Kobi Lietz’s 3-pointer at the buzzer sends Solon past Mount Vernon, 55-54

MOUNT VERNON — Wells Fargo rubber match, anyone?

Anything less would seem an injustice.

Kobi Lietz drained a 3-pointer at the horn to give Class 3A fourth-ranked Solon a 55-54 Wamac Conference East Division girls’ basketball victory over No. 2 Mount Vernon on Friday at Mount Vernon High School.

“It came off my fingertips and I knew it was going in,” Lietz said. “It was such a good feeling.”

Lietz’s shot ended a dramatic, back-and-forth final sequence and squared the season series.

If the teams meet again, it will be in early March, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, in a 3A state semifinal.

Or maybe state final. Heck, why not? Both of these teams are championship-caliber.

“Thank God we don’t have to do this again with them in a regional final,” Solon Coach Jamie Smith said.

University of Iowa recruit Callie Levin led all scorers with 30 points, but it was her fateful feed to Lietz that led to the game-winner.

“One of the best players in the state ... I trust the ball in her hands with the game on the line,” Smith said.

Levin’s 3-pointer with 1:35 left put the Spartans (16-3 overall, 6-2 Wamac East) in front, 50-49, then a chaotic, thrilling final minute ensued.

Courtney Franck answered with a 3-pointer to give Mount Vernon (17-3, 8-1) a 52-50 advantage. Levin tied it on the next possession.

Chloe Meester’s jumper at the 0:12 mark gave the Mustangs a 54-52 advantage.

Then Lietz struck with the dagger at the buzzer.

“I saw her at the (3-point) line, and I knew she was going to hit it,” said Levin, who also registered nine rebounds and four assists. “She hits that all the time in practice.”

Lietz finished with 11 points and four steals.

Mount Vernon got 15 points from reserve post Brynley Rasmussen, who made 7 of 8 shots. Courtney Franck added 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Taylor Franck and Sydney Huber scored nine apiece. Meester counted eight points and nine boards.

As they did in the first meeting (a 44-37 Mount Vernon triumph Jan. 16 at Solon), the Spartans landed the first blow, and led 12-3 early.

The Mustangs counter-jabbed, got even late in the second quarter, then took their largest lead, 41-34, early in the fourth.

Levin converted a pair of conventional three-point plays to get the Spartans back in it, and it was back-and-forth the rest of the way.

“I feel like we lost the game in transition, and we lost it with turnovers,” Mount Vernon Coach Nate Sanderson said. “And they made plays when they had to.”

Despite the setback, Mount Vernon can wrap up the Wamac East title with a win at West Delaware on Tuesday.

BOYS: Solon 56, Mount Vernon 46

The Class 3A fourth-ranked Spartans scored the first 10 points of the second half, and overcame a slow start.

Solon (18-0, 7-0) got 54 of its 56 points from three players: Jake Benzing (20), Vince Steinbrech (19) and Rylen Stiegelmeyer (15).

Joey Rhomberg paced Mount Vernon (11-7, 2-5) with 11 points.

Solon 55, Mount Vernon 54

At Mount Vernon

SOLON (55): Kobi Lietz 5-10 0-0 11, Hailey Miller 3-10 7, Mia Stahle 0-3 0-2 0, Anna Quillin 0-2 2-4 2, Callie Levin 11-23 6-10 30, Delainey Durr 1-1 2-2 5, Laeni Hinkle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 10-18 55.

MOUNT VERNON (54): Courtney Franck 4-7 2-2 11, Taylor Franck 3-9 3-4 9, Chloe Meester 4-8 0-2 8, Sydney Huber 3-9 2-2 9, Peyton Simpson 1-3 0-0 2, Brynley Rasmussen 7-8 1-2 15, Josie Niehaus 0-3 0-0 0, Eryn Jackson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-49 8-12 54.

Solon 18 8 8 21 — 55

Mount Vernon 11 13 15 15 — 54

3-point goals: Solon 5-21 (Lietz 1-4, Miller 1-7, Stahle 0-2, Quillin 0-1, Levin 2-6, Durr 1-1), Mount Vernon 2-8 (C. Franck 1-2, T. Franck 0-1, Huber 1-1, Simpson 0-2, Niehaus 0-1, Jackson 0-1). Team fouls: Solon 14, Mount Vernon 11. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Solon 30 (Quillin 10), Mount Vernon 33 (Meester 9). Assists: Solon 9 (Levin 4), Mount Vernon 11 (C. Franck 4). Steals: Solon 11 (Lietz, Miller 4), Mount Vernon 8 (T. Franck, Huber 2). Turnovers: Solon 13, Mount Vernon 14.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com