as the No.-3 Stormin’ Pointers of Center Point-Urbana visited the No. 7 Lady Spartans.
CPU took an early lead in the first period, going up by six at one point while Levin, Stahle, Addi Greene, and Miller poured in points to keep the Pointers within reach. Lietz tied the game 15-all with 1:24 left in the period after Levin stole the ball and passed it to her sparking a run up court for an uncontested layup. Levin and Lietz ended the quarter with a three-point basket apiece for a 21-18 lead.
Momentum had clearly shifted to Solon’s favor as Levin opened the second period with her second three-pointer of the night, which was followed by a steal and basket from Miller for a 26-18 lead. The Pointers rallied back with a 5-0 run to cut Solon’s lead to three. Coach Jamie Smith gathered his troops and after a brief conference, sent them back into the fray with 3:17 left in the half. Durr beat the shot clock with a three-point shot to make it 29-23 while a foul at the buzzer sent Lietz to the line for a free throw with no time on the clock. Lietz’s charity shot gave Solon a 30-23 halftime advantage.
Hilary Wilson and Levin made it 34-23, Stahle drained a three-point bucket making it 37-25 and sparking a trio of three’s as Lietz and Miller struck in rapid succession to put Solon ahead 43-29. A bucket from Miller ended the quarter with the home team up 45-30.
Wilson opened the final period with her second basket of the night Stahle drained her second three-point bucket and Solon led 50-30 with 6:34 left to play as the Pointers took a time out. Lyons, Sara Holtz, Wilson, Anna Quillin, and Durr saw time in the final two minutes as did Greene.
Levin and CPU’s Mya Hillers produced 17 points each, Lietz and Stahle had nine apiece, Miller put up eight Wilson had four, Durr added three, and Quillin contributed two points. Miller again led on the boards with nine total rebounds and led in assists with four.
The Marion Wolves visit for a girl-boy double dip Friday, Dec. 16 with the JV squad hitting the hardwood at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity firing up at 6:00 p.m. Solon travels to Mid-Prairie (Wellman) Monday, Dec. 18 for a non-conference doubleheader. The varsity girls will play at 6:00 p.m. 2022 ends with a non-conference game in West Branch Thursday, Dec. 22 with the JV playing at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7:00 p.m.
WaMaC East standings (12-12-22)
Conference Overall
Solon 2-0 5-0
Marion 1-0 4-2
W. Delaware 1-0 1-4
Independence 0-3 3-3
Mt. Vernon 0-2 3-3
Callie Levin wins the tip off Friday, Dec. 9 at home against CPU. A junior, Levin hit her 1000th career point at Vinton-Shellsburg and led the Lady Spartans with 17 against the Stormin’ Pointers.