CIML Conference basketball standings

Ankeny Centennial’s Mya Crawford sets up the Jaguars’ offense during a game on Dec. 6 at Ankeny. She scored 15 points in Centennial’s 44-33 victory. The Hawkettes will travel to Centennial on Tuesday for a rematch against the Jaguars. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

This will be a big week for the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball team.

The Jaguars are sitting in fourth place in the CIML Conference with a 3-3 record. They trail the top three teams in Class 5A–Johnston, Dowling Catholic and Waukee Northwest–and are followed closely by four other squads in the middle of the pack.

Centennial will host a rematch against crosstown rival Ankeny on Tuesday before traveling to Waukee Northwest on Friday for a showdown against the Wolves, who posted a 48-47 win at Centennial on Dec. 3. With a pair of victories, the Jaguars would move closer to the top of the standings while putting some separation between themselves and the teams chasing them.

In the CIML boys’ race, two of the three teams with just one loss in league play will collide on Tuesday when Waukee visits Johnston. The Warriors have won five straight games since dropping two in a row, including a 63-43 loss to Johnston on Dec. 6.

Two-time defending Class 4A state champion Valley also has just one loss in conference play. The Tigers have remained in the thick of the race despite playing without star guard Zay Robinson, who returned to the team’s lineup on Saturday and scored 30 points in a 73-57 loss to unbeaten Cedar Falls in the CIML/MVC Crossover event at Cedar Rapids.

Here are the current CIML Conference standings:

GIRLS

Johnston 7-0 9-0

Dowling Catholic 5-1 7-2

Waukee Northwest 6-2 8-2

Ankeny Centennial 3-3 6-3

Waukee 3-4 6-4

Southeast Polk 2-3 4-5

Ankeny 2-5 4-6

Valley 2-5 3-6

Urbandale 0-7 1-8

Monday’s games

Ames at Urbandale

Dowling Catholic at Southeast Polk

Tuesday’s games

Ankeny at Ankeny Centennial

Southeast Polk at Valley

Urbandale at Waukee Northwest

Waukee at Johnston

Friday’s games

Ankeny Centennial at Waukee Northwest

Johnston at Southeast Polk

Urbandale at Dowling Catholic

Valley at Ankeny

Saturday’s games

Cedar Rapids Washington at Waukee

Dowling Catholic vs. Bishop Heelan at Ballard

Valley at Ballard

Ankeny’s Kael Roush defends Ankeny Centennial’s Cabryn Klingner during a game on Dec. 6 at Ankeny. The Hawks posted a 58-48 victory and will look to sweep the season series on Tuesday when they travel to Centennial for a rematch against the Jaguars. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

BOYS

Johnston 6-1 7-2

Valley 5-1 6-2

Waukee 5-1 6-2

Waukee Northwest 4-2 6-2

Dowling Catholic 3-2 6-2

Ankeny 2-3 3-4

Urbandale 1-5 1-5

Southeast Polk 0-5 3-5

Ankeny Centennial 0-6 1-6