Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny’s Jayla Williams goes up for a shot during the Hawkettes’ 66-59 win at Waukee on Jan. 20. Williams has been named to the CIML Conference first team for the third consecutive year after leading Ankeny to a semifinal appearance in the Class 5A tournament. She was also a unanimous selection. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Ankeny girls’ basketball star Jayla Williams has been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny Centennial standout Lizzie Beam.

Williams was a first-team pick for the third consecutive year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. She was also a unanimous selection.

Williams, a senior guard, led the Hawkettes to a semifinal appearance in the Class 5A tournament in the program’s first trip to state since 2013. She was named to the all-tournament team.

Williams led Ankeny in scoring (21.0 points per game), steals (3.6) and blocks (1.1). The Creighton recruit broke the school’s career (1,419) and single-season (524) scoring records.

Ankeny Centennial’s Lizzie Beam shoots around Dowling Catholic defender Katie Muller during the Jaguars’ loss at Dowling on Jan. 27. Beam has been named to the CIML Conference first team after leading Centennial to a 12-12 record and a trip to the Class 5A tournament. Muller was among the other first-team picks. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Beam, a junior guard, led Centennial to a 12-12 record. The Jaguars advanced to the state tournament for the sixth straight year.

Beam averaged a team-high 17.0 points. She also led Centennial with 30 3-point goals, 41 steals and 11 blocks.

Senior guard Ainsley Kiene of Ankeny was a repeat selection to the all-conference second team. She helped Ankeny to a 16-9 mark, equaling the team’s most wins since the split into two high schools.

Kiene averaged 9.0 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds. The Midland University (Neb.) commit also led the Hawkettes with 82 assists.

Kiene was joined on the second team by Ankeny teammate Ali Aguirre. Fellow freshman Faith Perpich of Centennial was also a second-team pick.

Ankeny’s Ali Aguirre (left) is congratulated by teammate Ainsley Kiene after scoring a basket during the Hawkettes’ 65-46 victory over visiting Valley on Dec. 2. Both Aguirre and Kiene have been named to the CIML Conference second team by a vote of the league’s coaches. Kiene was a repeat selection. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Aguirre, a forward, averaged 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds. She made 30 3-pointers.

Perpich, a guard, averaged 10.0 points and 3.8 boards. She led the Jaguars with 49 assists and was also the squad’s best free-throw shooter, making 60-of-78 attempts (76.9 percent).

Seniors Reagan Baldwin of Ankeny and Rylyn Boeding of Centennial were both selected to the third team.

Baldwin, a forward, averaged 8.0 points and was the Hawkettes’ best 3-point shooter, making 58-of-136 attempts from behind the arc (42.6 percent). She will play for Waldorf.

Ankeny Centennial’s Rylyn Boeding converts a layup during the Jaguars’ loss to Johnston in the Class 5A quarterfinals on March 2 at the Casey’s Center. Boeding has been named to the CIML Conference third team. (Photo by Scott Byers)

Boeding, a forward, averaged 8.5 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds. She shot 45.4 percent from the field (59-of-130).

Three other players earned all-conference honorable mention, including senior guard Kyla Schaapveld of Ankeny, who was a repeat pick. She will play for Central College.

Senior guard Mylie Hatfield and sophomore forward Lydia Michel of Centennial also received honorable mention.

Class 5A state champion Johnston and Dowling Catholic each had two unanimous first-team selections. The Dragons were represented by senior guard Jenica Lewis and sophomore guard Kelli Kalb, while the Maroons landed senior forward Ellie Muller and junior guard Katie Muller on the squad.

Junior forward Ari Phillips of Johnston was also named to the first team along with junior guard Tylee Weite of Valley and two players from Class 5A runner-up Waukee Northwest, senior guard Vana Bilic and junior guard Romey Croatt.