Ankeny Fanatic

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Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night
Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

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In late February, Bob Fontana got a text message from one of his longtime coaching friends, Andy Howard, that stopped him in his tracks. "Andy was telling me, 'Congratulations. I'm proud of you,'" Fontana recalled. "I go, 'What are you talking about?', and he says, 'You're going into the Hall of Fame.' And I told him, 'Funny joke. Nobody has contacted … [Read more...] about Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

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Ankeny girls' basketball star Jayla Williams has been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny Centennial standout Lizzie Beam. Williams was a first-team pick for the third consecutive year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. She was also a unanimous selection. Williams, a senior guard, led the Hawkettes to a semifinal … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carson Bright, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Senior guard Carson Bright helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 12-11 record this season. He played in 21 of the 23 games off the bench. Bright averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. He shot 57.4 percent from the field (31-of-54), including 12-of-26 from 3-point range (46.2 percent). Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carson Bright, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

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Carson Johnson's historic season at the University of Denver came to an end on Friday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Johnson scored 17 points but also battled some foul problems as sixth-seeded Denver lost to third-seeded North Dakota, 83-67, in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament. The Pioneers finished the season with a … [Read more...] about Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

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Ankeny star Jayla Williams has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Hawkettes to the semifinals of the girls' state basketball tournament. Williams scored 20 points and had four steals in Ankeny's 49-39 loss to top-ranked Johnston in Thursday's semifinals at the Casey's Center. The Dragons went on to capture their third … [Read more...] about Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

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Ankeny senior Allison Hawkins was the recipient of the Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award during the girls' basketball state tournament on Friday night at the Casey's Center. Hawkins helped Ankeny to its first state tournament appearance since 2013. The Hawkettes advanced to the Class 5A semifinals before dropping a 49-39 decision to … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

‘I think they out-toughed us’: Pratt, Illinois State women lose rematch vs. Bulldogs

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Jaeden Pratt has enjoyed a successful freshman season with the Illinois State women's basketball squad. Unfortunately, Thursday's game against Drake won't be one of Pratt's highlights on the court. The Redbirds fell behind at the end of the first quarter, 26-13, and went on to drop a 73-55 decision at the Knapp Center. … [Read more...] about ‘I think they out-toughed us’: Pratt, Illinois State women lose rematch vs. Bulldogs

‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

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There was no reason for Ankeny seniors Ainsley Kiene and Jayla Williams to shed any tears while they answered questions from reporters in the media interview room on Thursday at the girls' state basketball tournament. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes had left it all out on the court at the Casey's Center, where they dropped a 49-39 decision to No. 1 Johnston in … [Read more...] about ‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

Bayless battles foul woes, scores 4 points in final game of his college hoops career

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Braxton Bayless' college basketball career came to an end on Wednesday in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. The former Ankeny star battled foul trouble and played just 26 minutes, well below his 33.3 average, in Little Rock's 72-62 loss to Lindenwood. The graduate guard scored four points on … [Read more...] about Bayless battles foul woes, scores 4 points in final game of his college hoops career

Former Ankeny star Sears to be honored as Big East Conference basketball legend

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One of the greatest players in the history of the Ankeny boys' basketball program will be honored during next week's Big East Conference tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City--even though he never played in the league. Former Creighton star Ryan Sears will be honored as one of 11 Big East legends. He completed his college career in … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny star Sears to be honored as Big East Conference basketball legend

‘We just didn’t have enough’: Hawks get 41 points from Aguirre in loss to No. 3 Wolves

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Ankeny basketball star Rio Aguirre didn't want his high school career to come to an end just yet. But neither did the seniors on a potent Waukee Northwest boys' squad. The third-ranked Wolves overcame a career-high 41 points from Aguirre to defeat visiting Ankeny, 82-64, in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday. "I'm definitely super proud of our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t have enough’: Hawks get 41 points from Aguirre in loss to No. 3 Wolves

Winkel named to NSIC all-tourney team after leading Huskies to runner-up finish

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Former Ankeny Centennial basketball star Luke Winkel was named to the NSIC all-tournament team after leading regular-season champion St. Cloud State to a runner-up finish in the conference tournament. The 19th-ranked Huskies dropped a 76-65 decision to sixth-seeded Minnesota Duluth in the NSIC championship game on Tuesday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux … [Read more...] about Winkel named to NSIC all-tourney team after leading Huskies to runner-up finish

Denver’s Johnson named Summit League Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year

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Former Ankeny basketball star Carson Johnson has been named the Summit League Men's Basketball Player of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday in a vote of the league's coaches, media members and sports information directors. The University of Denver sophomore guard was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year and to the all-Summit … [Read more...] about Denver’s Johnson named Summit League Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year

Ankeny girls surge past Warriors behind barrage of 3s from Baldwin, Schaapveld

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team relied heavily on all-state guard Jayla Williams to reach the state tournament for the first time since 2013. But on a day when Williams became the program's all-time leading scorer, it was the squad's supporting cast who led a second-half charge that lifted the sixth-ranked Hawkettes into the Class 5A semifinals at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls surge past Warriors behind barrage of 3s from Baldwin, Schaapveld

No. 1 Johnston pulls away after slow start, ends Jags’ season for 3rd time in 4 years

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When the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team got a 3-point goal from Faith Perpich to cut Johnston's lead to 17-12 with 3 minutes left in the second quarter of a Class 5A quarterfinal on Monday, the 12th-ranked Jaguars had reason to believe that they might be able to pull off the biggest upset in the history of the state tournament. "It felt really … [Read more...] about No. 1 Johnston pulls away after slow start, ends Jags’ season for 3rd time in 4 years

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior guard Jayla Williams has led the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 15-8 record. The Creighton recruit ranks among the leaders in Class 5A in scoring (21.1 points), steals (3.5) and field goals made (8.1) per game. Williams scored 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists as Ankeny rolled to a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘They fought all the way until the end’: Jags fall at Urbandale, finish year at 9-14

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The first season of the Matt Delger coaching era officially came to an end on Friday for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. Having the season end with a loss will always leave a bitter taste, but the Jaguars feel that there’s been a foundation set in the 2025-26 campaign that Centennial teams of the future will be … [Read more...] about ‘They fought all the way until the end’: Jags fall at Urbandale, finish year at 9-14