Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – If Solon coach Jamie Smith had one overriding concern leading up to the postseason it was getting off to a slow start.

That apprehension lasted for all of about five minutes on Saturday evening.

Class 3A No. 12 Solon raced to an 18-5 lead in the opening five minutes and cruised to a 75-39 win over Tipton (6-14) in a Region 7 quarterfinal in Solon.

“We came out ready to play and as a coach if you have worries when the tournament comes that’s one of the biggest worries,” Smith said. “I don’t worry about that so much anymore with this group. We came ready to play.”

Freshman point guard Callie Levin scored 16 of her game-high 25 points in the opening quarter, including a personal 12-0 run midway through the quarter, as Solon jumped to a 26-13 lead that would never be challenged.

“I told myself right away you have to get out there early and you have to play good defense but you also have to drive and once you drive hit those threes and also hit your teammates,” Levin said. “Once that started and our defense started going we knew we were unstoppable.”

The win was the third straight for Solon (16-5) and was the first playoff victory for the Spartans since 2016.

Solon will host No. 15 Monticello (16-5) in a Region 7 semifinal on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Monticello has won eight straight after a 58-21 quarterfinal win over Camanche on Saturday afternoon.

“We couldn’t ask for anything more, our kids are pumped and we get to spend some more time together,” Smith said. “There is still some growth to be had in the next few days. We will take tomorrow off and we will be back at it on Monday and we get to play again at home and what more could you ask for?”

Levin and the Spartans took the drama out of Saturday’s contest early.

With Solon leading 6-5 Levin connected on five consecutive field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers during a solon 12-0 run.

Levin also had six assists and five steals to go with her 25 points in her postseason debut.

“When Callie gets the ball in her hands you better run to the other end because she will get it to you,” Smith said. “When we get going and she gets going we play better.”

Levin led three Solon players in double figures as everyone in orange and white got into the act on Saturday.

Makinley Levin had 16 points and Kaia Holtkamp added 12 points as Solon shot 45 percent from the floor.

“That win with the whole team, we just wanted it so bad and we went out there and played our butts off,” Levin said. “It was so awesome, that was the best feeling ever.”

Nine different Spartans scored on Saturday with junior Elly Holubar pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds as Solon held a 32-26 rebounding edge.

“We got in a little foul trouble and we had kids come off the bench and play well,” Smith said. “Jada sparked us with five, Hailey (Miller) hit some shots. Every single person did exactly what they were supposed to tonight. It was a team win.”

Rachel Bierman had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Tipton while Allison Nash had eight points for the Tigers.

Tipton            13  12    6   8  –  39

Solon              26  19  14  16 –  75

Solon (75) – Claire LaDage 2-3 0-0 4, Ava Stebral 1-4 0-0 2, Hailey Miller 1-4 1-2 3, Kaia Holtkamp 5-12 1-2 12, Makinley Levin 4-12 5-6 16, Sophia Stahle 0-1 0-0 0, Callie Levin 9-17 5-6 25, Jada Buffington 3-4 0-1 7, Hilary Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Elly Holubar 2-3 0-0 4, Totals 28-62 12-17 75.

Tipton (39) – Brenna Wilkins 1-2 1-3 3, Carly Langenburg 0-2 6-6 6, Allison Nash 2-5 4-4 8, Rachel Bierman 6-12 4-7 16, Liz Bierman 1-2 0-0 2, Hailey Stewart 1-4 0-0 3, Addie Nerem 0-0 1-4 1, Totals 11-27 16-24 39.

3-point field goals – SOL 7-24 (LaDage 0-1, Stebral 0-3, Miller 0-2, Holtkamp 1-4, M. Levin 3-7, C. Levin 2-6, Buffington 1-1), TIP 1-5 (Nash 0-2, Stewart 1-3). Rebounds – SOL 32 (Holubar 11), TIP 26 (R. Bierman 11). Turnovers – SOL 6, TIP 22. Total fouls – SOL 21, TIP 12. Fouled out – SOL (Wilson). Technical fouls – None.

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