• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

  • Home
  • About
    • Support Us
  • News
    • Podcast
  • Hawks
    • Boys’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Golf
      • Roster
      • Schedule
  • Jaguars
    • Boys’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Golf
      • Roster
      • Schedule

Jaguars topple Iowa City West, will play No. 8 Cedar Falls for state tourney berth

February 25, 2023 by Dan Holm

Ankeny Centennial’s Evan Bryan (right) celebrates with teammate Luke Winkel during the final seconds of Friday’s game against visiting Iowa City West. The duo combined for 47 points as the Jaguars posted a 57-52 win in a Class 4A substate semifinal. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball players were prepared for a battle on Friday night.

The 10th-ranked Jaguars survived their postseason opener, posting a 57-52 win over visiting Iowa City West in a Class 4A substate semifinal.

“I thought we adjusted really well after the first quarter to the physicality of the game,” said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. “They stopped the game twice for blood. There was blood on the floor, (Jack) Kerby had blood, and (Luke) Winkel had blood. It was a physical game.”

Winkel went 12-for-12 at the free-throw line and poured in 26 points, Evan Bryan scored 21, and Centennial moved one win away from a trip to the state tournament. The Jaguars (15-7) will play No. 8 Cedar Falls (16-5) in the substate final on Tuesday at Marshalltown at 8 p.m.

Ankeny Centennial’s Luke Winkel drives to the basket during Friday’s game. Winkel scored 26 points in the Jaguars’ victory. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

“I’m just glad we have the opportunity (to play again),” Fontana said.

Jacob Koch had 18 points to lead Iowa City West (12-10), 12 of them in the fourth quarter. But the Trojans’ top two players–Jack McCaffery and Kareem Earl–were held to a combined 10 points.

“We were well prepared for them defensively,” said Bryan. “We really executed the game plan well and made their two best players uncomfortable all game.”

McCaffery, who was averaging 18 points, was limited to a season-low three points.

“We did an outstanding job on him,” Fontana said. “I rotated three guys on him, and Nick Vaske had the assignment most of the night and did a great job. (Chase) Schutty and (Easton) Pratt also guarded him. I really thought we set the tone with our defense.”

Ankeny Centennial’s Evan Bryan shoots over Iowa City West defender Kareem Earl during Friday’s game. Bryan scored 21 points, 14 of them in the first half, in the Jaguars’ win. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The Trojans jumped out to an early 7-2 lead before Centennial rallied and moved ahead, 12-11, on a 3-point goal by Winkel to end the first quarter. The Jaguars held a 28-20 advantage at halftime.

Bryan had 14 of his points in the first half.

“We had really good ball movement, and we made some big plays,” Fontana said. “Evan hit some big shots early. I was proud of our guys for recognizing who had the hot hand and getting them the ball.”

Centennial extended the margin to 42-28 after three periods. The Jaguars led 50-38 with 1:40 left and appeared to be in control, but Iowa City West then answered with an 11-3 run and closed the gap to 53-49 with 20 seconds to go.

Ankeny Centennial’s Easton Pratt blocks a shot by Iowa City West’s Julian Manson during Friday’s game. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

“We had a couple of turnovers and gave up a couple of offensive rebounds, and they hit three 3-pointers and another basket in those four possessions and cut it to a four-point game,” Fontana said. “But we held on to win, so obviously we feel good about it.”

Bryan, who went 10-of-13 from the field, said he was never worried.

“We knew all we had to do was get the ball in and knock down some free throws,” he said. “The game maybe finished a little closer than we would’ve liked, but a win is a win.”

Centennial made just 3-of-13 shots from behind the arc, but was able to get to the charity stripe, where the Jaguars connected on 16-of-18 attempts. Iowa City West went just 2-of-5 at the line.

“We were able to attack and get some good looks inside the 3-point line,” Fontana said.

Ankeny Centennial’s Chase Schutty hauls in one of his nine rebounds during Friday’s game. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The Jaguars also won the rebounding battle, 33-29. Schutty and Winkel each grabbed 10 boards, and Schutty also had two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Centennial will need another strong effort on the boards against Cedar Falls, which advanced with a 64-56 victory over Dowling Catholic. The Tigers, who overcame a 35-29 deficit, feature a pair of 6-foot-8 players in Dallas Bear and Cade Courbat.

Bear, an Augustana (S.D.) recruit, averages 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. He combined with Courbat for 33 points in Friday’s win.

“They have the two big kids and then they bring a 6-5 guy off the bench who’s a football player,” Fontana said. “It will definitely create some interesting matchups.”

Cedar Falls coach Ryan Schultz is expecting another physical matchup.

“(The Jaguars) are another hard, CIML foe,” Schultz told the Waterloo Courier. “We will have our hands full with a very physical, defensive-minded team.”

Filed Under: Boys' Basketball, Jaguars Tagged With: Bob Fontana, Evan Bryan, Featured

Primary Sidebar

Support Ankeny Fanatic

Recent Posts

  • From Wenatchee to Flint: Ankeny native describes his TBL journey in pro hoops
  • Ankeny Fanatic Rodcast: Episode 11
  • Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA
  • ‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school
  • Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

Find Us on Facebook

Ankeny Fanatic

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017

Categories

  • Hawks
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
        • Roster
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Boys’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Swimming
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Wrestling
  • Jaguars
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Wrestling
  • Top Sports Stories
    • Football
    • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Softball

© 2023 Ankeny Fanatic. All rights reserved.