Gladbrook-Reinbeck sophomore Megan Cooley (24) shoots in the lane during the first half of the Rebels’ 54-42 win over East Marshall on Friday night in Reinbeck. Cooley scored 12 points in the NICL West Division victory. Photo by Noah Rohlfing

REINBECK — The same result arrived for Gladbrook-Reinbeck girls’ basketball Friday night against East Marshall as it did back in December — but this time the game looked much different.

In G-R’s 54-42 win over the Mustangs, the Rebels (6-7, 4-2 NICL West) had to fight through some offensive lulls and a strong 3-point shooting from East Marshall (3-10, 0-7).

G-R head coach Roger Oberhauser said it was a good test for his team offensively.

“I didn’t think we were patient in the first half at all,” Oberhauser said. “I thought we got the ball switched sides a couple times and were more patient in the second half especially in the fourth quarter. I thought we were a lot more aggressive in the fourth quarter.”

The Rebels started out the game on fire, getting to a 17-7 lead through eight minutes behind seven points from Emma McClintock off the bench. Oberhauser praised her bench performance, and she ended up playing for most of the game despite not scoring after the first quarter. He also praised bench big Ava Wyatt, who he said helped control the game late on with her offensive rebounds and passes.

In the second quarter, East Marshall’s offense began to wake up, led by freshman Morgan Neuroth and junior Ellie Hull. The two combined for five of the Mustangs’ nine first-half field goals and kept their team in the game, trailing by six at the halftime interval.

Head coach Greg Lee was impressed with how much his team’s offense has improved throughout the season.

“I thought we handled their defense a lot better than the first time around,” Lee said. “Really happy with our offensive effort. I think for the most part our confidence is growing.”

The Mustangs tried to hold on through the third quarter, but after getting within three they were never able to tie the game. G-R eventually found offense through Saari Kuehl (game-high 20 points) and the duo of Megan Cooley (12 points) and Katie Clark (eight points) on the offensive glass.

Neuroth had 20 points of her own, and Hill finished with 12. But the Mustangs relied too much on 3-pointers to get offense in the second half, scoring only once from inside the arc.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 54, East Marshall 42

EAST MARSHALL (3-10, 0-7) — Morgan Neuroth 7 0-0 20, Delaney Runner 2 2-2 6, Ellie Hull 4 0-0 12, Clare Veren 0 0-0 0, Abby Burchland 1 0-0 2, Leila Shetler 1 0-0 2, Callyn Curphy 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 15 2-2 42.

GLADBROOK-REINBECK (6-7, 4-2) — Belen Ellenberger 1 0-0 3, Mahayla Olson 0 4-4 4, Katie Clark 3 2-4 8, Saari Kuehl 7 3-4 20, Megan Cooley 6 0-0 12, Xandra Anderson 0 0-0 0, Adriel Summers 0 0-0 0, Ava Wyatt 0 0-0 0, Lauren Boyer 0 0-0 0, Emma McClintock 2 2-3 7. TOTALS 21 11-15 54.

EM 7 13 10 12 — 42

G-R 17 9 16 12 — 54

3-Point Goals-EM 10 (Neuroth 6, Hull 4), G-R 7 (Kuehl 3, Cooley 2, Ellenberger, McClintock). Team Fouls-EM 13, G-R 7. Fouled out-none.