MARSHALLTOWN – North Mahaska’s fourth quarter rally against No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck resulted in a season-ending 61-46 loss in the Class 1A substate final in Marshalltown Saturday. North Mahaska, 20-4, trailed 50-25 entering the final period outscored the Rebels 21-11 but could not overcome the deficit.
“Tip of the hat to Gladbrook, they are a good defensive team,” said North Mahaska coach Kevin Kelderman. “I have not played a team with that physicality.”
Shots did not fall early for the Warhawks, but they forced five first quarter turnovers to stay in the game and trailed 14-10. NM was held to five points in the second period and trailed 30-15 at intermission.
The post tandem of Drew Eilers and Michael Boyd of Gladbrook-Reinbeck proved too formidable for the Warhawks. The duo combined for 18 rebounds and a blocked shot. But the unseen stat is how many shots or passes they altered.
North Mahaska used the long ball in the fourth quarter to cut into the lead. NM hit seven in the game, five of them in the final period.
Leading scorer Asher DeBoef had been held to six points in the first half but hit for 15 in the second half. Gabe Hora finished with 11coming on long balls.
For the Warhawks it was end of the high school careers of DeBoef, Hora, Jack Kelderman, Lucas Nunnikhoven, Adrian Smith, Luke Boender and Caleb Rozendaal.
Coach Kelderman has had a special place in his heart for this group.
“This is a tight group of players,” said Kelderman. “I coached them starting in third grade. They let their egos go and shared the ball. They did not care who got the credit as long they got the win.
“I liked out ball movement. I thought defensively we defended well they just hit the shots. Our kids played hard out there tonight but they got beat by a very good team.”
Jack Kelderman grabbed five rebounds and Jaxon VanDerVeer finished with five points. Kelderman and DeBoef led in steals with three each. Hora led in assists with two.
Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 22-3, will be the number 4 seed and will face the fifth seed North Linn.
