It has been a while since Solon played in a state championship game, but that’s just where the Spartans are headed now.
Solon played sensational defense, got balanced scoring at the other end and beat Des Moines Christian 49-25 to complete the Class 3A semifinals. The third-seeded Spartans will play top-seeded Estherville-Lincoln Central for the title at 8 p.m. Friday.
It will be Solon’s first appearance in the state finals since the Spartans won the second of their back-to-back 2A titles with IGHSAU Hall of Famer Lindsey Meder. Solon also won the 2A championship in 1994 and was the state runner-up in 1993 when five-player basketball had a single-class format.
University of Iowa signee Callie Levin usually is Solon’s linchpin, but her teammates were the ones who made the difference against Des Moines Christian. And no one played a bigger role than 5-foot-3 senior Mia Stahle.
Stahle scored 14 points, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds. She went 6-for-12 from the field and got three of those baskets after chasing down offensive rebounds.
Hailey Miller added 10 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Kobi Lietz had seven points, six rebounds and seven steals. Levin, averaging 22 points a game, scored nine and handed out four assists. Anna Quillin chipped in with six points and eight rebounds.
Solon held Des Moines Christian to seven field goals and came up with 13 steals while forcing 26 turnovers. That Spartans finished with a 19-3 edge in points off turnovers and outscored the Lions 13-0 in the paint.
Abby Hall led second-seeded Des Moines Christian with nine points. Addy Oetker added four points and 13 rebounds, while Gianna Bennett had four points and five rebounds.
Bennett is an interesting story. She was the kicker on the Lions’ football team, making all five of her field goal attempts and booting 35 extra points. She’ll join the Northwestern College football team in the fall.
Solon held Des Moines Christian without a basket in the first quarter in taking a 10-6 lead and went into halftime ahead 25-10 after Levin was fouled banking in a jump shot at the buzzer and made the ensuing free throw.
Stahle hit back-to-back 3s and Lietz followed with a baseline jumper to stretch the lead to 35-15. Des Moines Christian got no closer than 18 after that.
Des Moines Christian, playing at state for the seventh time, set a school record for victories and finished 24-2. The Lions other loss was to Class 4A tournament qualifier Dallas Center-Grimes.