Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – For the first time in more than 25 years Solon will play for a state basketball title.

Third-ranked Solon advanced to the Class 3A title game with a dominating 49-25 win over Des Moines Christian in the 3A semifinals on Thursday evening.

The Spartans will be making their first title game appearance since 1998 when they face top-ranked Estherville Lincoln Central at 8 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Before Friday’s title game is tipped off we take a look at the matchup between Solon and Estherville Lincoln Central.

Class 3A State Championship

No. 1 Estherville Lincoln Central (24-2) vs. No. 3 Solon (23-3)    

When: Friday, 8 p.m.

Where: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Statistical leaders: Solon – Callie Levin, 5-9, Sr. – 22.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5 steals, 4.5 assists; Hailey Miller 13.6 points, 3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2 steals. Estherville Lincoln Central – Haylee Stokes, 5-6, Jr. – 24.4 points, 6.6 assists, 5.4 steals, 4.3 rebounds; Rylee Yager, 5-9, Jr. – 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.3 steals.

About the Spartans: Solon returned to the state title game for the fifth time in program history and first time since 1998 with a dominating 49-25 semifinal win over second-ranked Des Moines Christian.

The Spartans are 3-1 all-time in state finals and have won their last three title-game appearances winning titles in 1994, 1997 and 1998.

Solon has won 11 in a row entering Friday’s 3A title game downing seventh-ranked Dubuque Wahlert 58-47 in the quarterfinals before its semifinal win over Des Moines Christian.

The Spartans are allowing just 35.3 points per game during their current 11-game winning streak, a stretch that includes five victories over ranked opponents including wins over two top-five teams.

Solon is led by senior Callie Levin, an Iowa commit that leads the Spartans in scoring (22.3), assists (4.5), steals (5) and is second on the team with 7.1 rebounds per game.

All five Solon starters average at least 4.9 points per game as senior Hailey Miller averages 13.6 points per game and senior Mia Stahle averages 6.6 points per game.

Junior Kobi Lietz is averaging 6.3 points and senior Anna Quillin averages 4.9 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds per game.

About the Midgets: Estherville Lincoln Central is back in the 3A title game for the second time in three seasons after winning the 2022 title.

The Midgets are appearing in the state championship game for the sixth time and are 3-2 all-time in state title games winning the 1982 title as Estherville and claiming the 2022 3A title with a 44-30 win over Ballard.

Over the past three seasons Estherville Lincoln Central is 74-5 with three consecutive state tournament appearances and two trips to the title game.

Estherville Lincoln Central brings a 16-game winning streak in Friday’s title game after downing No. 12 Forest City 61-47 in the 3A quarterfinals and knocking off fourth-ranked Mount Vernon 45-37 in the semifinals on Thursday.

Both losses for Estherville Lincoln Central this season came to state semifinalists in 2A semifinalist Sioux Central and 4A semifinalist Sioux City Heelan.

The Midgets also own two victories over Class 1A semifinalist Newell-Fonda and a win over 2A qualifier Central Lyon.

Estherville Lincoln Central is led by the junior trio of Haylee Stokes, Rylee Yager and Hillary Ruschy.

Stokes averages 24.4 points, 6.6 assists and 5.4 steals per game while Yager averages 15.4 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds per game.

Ruschy averages 9 points and 4 rebounds per game.

Who to watch: Solon – It seems only fitting that an outstanding prep career for Solon senior guard Callie Levin will end in the state title game.

Levin has been the focal point in a rebuild of the Solon program over the past four seasons.

Solon was 9-13 the season before Levin joined the program and had won 18 total games in the three seasons before her freshman year.

During Levin’s career the Spartans are 77-20, including 45-6 over the past two seasons with a pair of state tournament appearances.

Levin is among the best players in the state and ranks third in 3A in scoring (22.3) and steals (5) per game. Estherville Lincoln Central – Junior guard Haylee Stokes is a two-time first-team all-state pick, one of the best players in Class 3A and the one that makes everything go for Estherville Lincoln Central.

Stokes leads Class 3A in scoring (24.4) and assists (6.6) and ranks second with 5.4 steals per game.

This week in Des Moines Stokes has shined on the state’s biggest stage.

The Minnesota State commit had 44 points, five rebounds, three assists and seven steals in a quarterfinal win over Forest City and followed with a 15-point, seven-rebound, six-assist effort in the semifinal win over Mount Vernon.

Stokes has already played in six career state tournament games and has scored in double figures in all six.

In those six games Stokes has averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.5 steals.

What to watch: In a game where both teams want to play a similar style keep a keen eye on which team takes care of the ball better.

Both of these teams want to press the issue defensively.

Sure, every team playing this deep in the season is going to stress defense but both Solon and Estherville Lincoln Central put an emphasis on ball pressure and making this tough on ball handers.

Solon has forced 44 turnovers in two state tournament wins after hounding Des Moines Christian into 26 turnovers in the semifinals.

Estherville Lincoln Central has forced 35 turnovers in two wins at state.

Solon has committed 11 turnovers in each of the last two games, Estherville Lincoln Central has 23 turnovers in two games this week.

Both feature strong point guards in Levin and Stokes. Both have experience in the back court.

The team that takes care of the ball better, limits turnovers and can get into better offensive rhythm is going to likely be the team that controls this game.

The breakdown: The title-game matchup many expected at the start of the season will cap the 3A season on Friday as Solon and Estherville Lincoln Central square off for the 3A crown.

These two teams are similar in style and makeup, both relying on pressure defense and strong and experienced back courts led by two of the best in the state in Stokes and Levin.

Both have rosters filled with state tournament experience.

In addition to the turnover numbers watch the rebounding totals on Friday.

Solon struggled on the glass early in a quarterfinal win over Dubuque Wahlert but was better in the second half while being outrebounded 34-30.

The Spartans held a 36-33 rebounding edge and had 14 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points in a semifinal win over Des Moines Christian.

Estherville Lincoln Central was outrebounded 30-25 by Forest City in the quarterfinals but held a 33-32 rebounding edge over Mount Vernon in the semifinals.

Neither team is overly tall but both are aggressive especially on the offensive glass so not allowing second-chance points will be important for both sides.

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