Solon makes its first girls’ state basketball championship game since 1998

DES MOINES — When Jamie Smith took the girls’ basketball job at Solon High School, he subscribed to the following philosophy:

“We sold them on offense,” he said. “We tricked them into playing defense.”

Thursday afternoon, the trick was on Des Moines Christian.

Third-ranked Solon held No. 2 DMC to seven field goals (in 36 attempts), forced the Lions into 26 turnovers, and rolled to a Class 3A semifinal win, 49-25, at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

“This team is built on defense,” senior Anna Quillin said.

The Spartans (24-3) return to the state finals for the first time in 26 years — Solon was the 2A champion in 1994, 1997 and 1998 — and will face No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central (24-2) for the title at 8 p.m. Friday.

“To be a senior, and to go out with one more game with my best friends, and the most amazing coaches ... hopefully we can come out with one more win,” Callie Levin said.

A University of Iowa commit, Levin was held to nine points Thursday.

No matter.

Mia Stahle led all scorers with 14 points, including three baskets in which she converted from offensive rebounds.

Stahle is 5-foot-3.

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“She’s always a monster,” Levin said of Stahle. “She works hard. She plays the best ‘D.’ She exactly what we need.

“People know about Hailey (Miller) and I because we’re the top scorers. But Kobi (Lietz), Mia and Anna are irreplaceable.”

The Spartans put this one in the bank in the second quarter, closing it with a 15-2 run and taking a commanding 25-10 lead into the locker room.

Quillin had a putback to start it, then Miller followed with a pair of 3-pointers within a span of 35 seconds.

DMC (24-2) was 2-of-11 from the field and coughed up 16 turnovers before halftime.

“Our defense today was different-level,” Smith said. “I’m not sure I’ve seen a high-school team play better defense than we did today.”

Stahle said, “We pride ourselves on our defense. We want to get in people’s grills and turn it into offense.”

And about those three putbacks ...

“She’s taking my thunder,” said Quillin, who makes a living with offensive rebounds.

“I mean, she’s the smallest girl out there, getting offensive rebounds. Let’s go!”

Miller added 10 points. Lietz collected seven of Solon’s 13 steals.

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Photos: Solon vs. Des Moines Christian in Class 3A girls’ state basketball semifinals

Solon 49, Des Moines Christian 25

Class 3A State Semifinal, at Des Moines

SOLON (49): Kobi Lietz 3-7 1-2 7, Hailey Miller 3-13 2-4 10, Mia Stahle 6-12 0-0 14, Anna Quillin 3-9 0-1 6, Callie Levin 2-12 5-7 9, Delainey Durr 0-2 0-0 0, Trea Eidahl 0-0 0-0 0, Laney Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Laeni Hinkle 1-1 0-0 2, Jerzey Haluska 0-0 1-2 1, Gable Knight 0-0 0-0 0, Maddyn Gates 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-57 9-16 49.

DES MOINES CHRISTIAN (25): Addy Oetker 1-7 2-2 4, Tori Burton 1-5 1-1 3, Paige Hilgerson 0-0 2-2 2, Gianna Bennett 2-5 0-0 4, Abby Hall 2-8 4-4 9, Claire Kirkman 0-0 0-0 0, Meg Muller 0-3 0-0 0, Reagan Zimmer 0-0 0-0 0, Ellie Owen 0-3 0-0 0, Megan McGuire 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Etta Fish 0-2 0-0 0, Grace Hudson 1-1 0-0 3, Catie Hall 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 7-36 9-9 25.

Solon 10 15 14 10 — 49

Des Moines Christian 6 4 10 5 — 25

3-point goals: Solon 4-21 (Lietz 0-3, Miller 2-5, Stahle 2-6, Quillin 0-1, Levin 0-5), DMC 2-10 (A. Hall 1-4, Muller 0-1, Owen 0-2, Fish 0-1, Hudson 1-1, C. Hall 0-1). Team fouls: Solon 11, DMC 17. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Solon 36 (Quillin 8), DMC 33 (Oetker 13). Assists: Solon 8 (Levin 4), DMC 4 (Oetker 4). Steals: Solon 13 (Lietz 7), DMC 8 (Oetker 5). Turnovers: Solon 11, DMC 26.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com