Last December, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball team suffered through a five-game losing streak and limped into the holiday break with a pedestrian 5-5 record.
With everyone back from that squad, the Jaguars are in a much better position 12 months later.
Fourth-ranked Centennial raised its overall mark to 6-2 by defeating No. 5 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 57-53, in the Johnston Winter Tip Off on Saturday. The Jaguars have won four straight games–none of them on their home court.
“Prairie has a really good team with a lot of balance,” said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. “They’ve got five kids in their lineup that can score a lot of points, so it was a real test for us and a great win. I’m really proud of our kids because we’ve certainly been tested, and we’ve improved a lot since the first game.”
After trailing at halftime, 22-18, the Hawks opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 27-22 lead. But the Jaguars closed to within 36-34 after three quarters, then used a 23-point final period to hand Prairie (7-1) its first loss of the season.
“We were able to chip away at their lead and come back,” DeJong said. “We started making some shots, and we held them. They didn’t make shots, and that was the big thing. Jaeden (Pratt) had some big baskets for us, and we made some free throws down the stretch.”
Pratt led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. She went 2-of-5 from 3-point range.
“I think the key to winning was the rebounding and taking the right shots at the right times,” said Pratt, a senior forward. “We knew what was working and by keeping the ball moving, it was working for us. It was a great win for us going into the break.”
Pratt, an Illinois State recruit, has played some of the best basketball of her career during Centennial’s winning streak. She is averaging 19.3 points and 8.0 boards over the last four contests.
“It’s not just the points,” DeJong said. “It’s the rebounds and the defense, she’s playmaking and getting a lot of assists. Her all-around play and competitiveness is as good as it’s ever been.”
Like she did Friday after scoring a career-high 30 points in a victory at Valley, Pratt called it a team effort.
“I feel like I’m playing good basketball, but I think everyone is as well,” she said. “I’m not satisfied and don’t think I ever will be. There is always something I can be doing better! Everyone is scoring on our team, and it is making it much more fun to be a part of watching my teammates succeed as well. We all want to win. This definitely was a good week, and we are scoring more and more points as a team!”
Sophomore guard Lizzie Beam also played a key role in the win. She scored a career-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench.
“She’s been scoring the ball,” DeJong said. “Prairie has got a really good point guard, and Lizzie was able to guard her. Our bench has been really great. We weren’t very deep last year, but we are this year and it’s a difference maker.”
Centennial’s Mya Crawford was held to 10 points on 1-of-6 shooting, but she still recorded a double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds. She also stuffed the stat sheet with six assists, four steals and a block.
“They were very physical,” DeJong said of the Hawks, “and they had the lane packed so it was difficult to get into the lane. Mya did get to the free-throw line nine times, though.”
Ava Martin chipped in nine points and three steals for the Jaguars. Finley Blackmore added six boards.
Centennial will return to action on Jan. 3 to face its toughest test yet. The Jaguars will host a CIML Conference game against No. 1 Johnston, which is off to an 8-0 start and has won 84 of its last 86 games while winning two of the last three Class 5A championships.
Johnston pulled away in the second half for a 63-38 win over No. 7 Davenport North on Saturday. Freshman Kelli Kalb poured in 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Dragons.
“It’ll be nice to be back home,” DeJong said. “You would think Johnston would miss (Aaliyah) Riley and (Aili) Tanke, but they just haven’t blinked. They’re playing really, really well. It’s possible that they’re even better this year.
“It’ll be a tough task, but I think our kids will be excited for it,” he added.
