SOLON — On the cusp of the final week of the regular season, the varsity boys suffered their first loss of the ’23-’24 campaign as rival Williamsburg bested them by one basket last Friday at home. The Spartans entered the contest at 18-0 after clobbering Independence 78-52 in the second meeting of the WaMaC East squads this season.
Solon 78 Independence 52
Solon racked up a 16-9 first period lead before shelling “Indee” with 26 points in the second for a commanding 42-23 halftime lead. The Mustangs attempted to rally back in the third but trailed 64-39 going into the final eight minutes.
Senior Jake Benzing led all with 20 points including a trio of three-pointers. Senior Vince Steinbrech produced 19 points with 14 from junior Jackson Link, and ten from senior Gehrig Turner. Junior Nolan Seagren had a five-point night with four from senior Jace Janssen, and three points each from seniors Austin Knight and Rylen Stiegelmeyer. Senior Brett White owned the boards with a game high ten rebounds, Stiegelmeyer made six assists, Turner had four steals, and Steinbrech, Gavin Chhabra-Miller, and White made one block each.
Williamsburg 55 Solon 53
The Raiders, a WaMaC West foe, came into Spartan Gym with an 11-7 record overall and 9-5 showing the West division. They held a 16-15 lead at the end of the first period, but the game was tied 30-30 at halftime. The Raiders continued to stay just ahead of the Spartans, leading 43-40 at the end of the third.
Benzing again led with 20 points and three three-pointers, Steinbrech had a 13-point night with nine from Link (all from outside the arc) with four points each by Knight and Turner. Junior Isaiah Zoske contributed a three-point basket in the contest as well.
Turner led Solon the boards with eight rebounds (and made five assists) while Steinbrech had six rebounds. Knight and Benzing made two blocks each.
IHSAA rankings and WaMaC East standings
The Spartans were ranked fourth in Class 3A in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Feb. 5 edition, the fifth of the season. Clear Lake was in the No. 1 spot followed by Adel-DeSoto-Minburn (ADM), and Waverly-Shell Rock. Marion held the No. 6 spot with Clear Creek Amana ninth.
IHSAA postseason brackets for Class 3A and 4A were due to be released Monday, Feb. 12 after this edition’s deadline.
Solon remained at the top of the WaMaC East at 14-1 in conference play and 18-1 overall besting Marion (13-2/15-5), Mount Vernon (10-6/13-8), Center Point-Urbana (5-9/5-14), Independence (5-11/9-11), and West Delaware (1-13/1-18). The Spartans and West Delaware Hawks were to meet for the second time this season Monday (Feb. 12).
Upcoming events
Thursday, Feb. 15 – Freshmen (4:45 p.m.), sophomores (6:00 p.m.), and varsity boys (7:30 p.m.) at Washington.
Monday, Feb. 19 – District Quarterfinals
Thursday, Feb. 22- Semifinals
Monday, Feb. 26 – District Championship
Rylen Stiegelmeyer (3) drives in from the corner under pressure from a pair of Independence Mustangs and the watchful eyes of four young fans Tuesday, Feb. 6. Stiegelmeyer, a senior, had three points for Solon.