Hilton Magic is coming to the Iowa boys' state basketball tournament. Here is a press release from the Iowa High School Athletic Association announcing that its annual hoops tournament will move to Hilton Coliseum in Ames beginning in 2027: A century after playing championships inside State Gym, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and … [Read more...] about IHSAA: Boys’ state basketball tournament will move to Hilton Coliseum in 2027
Winter
Ankeny’s Aguirre named to boys’ Class 4A all-state 2nd team by IBCA and IPSWA
Ankeny boys' basketball standout Rio Aguirre has been named to the Class 4A all-state second team by the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association and the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Aguirre, a junior guard, led the Hawks to a 10-12 record this season. He was earlier a unanimous pick to the CIML Conference first team. Aguirre averaged a team-high … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Aguirre named to boys’ Class 4A all-state 2nd team by IBCA and IPSWA
Ankeny’s Aguirre among 4 unanimous picks to boys’ CIML Conference first team
Ankeny boys' basketball standout Rio Aguirre has been unanimously selected to the CIML Conference first team. Aguirre, a junior guard, led the Hawks to a 10-12 record this season. He averaged a team-high 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game--the only player in Class 4A to average 20, 5 and 5 in those three categories. Aguirre also led his … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Aguirre among 4 unanimous picks to boys’ CIML Conference first team
Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-state honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers
Girls' basketball standouts Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial have earned some more all-state honors along with Ankeny star Jayla Williams. Crawford was a repeat selection to the Class 5A first team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Pratt was named to the Class 5A second team for the third consecutive year, while Williams was … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-state honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers
Crawford again named to 5A 1st team; Two others earn repeat 2nd-team honors
There were a lot of familiar names on the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association's all-state girls' basketball teams that were announced on Monday. Some of the players were named to the same squads for the second year in a row, including senior stars Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial and versatile junior Jayla Williams of Ankeny. Crawford was … [Read more...] about Crawford again named to 5A 1st team; Two others earn repeat 2nd-team honors
Ankeny’s Gage to play alongside Jags’ duo of Crawford, Pratt in Senior All-Star Game
Ankeny's Savannah Gage has been selected to play in the Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star Game along with fellow girls' basketball standouts Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial. The event will be held on Saturday at Cedar Falls. It will consist of a series of six all-star games, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Crawford, Gage and Pratt will all play … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Gage to play alongside Jags’ duo of Crawford, Pratt in Senior All-Star Game
Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-CIML Conference first-team honors for 2nd time
Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball stars Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt have been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny standout Jayla Williams. Crawford was a unanimous pick for the second straight year, while Williams was again a repeat selection. Pratt also earned first-team honors for the second time; she was previously honored as … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-CIML Conference first-team honors for 2nd time
‘Tremendous’ four-year run for Centennial seniors ends with loss to potent Dragons
Scott DeJong stood in the media interview room in the bowels of Wells Fargo Arena and beamed with pride even though the season had just ended for his Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. "It's just been a tremendous run with these guys," DeJong said of his nine seniors. "They're my type of team. They play hard, they compete, and they work together. … [Read more...] about ‘Tremendous’ four-year run for Centennial seniors ends with loss to potent Dragons
‘There’s no margin for error’: Jaguars fall to No. 1 Johnston in Class 5A semifinals
The fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team ended its season on Thursday with a 61-42 loss to No. 1 Johnston in the semifinals of the Class 5A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mya Crawford and Ava Martin each had 13 points for the Jaguars, who finished the season at 17-8. Jaeden Pratt added six points and seven rebounds. "I was … [Read more...] about ‘There’s no margin for error’: Jaguars fall to No. 1 Johnston in Class 5A semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 297
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the girls' Class 5A state basketball tournament with coach Scott DeJong and senior forward Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 297
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Ava Martin, Ankeny Centennial senior
The guard makes her first six shots from 3-point range and ties a career-high with 20 points to lead the Jaguars to a 51-47 win over Pleasant Valley in a Class 5A quarterfinal. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Ava Martin, Ankeny Centennial senior
‘Ava was awesome!’: Hot-shooting Martin leads Centennial girls past No. 5 Spartans
Ava Martin has been a prolific scorer on the pitch for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The Missouri Western soccer recruit showed on Monday that she can find the net on the basketball court, too. The senior guard made her first six shots from 3-point range and tied her career-high with 20 points to lead fourth-ranked Centennial to a 51-47 … [Read more...] about ‘Ava was awesome!’: Hot-shooting Martin leads Centennial girls past No. 5 Spartans
Jaguars hold off Pleasant Valley, will play No. 1 Johnston in Thursday’s semifinals
Ava Martin tied her career-high with 20 points and the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team posted a 51-47 victory over No. 5 Pleasant Valley in a Class 5A quarterfinal on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt each scored 10 points and dished out five assists for the Jaguars (17-7), who built a 20-point lead late in … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Pleasant Valley, will play No. 1 Johnston in Thursday’s semifinals
‘What we tried didn’t work’: Cason scores school-record 46, leads DC-G past Hawks
The Ankeny boys' basketball team was hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Valley, the two-time defending Class 4A state champion. But Dallas Center-Grimes senior guard Kyle Cason had plenty of motivation to play the Tigers, too. The Valley transfer scored a school-record 46 points on 13-of-19 shooting to lead the Mustangs to a 76-69 … [Read more...] about ‘What we tried didn’t work’: Cason scores school-record 46, leads DC-G past Hawks
FROSH PHENOMS: Johnson, Winkel named to all-conference first team
Ankeny natives Carson Johnson and Luke Winkel have both been named to the all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference first team, the league office announced on Thursday. They were the only two freshmen among the 12 men's basketball players on the first team. Johnson, a former Ankeny star, earned the honor despite playing in only 17 games for MSU Moorhead … [Read more...] about FROSH PHENOMS: Johnson, Winkel named to all-conference first team
Ankeny senior Shaw bowls 548 series, places 22nd in Class 3A state tournament
Ankeny's Johanna Shaw earned a 22nd-place finish in the girls' Class 3A state bowling tournament on Wednesday at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo. Shaw, a senior at Ankeny Christian Academy, became the first Ankeny girl to qualify for state as an individual since Emma Bryant and Brianna Payton both advanced in 2012. "This year was her first year of high school … [Read more...] about Ankeny senior Shaw bowls 548 series, places 22nd in Class 3A state tournament
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 296
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the boys' substate basketball tournaments with coach Brandt Carlson of Ankeny and senior Sean Tunks and coach Bob Fontana of Ankeny Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 296
‘That’s really been the story of our season’: Ankeny’s late rally falls short at No. 3 NW
The Ankeny girls' basketball team is still looking to get over the hump. The 14th-ranked Hawkettes ended their season on Tuesday with a 43-37 loss at No. 3 Waukee Northwest, which closed out the game with a 9-3 run. Ankeny lost in a Class 5A regional final for the fifth straight year. The last four losses have come by a total of 15 points. "We just … [Read more...] about ‘That’s really been the story of our season’: Ankeny’s late rally falls short at No. 3 NW
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kash Johnson, Ankeny wrestling
Sophomore Kash Johnson helped the Ankeny wrestling team to a 12th-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament last week at Wells Fargo Arena. The Hawks scored a total of 80.5 points. Johnson was one of four placewinners for the squad, earning an eighth-place finish at 150 pounds. He finished the season with a 26-19 record. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kash Johnson, Ankeny wrestling
Hawkettes earn another shot at Waukee Northwest by rolling past Sioux City East
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) As soon as the light turned green, the Ankeny girls' basketball team slammed its foot down on the gas and the Hawkettes never bothered to look back. Ankeny turned in one of its best games of the season to open up postseason play as the 14th-ranked Hawkettes posted a 66-14 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 5A … [Read more...] about Hawkettes earn another shot at Waukee Northwest by rolling past Sioux City East