SOLON — The Lady Spartans are going back to “The Well” (Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines) to compete in the 2024 Girls State Basketball Tournament. Last year marked the team’s first state appearance since 2006 and ended in a 46-44 loss to Sioux Center in the semifinals. This year, the No.3-seed Solon squad is eager to go back, take another shot at the State Champion trophy, and bring it home this time.
“We’re super-pumped,” said senior and U of I commit Callie Levin. “That was the goal we had, to do it again this season, and I don’t think we’re done yet.”
The road to Des Moines started with an 18-3 record and six-game winning streak to finish the regular season. Fairfield visited Saturday, Feb. 10 for a Regional Quarterfinal game and were pounded 78-22. Next came Davis County in the semifinals and then Chariton, the only other ranked team in 3A-Region 5.
Solon 82 Davis County 21
The Lady Spartans wasted no time getting the advantage over the Mustangs as they racked up a 16-0 lead in the first three minutes and were up 31-2 at the end of the first period. Hailey Miller, Levin, and Mia Stahle drained three-point buckets with a back-to-back pair from Levin. Levin sank three in the quarter and went on to a game high five. Sophomore Delainey Durr nailed a three pointer in the second while Stahle sank her second of the night as Solon built a 54-10 halftime lead.
The second half was played under the continuous clock and saw Coach Jamie Smith going up and down the bench substituting in Durr, freshman Jerzey Haluska, freshman Laeni Hinkle, freshman Maddyn Gates, sophomore Gable Knight, freshman Laney Johnson, and sophomore Trea Eidahl. Johnson hit a three-pointer making it 68-12 while Eidahl hit one in the fourth for a 76-12 lead.
Levin led all with 23 points, Miller had 13 with ten from Stahle, eight by Lietz, seven from Johnson, five by Durr, four from Anna Quillin, three apiece by Eidahl and Gates, and two points each from Hinkle, Haluska, and Knight. Quillin dominated the boards with eight rebounds, Haluska made six, and Levin had five. Miller, Quillin, and Haluska had one block each with six steals by Stahle and six assists from Levin.
Solon 73 Chariton 41
Both teams entered the Regional Final at 20-3 with Solon ranked third and Chariton ranked No. 14 in the final IGHSAU rankings released Wednesday, Feb. 7. Solon had moved up one spot while the Chargers dropped a spot.
The first period was a fierce battle as a three pointer by Levin gave the Lady Spartans their first lead of the game at 8-7 while a Durr three retook the lead at 11-10. The Chargers won the first quarter however, 14-13. Lietz took the lead back 15-14 early in the second period. The game knotted at 17-all before a pair of Levin free throws made it 19-17. Leitz and Quillin combined for a 24-19 lead, which prompted a Chariton time out with two minutes left in the half. A Stahle steal and basket made it 26-19 with Durr draining her second three pointer of the night for a 29-19 advantage. Solon went on to lead 33-19 at the half.
The Lady Spartans dominated in the second half racking up a 55-36 advantage at the end of the third period. Levin, and Lietz sank a three pointer apiece with eight points from Quillin. Stahle had back-to-back baskets in the fourth for a 64-41 lead while Gates put up a two-point basket and a free throw to score the final points of the game.
“I think we got more relaxed in the second half, which helped and we realized we can do this, and so that led to fast breaks and points, and points, and more points,” said Levin. Stahle, who along with Lietz provides fierce defense for the Lady Spartans said, “We always pride ourselves on our defense, we say our defense turns into offense.”
“It was a good win,” said Coach Jamie Smith. “This is what you play for; to get a chance to go down to Wells Fargo and win a state title, and tonight’s no different.” Asked about the difference between the halves, Smith said “They (Chariton) came to play, they’re well-coached, have a super, super head coach (Lee Sandy) I’ve known him for years, coached against him back in the South Central Iowa Conference. Really good guy and they came prepared to play, they’re 20-3, they know how to win. I just think we wore them down and did a good job. We can score in spurts. Usually it starts with our defense. It was a good game.”
Levin led all with 26 points, Lietz contributed 16, Quillin had nine, Durr provided eight, with six from Stahle, three each from Miller and Gates, and two by Hinkle. Quillin owned the boards with a dozen rebounds, Levin made seven assists, and Stahle had six steals.
Keys to success in Des Moines
“We can’t foul,” said Coach Smith. “We got down there last year and right off the bat we got into foul trouble, and we were in foul trouble the whole game against Sioux Center, so we cannot foul.”
2024 Girls State Basketball Tournament information
The tournament runs Monday, Feb. 26-Saturday, March 2 with the No. 3-seed Lady Spartans taking on No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27. The semifinal game will be played Thursday, Feb. 29 at 3:15 p.m. with the 3A Championship set for 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 1.
Tickets are available online by going to https://ighsau.org/news/state-basketball-tournament-central/ and clicking on State Basketball Tickets.
Quarterfinal and semifinal games will be live streamed online via the IGHSAU Digital Network at ighsau.org. Iowa Public Television will broadcast Friday and Saturday’s championship games live. The championship games will also be streamed live at iowapbs.org/sports.
Mia Stahle (10) drives the ball as Kobi Lietz (1) acts as her wingman in a Class 3A Semifinal game against Davis County Wednesday, Feb. 14 at home. The Lady Spartans won easily 82-21.