Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – In the second game of its first back-to-back games of the season Solon was searching for an offensive boost against Class 2A No. 12 Regina.

The Spartans found a spark in the form of junior Jerzey Haluska.

Haluska scored a season-high 15 points Class 4A No. 12 Solon pulled away for a 58-50 win over Regina in a non-conference matinee on Saturday in Solon.

“Coach (Jamie Smith) told me to take advantage of the opportunities that I had this game,” Haluska said. “The coaches told me to be ready for the situation whether it was a drive or a 3.”

Haluska averaged 4.5 points and made one 3-pointer in the first two games of the season.

On Saturday she joined teammates Tenley Levin and Delainey Durr in double figures as Solon improved to 3-1 with its third consecutive win.

Haluska hit three 3-pointers on her way to 15 points to compliment Levin who had a team-high 22 and Durr who finished with 10.

“We talked this morning that if they went man she’d had a little matchup advantage,” Smith said. “She shot it well, she went to the rim and it’s a confidence builder for her.”

Haluska had five of her 15 points in the second quarter as Solon turned a 17-17 tie into a 10-point halftime lead by outscoring the Regals 14-4 in the second quarter.

The junior forward made all three of her first-half field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers, which loosed up the Regina defense.

“Definitely after hitting the first one I gained a lot of confidence,” Haluska said. “Progressively keeping that motivation in my mind. We wanted to go out and win especially after losing to them last year.”

Solon led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter and needed the cushion to hold off the Regina (6-1).

Sophomore standout Addie McLaughlin had 14 of her game-high 31 points in the third quarter helping the Regals stay in the game.

Regina got as close as six with 2:40 to play but could get no closer as Solon closer.

“I am a little bummed we lost because we are competitive but we fought like crazy,” Regina coach Mary Rogers said. “We fought. It’s the battle and the effort and I just wanted to get better for the long haul, if we win this one great, but we want to get better.”

Adalee Klein had 15 points and eight rebounds for Regina while McLaughlin and Maggie Sueppel each grabbed seven rebounds.

Klein finished 7-of-11 from the field.

“We know that she is going to be a big piece of the puzzle this year,” Rogers said of Klein. “Losing what we did last year we need her as a scoring threat and when there are mismatches inside we still didn’t get her the ball nearly enough and that’s probably on me to not have that production happen.”

Regina                        17   4   20  9  –  50

Solon                          17  14  20  7  –  58

Regina (50) – Jada Wiltz 1-6 0-2 3, Mel Kirk 0-1 0-0 0, Sophie Wiltgen 0-2 0-0 0, Maggie Sueppel 0-5 1-2 1, Addie McLaughlin 12-29 3-5 31, Adalee Klein 7-11 1-4 15, Totals 20-54 5-13 50.

Solon (58) – Delainey Durr 4-18 1-1 10, Avery Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Laney Johnson 3-8 1-2 9, Laeni Hinkle 0-1 0-0 0, Sophia Link 1-2 0-0 2, Tenley Levin 7-13 6-14 22, Jerzey Haluska 6-10 0-0 15, Totals 21-54 8-17 58.

3-point field goal – ICR 5-16 (Wiltz 1-4, Kirk 0-1, McLaughlin 4-11), SOL 8-24 (Durr 1-6, A. Johnson 0-1, L. Johnson 2-6, Levin 2-5, Haluska 3-6). Rebounds – ICR 34 (Klein 8), SOL 37 (Levin 10). Turnovers – ICR 17, SOL 18. Total fouls – ICR 13, SOL 14. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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