Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – There are times in sports when a team just needs to find a way to win a game.

Any win.

Any way.

That time for Solon was Tuesday in its rematch with WAMAC East Division rival West Delaware and the Spartans found what they were looking for.

Senior Kobi Lietz scored nine of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, including seven in the final three minutes, as Solon held off a late West Delaware flurry for a 53-52 win.

The loss snapped a four-game losing skid for Solon (9-10) and avenged a 57-54 loss to the Hawks on January 17 in Manchester.

“We talked before the game we have to just find a way,” Solon coach Jamie Smith said. “I don’t care what it looks like we have to dig deep and we have to find a way because we knew it was going to be a close game. It wasn’t the prettiest but there is nothing more pretty than winning a basketball game.”

Solon shot 37 percent from the field, including 3-of-18 from 3-point range, and had 17 turnovers but made the critical plays down the stretch that had been missing during three consecutive single digit losses.

In it’s previous three losses, all by six points or fewer at Marion, to 3A No. 14 Center Point-Urbana and 2A second-ranked Regina, the Spartans had opportunities late but couldn’t find a win.

Solon made those late plays on Tuesday.

Lietz snapped a 47-all tie with a bucket with 1:20 remaining and Jerzey Haluska gave the Spartans the lead for good when she grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 42 seconds remaining.

“We talked in the locker room about focusing on the second half and playing it through,” Haluska said. “Those losses really motivated us as a team to finish this game out and get a win.”

Lietz gave Solon a 53-49 lead with a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left but West Delaware still had a shot late.

Norah Peyton hit a 3-pointer with 9.1 seconds remaining and the Hawks stole the ensuing inbounds pass and had two shots in the final seven seconds but neither would fall.

“We had some monumental plays that we didn’t make the last few games,” Smith said. “Quinn (Armentrout) hit a three in the fourth quarter. we didn’t hit that shot on Friday or Saturday. Jerzey had an offensive rebound and put it back in and we do that the last three minutes on Friday. Those things are the difference between losing four in a row or winning three of four.”

Solon led 17-12 after the opening quarter behind eight early points from Lietz.

The Spartans scored the final five points of the opening half to take a 28-23 halftime lead.

“It really helps our confidence and we definitely needed that boost after losing four in a row,” Lietz said. “Hopefully we can use that going forward and into the playoffs.”

In the three-point loss to West Delaware last month the Hawks’ Brooke Krogmann scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.

Solon held Krogmann without a field goal in the first half while limiting the 6-foot senior center to 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting on Tuesday.

“Ball pressure helped us keep them from getting the ball inside and Beckett (Kruse) and Jerzey did a great job on her,” Lietz said. “The defense they played on her inside was super important for us.”

Lietz was the only Spartan in double figures but three other players had at least seven points for Solon.

Quin Armentrout had and Delainey Durr each had eight points and Haluska had seven points and five rebounds.

“This really motivates us and I think things are going to go up from here,” Haluska said. “We always support each other, even when things aren’t going our way we can rely on each other and that helped us today.”

West Delaware                   12  11  11  18  –  52

Solon                                      17  11   9   16  –  53

West Delaware (52) – Kirstyn Kolbet 2-3 0-0 4, Norah Peyton 3-8 2-5 9, Lena Petlon 16 2-2 4, Sofia Schulte 3-7 0-0 8, Brooke Krogmann 5-12 6-8 16, Josie McMahon 4-11 1-2 9, Karly Ogden 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 19-49 11-17 52.

Solon (53) – Kobi Lietz 6-13 9-9 21, Delainey Durr 3-10 0-0 8, Laney Johnson 1-2 1-2 3, Quinn Armentrout 3-6 1-2 8, Laeni Hinkle 2-7 0-0 4, Jerzey Haluska 3-7 1-2 7, Beckett Kruse 1-6 0-0 2, Totals 19-51 12-15 53.

3-point field goals – West Delaware 3-12 (Peyton 1-3, Petlon 0-3, Schulte 2-4, Krogmann 0-1, McMahon 0-1), Solon 3-18 (Lietz 0-2, Durr 2-7, Johnson 0-1, Armentrout 1-4, Hinkle 0-4). Rebounds – West Delaware 35 (Krogmann 11), Solon 29 (Kruse 8). Total fouls – West Delaware 12, Solon 17. Turnovers – West Delaware 22, Solon 17. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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