G-R boys to play for state hoops title

DES MOINES – The Gladbrook-Reinbeck boys' basketball team defeated top-seeded, top-ranked North Linn 58-53 in a Class 1A state semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Thursday morning.
The Rebels erased a seven-point halftime deficit, outscoring the previously-undefeated Lynx 32-20 in the second half. Joe Smoldt led G-R with 19 points, with Tyler Pierce contributing 17 points and Caden Kickbush scoring 12 points. Smoldt added nine rebounds and eight assists.
"They had their run there at the end of the half," Smoldt said. "We knew we could go back at them, give them a run in the second half and just win by five-minute segments. It was a new ballgame; we had to forget about it."
Gladbrook-Reinbeck will play Grand View Christian in the championship game at 6:05 p.m. on Friday night in Des Moines in hopes of bringing home its second state title in the last three years. 
 
The full story from Thursday's game, and Gladbrook-Reinbeck's championship run, will be in the March 16 Grundy Register.
 
Link to official box score (iahsaa.com)