Savannah Gage and the Ankeny girls’ basketball team have found their mojo.
Gage scored 11 consecutive points over the final 2 minutes 55 seconds and the ninth-ranked Hawkettes held off No. 10 Waukee Northwest, 50-45, in a CIML Conference game on Friday at Ankeny.
The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Ankeny, which had shot just 20.7 percent (18-of-87) while scoring a total of only 56 points in losses to No. 12 Southeast Polk and No. 3 Dowling Catholic.
“We were just in a little bit of a funk, but that happens to every team,” said Gage. “I’m just really glad we’re at where we are right now. We’ll keep working.”
Gage scored 18 points and Jayla Williams added 17 as Ankeny improved to 5-7 in the league and 10-7 overall. Northwest’s records dropped to 4-8 and 7-8.
The Hawkettes, who made 15-of-16 free throws, moved into sole possession of fifth place in the nine-team conference.
“It was great to see the ball go in (the basket) a little bit. Scoring more consistently was our biggest goal,” said Ankeny coach Nate Tobey. “We only made one 3-pointer, but we locked it down from the free-throw line and finished at the rim.”
Williams had 13 of her points in the first half as Ankeny took a 27-25 lead. She had averaged just six points over the previous three games.
“I think we just really found our mojo. It was really only a matter of time,” Gage said. “I think we just found our groove and worked really well together. Jayla really got us going early, and that was huge.”
Williams then made two free throws and a basket during a 10-0 run in the third quarter that gave the Hawkettes a 37-27 advantage.
“I feel like we ran with the ball more and pushed it up the floor,” said Williams, who also had eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. “I think we got them out of motion.”
Northwest battled back, however, and tied the game at 39-39 on a 3-pointer midway through the final period by former Ankeny Centennial player Aliyah Al-Hameed. The Wolves then took a 41-39 lead on a basket by Romey Croatt with 3:33 to go.
That’s when Gage took over for Ankeny. She scored to tie the game, then converted another layup off a steal by Williams to put the Hawkettes ahead, 43-41, with 2:14 remaining.
“I just think our pace was a lot better,” Tobey said. “There were times when our ball movement was really good and even when we weren’t hitting 3s, we were finding people on the perimeter and attacking closeouts really well.”
Northwest tied the game at 43-43 on a basket by Sadie Maas with just under 1 minute left, but Ankeny quickly inbounded the ball and Gage got behind the Wolves’ defense for a go-ahead layup while being intentionally fouled by Al-Hameed. She then made the ensuing free throws to give the Hawkettes a 47-43 lead.
Gage added three more free throws in the final 38 seconds to seal the win.
“It’s definitely a confidence-booster going into this last stretch of the season that is pretty important, so it was a good win,” Gage said.
Ainsley Kiene had nine points in the win. Karsen Jacks added six points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Maas led Northwest with 15 points. Al-Hameed finished with 11.
Ankeny will now have a week off before hosting another conference game against No. 5 Centennial (6-6, 9-7) on Friday. The Jaguars won the first meeting, 50-49, on Dec. 19.
“I think this gives us confidence going into the big games next week and the week after,” Williams said.