SOLON — The varsity boys remained perfect on the season as they knocked off West Delaware and Mount Vernon last week ahead of the final two weeks of the regular season.
Solon 57 West Delaware 36
The Hawks visited last Tuesday and trailed Solon 17-10 at the end of the first period but narrowed the gap in the second. The Spartans led 28-20 at halftime before pounding the Hawks 20-9 in the third for a 48-29 lead going into the fourth.
Jake Benzing led all with 19 points including five three-point baskets. Vince Steinbrech had a 16-point night with nine points from Gehrig Turner, eight from Caleb Bock, three by Austin Knight, and two from Gavin Chhabra-Miller. Steinbrech led on the boards with six rebounds with five by Knight and four apiece from Benzing and Bock.
Solon 56 Mount Vernon 46
The second meeting of the WaMaC East and Hwy. 1 rivals took place Friday in Mount Vernon where the Mustangs took an 11-6 lead at the end of the first period and led 22-19 at halftime. The Spartans rallied in the third outscoring Mount Vernon 19-7 and taking a 28-29 lead.
Benzing had a 20-point game with four three-pointers, Steinbrech produced 19 points with 15 from Rylen Stiegelmeyer. Isaiah Zoske contributed two points. Steinbrech owned the boards with 17 rebounds (ten offensive, seven defensive).
IHSAA Jan. 29 rankings and WaMaC East standings
Clear Lake held the No. 1 spot with Adel-DeSoto-Minburn (ADM) 2nd and Waverly-Shell Rock third while the Spartans sat at No. 4. WaMaC East foe Marion held the No. 8 spot in the association’s top-ten list.
Solon remained the uncontested leader of the division at 13-0 (conference) and 17-0 (overall) with Marion a distant second (6-2/12-4), Mount Vernon third (5-4/11-7), Independence fourth (4-8/8-9), Center Point-Urbana fifth (4-8/4-13), and West Delaware in the basement (1-10/1-16).
Upcoming schedule
Friday, Feb. 9 – Home vs. Williamsburg. Freshman game at 4:30 p.m., sophomores at 6:00 p.m., and varsity tips off at 7:15 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 12 – At West. Delaware. Freshmen at 4:30 p.m., sophomores at 6:00 p.m., and varsity tips off at 7:15 p.m. (rescheduled from January)
Thursday, Feb. 15 – At Washington (Iowa). Freshmen at 4:45 p.m., sophomores at 6:00 p.m., and varsity tips off at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 19 – First round of Class 3A postseason play at home. 7:00 p.m.