Gladbrook-Reinbeck is going to the Iowa High School boys state basketball tournament for the first time as a consolidated program, while Aplington-Parkersburg earned its first trip to Des Moines in 12 years.

Both teams are champions of the North Iowa Cedar League (NICL). Gladbrook-Reinbeck won the NICL's West Division title, while the Falcons topped the East Division.

After falling one win short each of the past three seasons, top-ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck (25-0) finally conquered its substate championship opponent Saturday night (February 28, 2015). The Rebels defeated West Central of Maynard (21-4), 73-49, at Independence.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck earned the top-seed in the eight-team Class-1A field. The Rebels will face Nodaway Valley (19-6) at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9 in the opening game of the six-day tournament.

The community of Gladbrook has never been represented at the boys state basketball tournament, while Reinbeck's only previous appearance was in 1929 under coach Leonard Raffensperger. The Rams finished fourth in that one-class tournament , the seventh held under the sponsorship of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA).

Gladbrook and Reinbeck have competed as a single program since 1988-89, when the two schools began a whole-grade sharing agreements. The districts officially merged into one on July 1, 1998.

Head Coach Scott Kiburis is in his sixth season guiding the Rebels, but is no stranger to the state tournament environment. Prior to moving to Iowa in 2009, the California native guided Grand Valley, Colo. to three state tournaments during an eight-year tenure there. Under his leadership, the Cardinals won Colorado's Class-2A state championship in 2007.

Now, Kiburis is hoping to repeat the state tournament success he had in Colorado at Gladbrook-Reinbeck. The Rebels are one of two unbeaten teams in the Class-1A field, along with No. 2 seed Danville. Averaging 73.8 points per game, Gladbrook-Reinbeck has the second-highest scoring offense in the state (all classes).

Aplington-Parkersburg qualified for the tournament in Class-2A with a 61-59 win over top-ranked New Hampton (22-2) at Cedar Falls Saturday night. Like Gladbrook-Reinbeck, the third-ranked Falcons (24-1) also earned a No. 1 seed and they'll face Woodward Academy (16-7) at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March, 10.

The state tournament appearance will be the fifth as a combined program for Aplington-Parkersburg, but the first since 2004. Before the programs merged in 1992-93, Aplington had qualified for state four times, winning back-to-back championships in 1991 and 1992. Parkersburg never made it to state as a single program.

Head Coach Aaron Thomas is in his sixth year guiding Aplington-Parkersburg. Prior to taking over at his alma mater in 2009, Thomas guided La Porte City Union to its only state tournament berth in 2008.

When Aplington-Parkersburg takes the floor at Wells Fargo Arena, some state tournament history will be made. The Falcons' opponent -- the Knights of Woodward Academy -- is the first team from a youth academy in Iowa to qualify for state.

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