DES MOINES — The Lady Spartans made Solon history last week as they clinched their first Class 3A Girls State Basketball Championship at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. It was their second tournament appearance in a row and the first state title since 1998 when Solon was crowned the Class 2A Champions. Solon entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and looked to be on a collision course with No. 4 Mount Vernon, especially after the Mustangs defeated No. 5 Harlan Community 67-25 in the quarterfinals. However, Mount Vernon fell 45-37 to Estherville-Lincoln Central in the semifinals.
Solon 58 Wahlert Catholic (Dubuque) 47
First up was the Golden Eagles, a familiar foe for the Lady Spartans and the same first round team they defeated last year as well. Solon built a 12-point lead in the first half but a Wahlert surge in the second period brought the Golden Eagles to within five points, trailing Solon 34-29 at halftime. The Eagles soared on a 10-3 run to knot the game at 39-all while a Hailey Miller 3-point basket beat the buzzer for a 44-39 lead going into the final eight minutes. A Lady Spartan 10-point run in the fourth sealed the win and sent Wahlert home.
Callie Levin led all with 20 points, Miller had a 16-point morning including a trio of 3-pointers, Kobi Lietz produced 11 points, Anna Quillin had eight with a game high 16 rebounds (tying the 3A single game record), and Delainey Durr put up three points.
Solon 49 Des Moines Christian 25
Next up was a Thursday afternoon semifinal round contest against No. 2 seed Des Moines Christian. The Lions edged past WaMaC West foe Benton Community 49-46 in the quarterfinals. Solon built a 10-6 lead in the first period and was up 25-10 at halftime. A pair of back-to-back 3-pointers by Mia Stahle and a jump shot by Lietz made it 35-15 in the third as the Lady Spartans built up a 39-20 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Stahle led all with 14 points, Miller had ten, Levin was held to nine, Lietz had seven, and Quillin had six. Coach Jamie Smith was able to get his reserves floor time with Jerzy Haluska, Maddyn Gates, Durr, Laeni Hinkle, Gable Knight, Trea Eidahl, and Laney Johnson all seeing playing time. Hinkle added two points with one point from Haluska. Quillin led in rebounds with a team high eight while Lietz and Miller made six apiece.
Solon 54 Estherville-Lincoln Central 47
It was No. 3 vs. No. 1 as the Lady Spartans faced the Midgets Friday night for the fourth State Championship in program history (1994, 1997, 1998, all in Class 2A). Solon won the first period 14-11 and repeated in the second to lead 28-22 at halftime. While the Lady Spartans went on a run in the third and built a ten-point lead, the Midgets did all they could to keep Solon from getting comfortable and went on a 9-1 run to trail by only two points at the end of the third, 37-35. The Midgets led 38-37 and 40-39. However, a 3-pointer from Levin tilted the lead back to Solon and Lietz and Miller flew to the basket for a pair of baskets and a 46-40 advantage in the fourth. Levin drained another 3-pointer with two minutes to go making it 51-42 for the Lady Spartans, whose dominating defense foiled a flurry of Midget 3-point shots to hold on for the historic victory.
Levin had a 27-point night with four 3-pointers and was eclipsed only by the Midgets’ Haylee Stokes with 30. Stokes was named the 3A All-Tournament Team Captain. Miller had 14 points with nine from Stahle, and four by Lietz. Quillin again dominated on the boards with a game high 14 rebounds. Both teams finished the ’23-’24 season at 24-3.
Class 3A All-Tournament Team and awards
Stokes (Captain) and Rylee Yager from Estherville-Lincoln Central, Quillin and Levin from Solon, Chloe Meester from Mount Vernon, and Abby Hall of Des Moines Christian were named to the 3A All-Tournament Team.
Quillin set the 3A State Tournament record with 40 rebounds across the three games, and Levin earned the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s 3A Top Producer award.
The Lady Spartans take the floor for the second half of the Class 3A Championship Game Friday, March 1 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Solon defeated Estherville-Lincoln Central 54-47 for their first 3A State Championship, and the first since 1998 (2A).