Mount Vernon handles Solon for the third time, 52-36

MOUNT VERNON — A frustrated voice rang out in the third quarter. It belonged to a Solon fan:

'It's no secret what they're trying to do!'

No secret, and no stopping it.

Kaitlyn Volesky registered 26 points and 12 rebounds, and 10th-ranked Mount Vernon vanquished Solon for the third time this season, 52-36, in a Class 3A girls' basketball regional quarterfinal Saturday night at Mount Vernon High School.

'Sometimes they would collapse on our inside game, and sometimes they wouldn't,' Volesky said. 'When they didn't, we really took advantage.'

Volesky, who is weighing Division-II, Division-III and NAIA offers, hit 11 of 18 field-goal attempts and cashed in on all four of her free throws.

'She's a little undersized, but she's got those long arms and uses her body well,' Solon Coach Lisa Bishop said. 'She's a difficult matchup for us. Always has been.'

State qualifiers in each of the last two years, the Mustangs (16-6) will host Anamosa in a regional semifinal Wednesday. The Raiders (10-13) defeated West Delaware, 39-29, Saturday.

Solon retired at 8-14. The Spartans used an 8-0 run to take an early 10-7 lead, but didn't score for the rest of the first half, enabling the Mustangs to surge in front, 21-10.

Volesky's putback to start the second half extended the run to 16-0 and the advantage to 23-10, then Josie Durr scored to end Solon's drought at 12 minutes, 38 seconds.

'(Solon) came out with a lot of energy. Lisa had them ready to play,' said Mustangs Coach Dennis Roloff, who needs five more wins to reach 400 for his career. 'But we came back, and Kaitlyn had a hell of a night.'

Volesky left the game for good with the Mustangs in command, 49-20, with 3:18 left.

Backup post Ella Norton added six points. Libby Ryan provided six rebounds and eight assists, mostly on interior feeds to Volesky.

Durr collected 22 points (18 in the second half) and seven steals for Solon. The state's leader in steals, she finished the season with 164.

MOUNT VERNON 52, SOLON 36

At Mount Vernon

SOLON (36): Allison Prybil 2-4 0-0 5, Bryce Hinkel 1-6 0-0 2, Gabrielle Marty 1-7 0-2 2, Brianna Smith 2-5 1-2 5, Josie Durr 10-20 0-0 22, Bryn Hanrahan 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Ryan 0-5 0-0 0, Lexi Stebral 0-3 0-0 0, Abigail Smith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 16-53 1-4 36.

MOUNT VERNON (52): Hayley Corkin 1-3 0-0 3, Catherine Yeoman 0-2 2-2 2, Libby Ryan 1-4 0-0 2, Kristen Elliott 0-7 2-2 2, Kaitlyn Volesky 11-18 4-4 26, Annie Rhomberg 0-0 0-0 0, Ella Brase 1-3 0-0 3, Bailey Hauser 0-1 0-0 0, Ella Norton 3-3 0-0 6, Sydney Hauser 1-1 0-0 2, Sammy Moss 1-3 1-3 3, McKenzie Hartl 1-2 0-0 3, Haley Baker 0-1 0-0 0, Katheryn Opperman 0-0 0-0 0, Noelle Ossenkamp 0-0 0-0 0. Totls 20-48 9-11 52.

Halftime: Mount Vernon 21, Solon 10. 3-point goals: Solon 3-16 (Prybil 1-2, B.Smith 0-1, Durr 2-7, Hanrahan 0-1, T.Ryan 0-5), Mount Vernon 3-17 (Corkin 1-3, Yeoman 0-1, L.Ryan 0-2, Elliott 0-4, Brase 1-3, B.Hauser 0-1, Moss 0-1, Hartl 1-1, Baker 0-1). Team fouls: Solon 15, Mount Vernon 7. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Solon 29 (Hinkel 9), Mount Vernon 39 (Volesky 12). Assists: Solon 5 (Durr 2), Mount Vernon 13 (L.Ryan 8). Steals: Solon 10 (Durr 7), Mount Vernon 4 (Volesky 2). Turnovers: Solon 12, Mount Vernon 16.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com