Smoldt rescues No. 1 Rebels

By: 
John Jensen / Mid-America Publishing

   REINBECK — Joe Smoldt’s off balance 3-pointer with time running out in overtime lifted No. 1 ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck to a 47-42 victory over AGWSR in a battle of North Iowa Cedar League West Division leaders last Tuesday.
   The Rebels won despite a season-worst shooting effort and scoring just 15 first-half points.
   “(AGWSR) played so hard and they were so intelligent and smart,” Gladbrook-Reinbeck coach Scott Kiburis said. “There were less possessions in the game … a lot of our stuff is in secondary transition with Joe creating stuff on that, but we just couldn’t get into a rhythm.”
   Smoldt’s game-winning shot capped a game that saw 18 lead changes and neither team lead by more than four points until Caden Kickbush sunk a pair of free throws with less than three seconds left. The Rebels called a timeout with 16 seconds left with the scored tied 42-42 to set up the game-winning play.
   “We first asked (Smoldt) what side he wanted the screen on, he said he didn’t want a screen,” Kiburis said. “We thought they would be 3-2 (zone) so we thought we’d screen the ends, but he was going to take the shot regardless.”
  For more on last Tuesday's showdown in Reinbeck, check out the Jan. 12 Grundy Register or click here to sign up for E-Edition access.

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