A brilliant season for Keota Eagle boys’ basketball had a disappointing finish last night, as undefeated Keota fell 67-62 to Gladbrook-Reinback in the Class 1A District 11 finals.

Gladbrook-Reinback broke open a tie game in the first quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 14-7 lead, and they would stay in front of the sixth-ranked team in the state by the end of the opening period. Keota would respond with a 13-6 run to tie the game at 26 and would go into halftime only down 31-29.

But the Rebels again seized control in the third quarter, building the lead to as much as eight points. A half-court heave by sophomore Chase Haifley at the buzzer meant that the Eagles went into the fourth and final quarter only down 52-47, but they could never fully rally.

After the game, Keota head coach Dan Stout told KCII Sports that, despite the unfortunate end to this season, there’s plenty of reason to celebrate both the past and the future of his team.

“This senior group’s meant a heck of a lot to this program,” Stout said. “We’ve still got some bright spots coming up here. And, like I told them, you can’t let one game define you. We’ll go back to the drawing board and we’ll try to get back at it next year.”

Sawyer Stout led the Eagles in scoring with 14 points, while fellow senior Evan Vittetoe finished with 10 points, as did Haifley and junior Billie Kindred.

It would not be enough to keep the season from ending with a record of 23-1 for Keota, which will now say farewell to a deep senior class that includes Stout, Vittetoe, Cole Kindred, Tanner Waterhouse, Conner Strand, Aiden McGuire, Ashton Thomas, Chase Sieren and Carson McDonald.