The No. 6-ranked Spartans entertained the West Delaware Hawks (6-5 overall) Friday, Jan. 16 and quickly found themselves in a four-point hole before Maddox Kelley drained a three-point bucket to put Solon on the scoreboard. Tanner Heims gave the Spartans a 5-4 lead, Simon Einwalter made it 10-4, and Ethan Ulch made it 12-6 as Solon battled to an 18-13 lead at the end of the first period. The game tied three times in the second – 18-18, 21-21, and 23-23. Einwalter slapped a block back to Tate McCollum who sank a three-pointer breaking the tie and giving the Spartans a 26-23 lead. Heims passed to Luke Merrick, who promptly sank a three-pointer, and made it 32-26. The Spartans led 34-31 at halftime.

Kaden Hoeper connected with Heims to start the third quarter with a 36-31 lead while a pair of free throws by Maddox Kelley made it 39-31. A Heims layup made it 43-33 and prompted a West Delaware time out. The Hawks put up back-to-back three-pointers to trim the lead to 43-39 while another Hawk three-pointer cut Solon’s lead to three points, 47-44. A pair of free throws and a two-point basket by McCollum gave Solon a 51-46 advantage going into the final eight minutes.

A Solon three-pointer, rebound and basket by Einwalter, and two-point baskets from Kelley and Ulch made it 60-51. McCollum dropped in a three-pointer for a 63-53 lead while the Spartans’ final two points came at the charity stripe as Grant Gordon sank two for the 66-53 final.

Individual stats were not available at deadline.