SOLON – Basketball is a team game, with every player having a role to play in every moment. Credit rarely goes to just one person. But Friday night was different.
In Solon’s (10-10) commanding 64-37 victory over the Independence Mustangs (7-12), senior Kobi Lietz had a moment to remember. With a minute left in the game, Head Coach Jamie Smith subbed Lietz out,
allowing her to hug her teammates and coaches while receiving a standing ovation from the home crowd on Senior Night.
After the game, no one left. Her teammates lined the baseline, watching as Lietz’s parents met her on the court. Together, they shared a long embrace, posed for photos, and took a moment to soak in the cheers from the packed bleachers. Many fans wore shirts featuring her face, a tribute to her impact over four seasons.
“I’m just very thankful that I’ve had these opportunities. I love this town, I love this school,” Lietz said.
Her legacy is one to remember. She helped lead Solon to two state championship appearances, winning it all in 2024. Heading into this season, she had only lost six games in her career. Coach Smith called her the best defender he’s seen in 20 years.
“She meant everything. We build our program on kids like her,” Smith said. “If I’m only going to have one senior, I want it to be her.”
After surviving a tight 55-53 contest on Tuesday night against the (10-8) West Delaware Hawks. Solon wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a commanding 22-0 run to start the game. The Spartans dominated every aspect early—outshooting, out-rebounding, and out-hustling the Mustangs. Five different players scored in the first quarter, giving Solon an 11-0 advantage after one. Independence players walked back to the bench with their heads down, searching for answers.
The Mustangs finally got on the scoreboard with 4:34 left in the second quarter, but the damage was already done.
“We like to guard,” Coach Smith said postgame. “We got to where we needed to be to put pressure on the ball.”
Despite the slow start, Independence fought back. Sometimes, all it takes is one shot to find rhythm. The Mustangs closed the first half on an 11-5 run, cutting the deficit to 27-11 at halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, Independence kept the momentum going. They opened the second half with a quick three-pointer, followed by an easy two, cutting Solon’s lead to just nine points.
Then, Solon’s offense surged again, they found themselves up 20 after a Lainey Johnson (Sophomore) three pointer and then followed by going 7-8 at the free throw line to get the lead back up to 20. The difference in the game was Lainey Johnsons long range shooting, hitting five shots from behind the arc and Lietz playing making ability as she led all scorers with 17 points.
The Spartans went out in style as Sophomore Laeni Hinkle gathered a rebound and quickly set her feet and threw a full court pass football style, just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, to Lietz, who laid it in to give the Spartans a 56-35 lead, ultimately making the lead insurmountable.