A couple of fast starts helped the Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball team to back-to-back victories over Urbandale and Des Moines Roosevelt in a span of 24 hours.
The fourth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 25-3 lead at the end of the first quarter and rolled to a 66-32 win at Urbandale on Friday. They then raced out to an early 22-6 advantage in Saturday’s non-conference game at Des Moines Roosevelt en route to a 75-35 triumph.
“We did get off to good starts,” said Centennial coach Scott DeJong, whose team is now 2-2 in the CIML Conference and 4-2 overall. “We got a lot of kids in, and we scored the ball and shot a good percentage each game. Our offense the last three games, including the Dowling (Catholic loss on Tuesday), has been improving. It was a good confidence-builder this week.”
Centennial built a 45-10 halftime advantage in Friday’s game, putting the running clock into effect for much of the second half. The J-Hawks, who dropped to 0-4 in the league and 1-5 overall, have lost four straight contests by an average of 36 points.
Mya Crawford scored 18 points to lead the Jaguars, going 5-of-6 from the field and 7-of-7 at the free-throw line. Jaeden Pratt had nine points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Finley Blackmore also had nine points, while reserves Maclaine Kelly and Kylin Smith each contributed six. Kelly made two of the team’s seven 3-point goals.
Ava Martin had five points and four steals. Rylyn Boeding, another reserve, added four points and eight rebounds.
“The balance is good to see,” DeJong said. “Mya hasn’t made enough of her free throws, but I don’t think she’s missed the last two games. And to get that playmaking ability from her and Jaeden is a good, good sign. The assists grow when other kids are making shots.”
On Saturday, Pratt poured in a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the win over Roosevelt (1-4). She went 10-of-12 from the field.
Crawford had 14 points, while Blackmore went 3-of-4 from 3-point range and chipped in a season-high 11. Lizzie Beam tied her career-high with 10.
“I think we were 8-of-16 from 3, so we’re definitely capable of scoring from the outside,” DeJong said. “We just need to be more consistent.”
The Jaguars will be off until they play a conference game at No. 15 Valley on Friday. The Tigers (1-4, 1-4) have lost four straight games since opening the season with a 60-45 win on Nov. 26 against Waukee, which is currently ranked No. 10.
“They’re certainly capable,” said DeJong, whose team will then play No. 5 Cedar Rapids Prairie (5-0) in the Johnston Invitational on Saturday. “We have two tough games this week, and we’re looking to finish out the first half of the season strong. Hopefully, that happens.”
