Boys’ pairings announced: Hawks to host semifinal; Jaguars to play at S.C. North

Ankeny’s Rio Aguirre shoots a jumper over Valley defender Kiki Deng during the Hawks’ 76-65 loss in their season opener on Dec. 3 at Valley. Aguirre scored a career-high 30 points for the Hawks, who could be headed back to Valley for a Class 4A substate final on March 4 if they can defeat visiting Dallas Center-Grimes or Fort Dodge in a semifinal game on Feb. 28. (Photo by Stephen McDaniel)

The road to the state tournament won’t be an easy one for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball teams.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced its Class 4A substate pairings on Monday. Ankeny was awarded the No. 2 seed in Substate 8, while Centennial received the No. 5 seed in Substate 7.

Ankeny (10-9) will host a substate semifinal against No. 3 Dallas Center-Grimes (15-5) or No. 6 Fort Dodge (4-16) on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. The Hawks posted a 50-48 victory at Dallas Center-Grimes on Jan. 21.

Top-seeded Valley (15-3), the two-time defending Class 4A state champion, will host No. 4 Council Bluffs Lewis Central (12-7) or No. 5 Southeast Polk (7-14) in the other substate semifinal. The highest remaining seed will host the substate final on March 4.

If the seeds hold up, Ankeny would meet Valley in the substate final for the third time this season. The Tigers won the first two meetings, 76-65 and 64-60.

Ankeny Centennial’s Cabryn Klingner shoots a jumper during the Jaguars’ 77-36 loss at Waukee Northwest on Jan. 10. Centennial could be headed back to Waukee Northwest on Feb. 28 for a Class 4A substate semifinal if it can win a quarterfinal game at Sioux City North on Feb. 24. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Centennial, meanwhile, will likely have to win three road games in order to qualify for state. The Jaguars (4-14) will play at No. 4 Sioux City North (9-11) in a substate quarterfinal on Feb. 24.

The winner of that game will play at No. 1 Waukee Northwest (16-3) in a substate semifinal on Feb. 28. The Wolves won both meetings against Centennial during the regular season, 60-38 and 77-36.

No. 2 Sioux City East (16-3) will host No. 3 Des Moines Roosevelt (14-7) or No. 6 Sioux City West (2-18) in the other substate semifinal. The highest remaining seed will host the substate final on March 4.