Carson Johnson still remembers the feeling he had walking off the court two years ago after his Ankeny boys' basketball team lost to Johnston in the Class 4A quarterfinals. "Losing here my sophomore year, it sucked," Johnson said. "We just wanted to get back here and get a win for so long. Seeing all that hard work pay off is just great." Johnson … [Read more...] about ‘This is just the first one’: Hawks top Dub. Senior, will face No. 1 C.R. Kennedy next
Ex-Jaguar Porter enters transfer portal after freshman season at William Jewell
Former Ankeny Centennial basketball standout Averi Porter is looking for a new home. Porter, a freshman guard for the William Jewell women's team, announced Wednesday on social media that she has entered the transfer portal. "I’d like to thank my teammates for an amazing first year at William Jewell," she tweeted on X. "I will always be grateful for … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Porter enters transfer portal after freshman season at William Jewell
More all-state girls’ basketball honors for Centennial duo, Ankeny’s Williams
The Ankeny Centennial duo of Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt has received all-state girls' basketball honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association along with Ankeny standout Jayla Williams. Crawford, a junior guard, was named to the Class 5A first team. She also earned first-team honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Crawford led the … [Read more...] about More all-state girls’ basketball honors for Centennial duo, Ankeny’s Williams
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 4A quarterfinals
Last week, the Johnston girls' basketball team cruised to the Class 5A championship in Des Moines, capping off a second perfect season in the last three years and winning its third state title in five seasons. Now, it's the boys' turn to take over Wells Fargo Arena. This week, another top-ranked team will try to complete an undefeated campaign in the … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 4A quarterfinals
Ankeny’s Howard, Jacks, Johnson named to academic all-state girls’ hoops team
Ankeny seniors Hannah Howard, Karsen Jacks and Cassie Johnson have been named to the academic all-state girls' basketball team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The trio helped the Hawkettes to a 13-10 record this season. Jacks, a Simpson recruit, has also been selected to play in the IGCA Senior All-Star Classic. The event will be held on April … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Howard, Jacks, Johnson named to academic all-state girls’ hoops team
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 252
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the boys’ state basketball tournament with coach Brandt Carlson and senior guards Carson Johnson and Lio Aguirre of Ankeny. Longtime Ankeny assistant coach Dave Kissinger also breaks down the tournament. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 252
Crawford, Pratt, Williams named all-state by Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association
Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Mya Crawford has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association, while teammate Jaeden Pratt and Jayla Williams of Ankeny were both selected to the second team. Crawford, a junior guard, led the Jaguars to a 14-9 record and a trip to the state tournament. She set a school … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams named all-state by Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Rio Aguirre, Ankeny boys’ basketball
Sophomore guard Rio Aguirre has helped the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 17-6 record. The Hawks will take a seven-game winning streak into this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Aguirre had 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in Ankeny's 64-41 victory over No. 10 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 4A substate final on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Rio Aguirre, Ankeny boys’ basketball
Centennial’s Schermerhorn signs letter of intent to run for Iowa State next year
When Ankeny Centennial distance runner AJ Schermerhorn started his search for a potential college, Iowa State was one of the schools that attracted his interest. Schermerhorn, a three-time state cross country qualifier and a two-time placewinner, eventually signed with the Cyclones. "I had a list of about 15 schools with a range of some I really wanted … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Schermerhorn signs letter of intent to run for Iowa State next year
‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney
Ankeny senior Carson Johnson was determined to end his high school career at the boys' state basketball tournament. His teammates played a huge role in helping him get back to Wells Fargo Arena. Lio Aguirre scored a game-high 22 points, Cash Schoolen had all eight of his points in the first few minutes, and the eighth-ranked Hawks cruised to a 64-41 … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney
‘We just couldn’t get stops’: Jaguars finish at 17-7 after falling to Ankeny boys, 64-41
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team picked a bad night to have its worst offensive performance of the season. The 10th-ranked Jaguars shot just 34.6 percent from the field (18-of-52) and dropped a 64-41 decision to No. 8 Ankeny in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. It was a season-low output for Centennial, which finished … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t get stops’: Jaguars finish at 17-7 after falling to Ankeny boys, 64-41
Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Brandt Carlson, Ankeny boys’ basketball
The Hawks make 11 3-pointers and pull away in the second half to beat crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial and advance to the Class 4A state tournament for the third time in five years. … [Read more...] about Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Brandt Carlson, Ankeny boys’ basketball
Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state
Lio Aguirre made five 3-point goals and scored 22 points, Carson Johnson added 17, and the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 64-41 victory over No. 10 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. The Hawks (17-6) advanced to the state tournament for the third time in five years. … [Read more...] about Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state
‘We were real, real close’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in Class 5A quarterfinals
Waukee girls' basketball coach Dani Franklin-Printy breathed a sigh of relief on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. It's never easy to beat a good team three times, and that's what the fourth-ranked Warriors discovered in the Class 5A quarterfinals against CIML Conference rival Ankeny Centennial. The No. 5 Jaguars overcame a 10-point deficit in the second … [Read more...] about ‘We were real, real close’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in Class 5A quarterfinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 251
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the boys’ substate basketball final with coaches Brandt Carlson of Ankeny and Bob Fontana of Ankeny Centennial and breaks down Centennial's quarterfinal loss to Waukee in the girls' state tournament with Jaguars assistant coach … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 251
‘We fought as hard as we could’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee, 46-44
Scott DeJong will have to wait until next season to earn his 700th career coaching victory. The fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Waukee, 46-44, in the Class 5A quarterfinals of the state tournament on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. The Jaguars finished the season with a 14-9 record. "We fought as hard as … [Read more...] about ‘We fought as hard as we could’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee, 46-44
Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament
A trip to the boys' Class 4A state basketball tournament will be at stake on Tuesday when Ankeny's crosstown rivals meet in the postseason for the first time ever. The Hawks and Jaguars will take the court at Southeast Polk at 7 p.m. for the Substate 8 final. Both teams are looking to advance to Wells Fargo Arena for the third time in five … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament
Centennial’s Kronenberg commits to play for University of Alaska Fairbanks
Ankeny Centennial senior Ava Kronenberg has committed to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, an NCAA Division II progam. The Nanooks are members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Kronenberg helped the Jaguars to a 31-7 record and a second consecutive appearance in the Class 5A semifinals last fall. She recorded 71 kills and 64 … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Kronenberg commits to play for University of Alaska Fairbanks
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ava Martin, Centennial girls’ basketball
Junior guard Ava Martin has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 14-8 record. She scored 10 points on Tuesday as the Jaguars rolled to a 53-25 win over No. 10 Sioux City East in a Class 5A regional final to advance to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Martin is averaging 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ava Martin, Centennial girls’ basketball
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 5A quarterfinals
The players on the court may not be the only people wearing shorts on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. With a forecast calling for a high temperature of 75 degrees, it's not going to feel like girls' state basketball tournament weather in Des Moines. But perhaps the unseasonably warm February day will be appropriate--because the action on the court could be … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 5A quarterfinals