Rebels punch ticket to state; survive Warriors upset bid

   CEDAR FALLS - A third consecutive berth to the state tournament was earned by the Gladbrook-Reinbeck boys’ basketball team at Cedar Falls High School on  Saturday, but not without some heart-stopping moments for the blue and silver faithful.
   The fourth-ranked Rebels turned back a mighty-challenge by Wapsie Valley and celebrated a 68-62 overtime victory in the Class 1A Substate 3 final.
   Gladbrook-Reinbeck forced OT with a late free throw and then outscored the Warriors, 13-7 in the four-minute extra period.
   In overtime, after the two teams traded baskets to start, the Rebels scored the next six points – all free throws - to build a lead that was never surrendered.
   “I’m excited for the kids,” stated Gladbrook-Reinbeck head coach Scott Kiburis. “I’m just here to try and put the kids in the right spots, they are the ones that get the job done.”
   The full story appears in the Mar. 2 Grundy Register. A state tournament preview for Gladbrook-Reinbeck will be posted at thegrundyregister.com on Friday evening.