With several key returnees, Centennial girls are 9th in 5A preseason rankings

Ankeny Centennial’s Elle Street (right) and Cleao Murray battle for a loose ball during the Jaguars’ loss to Waukee in last year’s Class 5A semifinals. Street and Murray are among several key returning players for Centennial, which is ninth in the Class 5A preseason rankings. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball team is No. 9 in Class 5A in the preseason rankings by the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union.

The Jaguars posted a 16-3 record last season and reached the Class 5A semifinals before losing to eventual champion Waukee. They return several key players from that team, including senior guards Cleao Murray and Elle Street and junior guards Makenna Clark and Averi Porter.

Centennial has also added a talented forward in junior Kennedy White, who started all 20 games for Ames last year. The Jaguars will open their season on Tuesday at Des Moines North.

Johnston, last year’s state runner-up, is No. 1 in the preseason rankings. Rounding out the top five are Waterloo West, Cedar Falls, Iowa City High and Southeast Polk.