SOLON — A quarter into the 2024-2025 season, the Solon Spartans (3-1) are demonstrating steady growth, using each game to improve their progress. Head coach Jared Galpin has emphasized the importance of seniors adapting to new roles and sophomores stepping up to play significant minutes. Reflecting on the team’s development, Galpin noted, “There are going to be nights where things don’t look so good, and there are going to be nights where we bring it all together.” Solon managed to bring it all together against the Benton Bobcats (0-5), especially in the second half, to secure a convincing 66-46 win.
The game started with both teams feeling each other out. The first quarter ended in a 9-9 deadlock as neither side could pull ahead. Solon’s defense and offense began clicking more consistently in the second quarter. The Spartans outscored Benton 20-15 in the frame, giving them a narrow but essential 29-24 lead heading into halftime.
“We just had to slow down; we were rushing shots.” Coach Galpin’s message to the team in the locker room at the halftime break. The defining moment of the game came immediately after the break.
Solon emerged from the locker room with renewed energy and intensity on the defensive end. The Spartans’ defense suffocated Benton’s offense, not allowing the Bobcats to score for the first 2.5 minutes of the third quarter. During this stretch, Solon went on a relentless 13-0 run, extending their lead to 42-26 with 3:52 left in the quarter. The Spartans’ combination of ball pressure, active hands, and fast-break opportunities overwhelmed the Bobcats, who struggled to regain their footing. By the end of the third, Solon had widened their advantage to 49-31, putting the game out of reach.
The largest crowd pop came when senior Beau Mullen entered the game late in the fourth quarter and denied not one but two shots from Tiger shooters. The crowd’s roar echoed off the walls, and the solon bench jumped out of their seats.
The offensive charge for the Spartans was led by senior guard Isaiah Zoske, who delivered an outstanding performance. Zoske finished with 22 points, shooting 7/12 from the field and an impressive 4/7 from three-point range. His ability to knock down shots both inside and beyond the arc provided a consistent spark for the Spartans. Zoske also contributed three assists, demonstrating his versatility and leadership on the floor.
Junior Tanner Heims added 11 points on efficient shooting, going 4/5 from the field, including 2/2 from three-point range. Heims also contributed six rebounds, providing crucial support on the boards. Senior Karsyn Regennitter chipped in 11 points as well, showing poise and confidence by making 4/4 free throws to help maintain Solon’s lead.
Defensively, Solon’s effort was a collective one. Heims, Caleb Bock, and Maddox Kelley each made their presence felt on the glass and in disrupting Benton’s offense. Bock and Heims pulled down six rebounds each, while Kelley recorded four steals and five assists, highlighting his ability to impact multiple aspects of the game.