Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for February 2020

FEEL THE BURNS: Senior guard leads Jaguars past Deets, Mason City

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Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns proved again on Tuesday that she's one of the state's best two-way players on the basketball court. The senior guard poured in 22 points while holding Mason City standout Anna Deets to just seven as the visiting Jaguars rolled to a 63-39 victory in a non-conference game. "It was a big night for her," Centennial coach Scott … [Read more...] about FEEL THE BURNS: Senior guard leads Jaguars past Deets, Mason City

Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

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Once the shots started falling for the Ankeny girls' basketball team on Tuesday, they just kept dropping. The Hawkettes made 15 3-point goals and rolled to a 78-46 victory at Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. It was their highest offensive output of the season and their highest in four years under coach Dru McAnelly. "Hoover isn't very good, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lizzie Strom, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Junior forward Lizzie Strom has helped the 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to an 11-9 record. The Jaguars posted a 63-39 victory on Tuesday at Mason City, the No. 13 team in Class 4A. Strom is averaging 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She scored a career-high 11 points in the Jaguars' 62-57 overtime loss to No. 3 Johnston on … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lizzie Strom, Centennial girls’ basketball

Centennial boys now ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Associated Press

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There's a new No. 1 boys' basketball team in Class 4A. And it's Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars moved into the top spot of the Associated Press rankings following Iowa City West's 41-38 loss to Cedar Falls on Saturday. It was the second loss of the season for the Trojans (15-2), who fell to fourth in this week's rankings. Centennial (17-1) is riding … [Read more...] about Centennial boys now ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Associated Press

Hawk bowlers surpass 3,000-pin mark in victory over Fort Dodge

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All season long, the Ankeny boys' bowling team has been inching closer to the 3,000-pin mark. On Monday, the Hawks finally surpassed it. Ankeny bowled a season-high score to defeat visiting Fort Dodge in a non-conference dual meet at Great Escape. The Hawks won by a score of 3,069 to 2,909. "We've been chasing that number all year, and we all were … [Read more...] about Hawk bowlers surpass 3,000-pin mark in victory over Fort Dodge

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Weston Miner, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Junior Weston Miner helped the Ankeny boys' swimming team to its third straight district title on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. He placed second in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Miner and the Hawks will try to win a second consecutive state championship on Saturday in Iowa City. He placed eighth in the backstroke and also swam … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Weston Miner, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Hawk swimmers claim district title, but fail to qualify for state in some events

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Although the second-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team easily captured a district title on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center, the Hawks' dominance wasn't necessarily a good thing. The defending state champions were competing in a field that included only one other top-20 squad--No. 16 Des Moines Roosevelt. The lack of competition proved costly at … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers claim district title, but fail to qualify for state in some events

No. 2 Jaguars hold off Ankeny, capture first conference crown since 2015

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Braxton Bayless wouldn't hesitate to pass the ball to Jaxon Smith again. Smith missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of Friday's Jag-Hawk rematch at Ankeny, allowing the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to escape with a 50-48 victory. "I'll give it to him 100 percent of the time if he's wide open like … [Read more...] about No. 2 Jaguars hold off Ankeny, capture first conference crown since 2015

‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team turned in a spectacular defensive effort on Friday. It wasn't enough to knock off archrival Ankeny Centennial. The 12th-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 43-27 victory at Ankeny. They closed out the game with a 16-2 run. "This is the way it's been down here for the last seven years. It's … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

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Ankeny Centennial's Cody McCullough wasn't happy when he missed a free throw with 9 seconds left in Friday's game at Ankeny. The miss allowed the Hawks to have an opportunity to win the game on the final possession. Braxton Bayless fired a pass to Jaxon Smith in the left corner, but Smith's 3-point try bounced off the rim in the final seconds. … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

Jaguars close out regular season with victories over Indianola, Valley

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Thursday's triangular meet at Valley provided an opportunity for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to see a couple of their potential upcoming opponents. The Jaguars took advantage of the meet to earn a pair of victories. Centennial, the No. 6 team in the Class 3A dual rankings by The Predicament, opened the night with a 34-31 victory over No. 12 … [Read more...] about Jaguars close out regular season with victories over Indianola, Valley

Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride

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A lot will be at stake on Friday when the two Ankeny boys' basketball teams meet for the second time in less than three weeks. Second-ranked Ankeny Centennial heads across town for a rematch against the Hawks, who will be looking to avenge a 69-61 loss at Centennial on Jan. 20. The Jaguars (7-1, 16-1) can clinch the outright CIML Central Conference title … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride

Ankeny wrestlers fall into 16-0 hole, then win final 11 matches against Bobcats

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The Ankeny wrestlers tuned up for the postseason with a 65-16 victory at Marshalltown in a non-conference meet on Thursday. The Hawks, who are 13th in the Class 3A dual rankings by The Predicament, improved to 14-5 on the season. Marshalltown dropped to 8-14. "We had some kids get a win tonight that really needed it," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "I … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers fall into 16-0 hole, then win final 11 matches against Bobcats

Coaches vs. Cancer event raises more than $3,000 for American Cancer Society

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More than $3,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society in the Coaches vs. Cancer event on Tuesday at Ankeny Centennial. Ankeny Fanatic, HyVee and Wee's Tees were sponsors of the event. Jason Loutsch, owner of Ankeny Fanatic, donated the funds for the commemorative boys' basketball uniforms, which were auctioned off to raise money for the … [Read more...] about Coaches vs. Cancer event raises more than $3,000 for American Cancer Society

Centennial’s Burnett to play softball at Central College

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Ankeny Centennial shortstop Franie Burnett has committed to play softball for Central College. Burnett, a senior, picked the Dutch over Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. "It was a hard decision," she said. "I was picking between two very good schools and programs." In the end, though, Burnett elected to stay closer to home. She revealed her … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Burnett to play softball at Central College

IHSAA introduces success model for Class 4A football in 2020

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The Iowa High School Athletic Association has announced some changes for the upcoming football season, including a success model that will result in Class 4A being trimmed from 42 schools down to 40. The state is hoping to provide better competitive balance among Iowa's largest schools. Des Moines Hoover, Mason City and Burlington have dropped to Class 3A … [Read more...] about IHSAA introduces success model for Class 4A football in 2020

Centennial boys earn 10th straight win, hand Scarlets their 31st loss in a row

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It would have been easy for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to overlook its opponent on Tuesday. Des Moines East entered the non-conference game at Centennial with a 1-57 record over the last three years. The Scarlets' last two losses, which came by margins of 16 and 14 points, were their closest games of this season. "You just hope in … [Read more...] about Centennial boys earn 10th straight win, hand Scarlets their 31st loss in a row

Jaguars roll past D.M. East, snap losing skid behind Murray’s career night

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Breaking out of a recent slump, Cleao Murray scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 66-23 victory over visiting Des Moines East on Tuesday. Murray--who had averaged just seven points per game over the previous six contests--went 8-for-15 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. She also had … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past D.M. East, snap losing skid behind Murray’s career night