Sports : Solon continues trend of dominance; defeats Vikings, 69-49

Grant Sagan attempts a first half layup vs. Solon.

Sophomore Grant Sagan scored 10 vs. the Spartans.

Gunner Tranel attempts a layup.

Jake Dyson scored 12, all on 3-point shots.

Jake Dyson fakes a shot and passes around a Spartan defender.

Logan Williams attempts a layup early vs. Solon.

Solon (18-2) came to Vinton with a coach (Brad Randall) who won his 300th career game early in the 2010-11 season, another coach (Acie Earl) whose resume includes playing basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and three players on their roster who are taller than the tallest Viking. The Spartans did what they have done 90 percent of the time this year: They won.

Solon built a quick 13-2 lead and never let the Vikings get closer than 8, winning 69-49 in Vinton.

Jake Dyson and Lincoln Riffey helped the Vikings keep it close with first half 3-point shots. Dyson led the VIkings with 12. Logan Williams added 11 points and 6 more assists to add to his Class 3A-leading total. Grant Sagan was the other Viking in double figures, with 10.

The 20-point margin could have been larger, except for a basketball anomaly: While the Spartans shot 58.5 percent from the field (24 of 41), they only shot 58.8 percent fromt the free throw line (20 of 34). The Vikings attempted seven free throws and made them all.

The loss leaves the Vikings at 11-9 heading into Tuesday's regular season finale at home vs. Oelwein.