Solon 67, Williamsburg 60
The Raiders opened the WaMaC East vs. WaMaC West contest with a three-point basket and led 12-8 with two minutes or so left in the first period before the Lady Spartans pulled ahead to win the quarter 15-14. Tenley Levin, Laeni Hinkle, and Delainey Durr combined to score in the period.
Solon continued to hold a slim lead in the second period as the Lady Spartans and Raiders traded baskets. A drive and basket by Levin made it 19-16, a rebound and basket by Durr made it 23-18, and Solon led 29-27 at halftime. Jerzey Haluska sank a three-pointer in the third as Solon began to pull away with the junior’s three making it 39-32 before she followed up with a drive and basket for a 41-36 advantage. Laney Johnson nailed one of her two three-pointers for a 47-36 lead while a basket from Durr gave Solon a 49-38 lead at the end of the period. Johnson opened the final eight minutes with her second three-pointer for Solon’s biggest lead of the game – 52-38. The Raiders clawed back and trailed by six, 62-56, with 1:45 remaining.
Levin, a freshman, led all scorers with 28 points. Durr, a senior, had18. Haluska, a junior, produced nine points with six by junior Johnson and three points apiece from junior Hinkle and sophomore Ellie Durr. Levin also led all on the boards with 11 rebounds.
Solon 60, South Tama 22
The Lady Spartans improved to 7-2 while blasting the South Tama Trojans Thursday, Jan. 8. Delainey Durr led with 16 points, Tenley Levin had 15, Laeni Hinkle produced 13 points, and Avery Johnson and Laney Johnson made five points apiece. Jerzey Haluska had four points with two from Ellie Durr. Delainey Durr and Levin drained three three-point baskets each and Haluska led in rebounds with five.
Strafford (MO) 84, Solon 54
In the quest for challenges and different competitors ahead of the postseason the Lady Spartans competed in the Sophie Cunningham Classic Saturday, Jan. 10 at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri. The mini-tournament is named in honor of University of Missouri grad and Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who gained notoriety after retaliating against a Connecticut Sun player who poked Iowa native Caitlin Clark in the eye a year ago.
Solon’s game with Strafford, Missouri’s Indians saw the Lady Spartans lead the Indians 15-13 at the end of the first period and hold a 36-35 halftime advantage. The Indians went on the warpath in the third outscoring Solon 29-8 and going on to hammer Solon 20-10 in the fourth.
Individual stats were not available as of deadline.
Solon moves up one spot in IGHSAU rankings
The Lady Spartans moved up from No. 10 to No. 9 in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s weekly rankings released Wednesday, Jan. 7. WaMaC West rival Clear Creek Amana was in the No. 1 spot in Class 4A having moved up from No. 4 the previous week while Cedar Rapids Xavier Catholic dropped from No. 7 to No. 8. Sioux City Bishop Heelan and Norwalk remained in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots while Carlisle and Waverly-Shell Rock held their spots at No. 5 and No. 6. North Polk (No. 10), MOC-Floyd Valley (No. 11), North Scott (No. 12), Pella (No.13), Sioux Center (No. 14), and Clinton (No. 15) rounded out the 4A rankings.
Upcoming schedule
Monday, Jan. 19 – AT Maquoketa, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 – AT Independence, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 – AT Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 – HOME vs. CPU, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 – HOME vs. Marion, 6:00 p.m. (Solon Girls Basketball Club recognition)