The top-ranked Johnston girls’ basketball team moved closer to the CIML Conference title on Friday with a 64-62 victory at No. 2 Dowling Catholic.
The Dragons overcame a 32-27 halftime deficit and a game-high 34 points from Dowling’s Ava Zediker to extend their winning streak to 41 games. Ari Phillips led the way with 21 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 5.1 seconds left.
Johnston can wrap up the league crown by winning two of its last three games. The Dragons still have to play eighth-place Valley twice.
The No. 2 Valley boys’ squad also took a big step toward the conference championship on Friday. The Tigers posted a 79-53 win over Urbandale, while No. 6 Waukee Northwest used a big fourth-quarter rally to beat No. 5 Waukee, 67-64.
The Wolves outscored Waukee in the final period, 22-8, to avenge an earlier loss. The Warriors fell a game and a half behind Valley in the league race.
Here are the current CIML Conference standings:
GIRLS
Johnston 13-0 15-0
Dowling Catholic 10-2 14-3
Waukee Northwest 11-3 13-3
Ankeny Centennial 6-5 10-5
Southeast Polk 4-7 6-9
Waukee 4-8 8-9
Ankeny 4-8 7-9
Valley 3-10 5-12
Urbandale 0-12 3-13
Tuesday’s scores
Ankeny 54, Dallas Center-Grimes 33
Ankeny Centennial 58, Valley 41
Dowling Catholic 65, Waukee 55
Johnston 71, Urbandale 34
Waukee Northwest 53, Southeast Polk 42
Friday’s scores
Johnston 64, Dowling Catholic 62
Southeast Polk 49, Ankeny 48
Valley 58, Urbandale 43
Waukee Northwest 53, Waukee 44
Saturday’s scores
Ankeny Centennial 60, North Polk 40
Davenport North 68, Valley 46
Dowling Catholic 82, Papillion-La Vista South (Neb.) 41
Iowa City Liberty 63, Waukee 55
Monday’s game
Indianola at Ankeny
Tuesday’s game
Pella at Southeast Polk
Friday’s games
Ankeny at Dowling Catholic
Ankeny Centennial at Waukee
Southeast Polk at Urbandale
Valley at Johnston
Saturday’s games
Ankeny Centennial at Ames
Waukee at Council Bluffs Lincoln
BOYS
Valley 11-1 12-2
Waukee 9-2 10-3
Waukee Northwest 9-3 13-3
Dowling Catholic 7-4 10-4
Johnston 7-6 8-7
Ankeny 4-6 6-7
Urbandale 3-8 4-9
Southeast Polk 1-10 5-10
Ankeny Centennial 0-11 2-11
Monday’s score
Waukee Northwest 95, Bellevue (Neb.) West 64
Tuesday’s scores
Ankeny 50, Dallas Center-Grimes 48
Urbandale 43, Johnston 41
Valley 65, Ankeny Centennial 49
Waukee 62, Dowling Catholic 57
Waukee Northwest 69, Southeast Polk 49
Friday’s scores
Ankeny Centennial 80, Dallas Center-Grimes 49
Dowling Catholic 49, Johnston 46
Southeast Polk 74, Ankeny 36
Valley 79, Urbandale 53
Waukee Northwest 67, Waukee 64
Monday’s game
Indianola at Ankeny
Friday’s games
Ankeny at Dowling Catholic
Ankeny Centennial at Waukee
Southeast Polk at Urbandale
Valley at Johnston
Saturday’s games
Ankeny Centennial at Des Moines Lincoln
Waukee at Council Bluffs Lincoln