Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Boys' Basketball

Bayless, McCullough, Crews, Johnson earn all-state honors from IPSWA

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Four of the state's top 24 boys' basketball players in Class 4A played for either state champion Ankeny or CIML Central Conference champ Ankeny Centennial, according to the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Senior guard Braxton Bayless of Ankeny and senior forward Cody McCullough of Centennial were both selected to the Class 4A all-state first team … [Read more...] about Bayless, McCullough, Crews, Johnson earn all-state honors from IPSWA

Centennial trio, Ankeny’s Bayless named to Central Conference first team

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team dominated the CIML Central Conference during the regular season. That probably explains why the Jaguars dominated the all-conference teams that were voted on by the league's coaches. Senior forwards Cody McCullough and Micah Johnson as well as junior guard Jaron Crews were all unanimous picks to the first … [Read more...] about Centennial trio, Ankeny’s Bayless named to Central Conference first team

‘Everybody sees us as the underdog’: Hawks prove they’re the class of 4A

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Waukee's length provided a matchup problem for the Ankeny boys' basketball team in Friday's Class 4A championship game. But the Warriors faced some bigger problems of their own--like how to deal with Ankeny's speed and deadly outside shooting. The sixth-seeded Hawks completed an amazing run to the state title by making 10-of-17 3-point shots and … [Read more...] about ‘Everybody sees us as the underdog’: Hawks prove they’re the class of 4A

SOUTHSIDE PRIDE: Hawks soar to their 2nd boys’ basketball state championship

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No doubt about it, the Ankeny boys' basketball team got hot at the right time and never cooled off. The sixth-seeded Hawks completed an amazing run to the Class 4A state title with a 78-70 victory over No. 4 Waukee in the championship game on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena. It's the program's second crown and comes on the 25th anniversary of the first one in … [Read more...] about SOUTHSIDE PRIDE: Hawks soar to their 2nd boys’ basketball state championship

‘We’re not finished yet’: Kumm, Hawks to play CIML rival Waukee for 4A crown

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Ankeny's Jordan Kumm couldn't have picked a better time to break out of his shooting slump. The senior guard went 6-for-9 from 3-point range and scored 18 points to lead the sixth-seeded Hawks to a 71-57 victory over two-time defending champion Cedar Falls in the Class 4A semifinals of the boys' state basketball tournament on Thursday at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about ‘We’re not finished yet’: Kumm, Hawks to play CIML rival Waukee for 4A crown

‘He played a hell of a game’: Bayless overcomes Iowa City West’s early lead

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Iowa City West's Marcus Morgan thought his team had a solid defensive strategy to slow down Ankeny's Braxton Bayless. He quickly discovered that the plan was fruitless. Bayless poured in a career-high 41 points, including 17-of-19 free throws, to lead the sixth-seeded Hawks to a 68-54 victory over No. 3 Iowa City West in the Class 4A quarterfinals of … [Read more...] about ‘He played a hell of a game’: Bayless overcomes Iowa City West’s early lead

‘It’s just another game for me’: Bayless pours in 41, leads Hawks into semifinals

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Braxton Bayless and the Ankeny boys' basketball team will be joining their crosstown rival in the Class 4A semifinals on Thursday night. Bayless poured in a career-high 41 points, including 17-of-19 free throws, to lead the sixth-seeded Hawks to a 68-54 victory over No. 3 Iowa City West in the quarterfinals on Wednesday morning at Wells Fargo Arena. He … [Read more...] about ‘It’s just another game for me’: Bayless pours in 41, leads Hawks into semifinals

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Sophomore forward Ryan Crandall is one of the top reserves for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. He is shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range. Crandall is averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in the Hawks' 73-67 victory over Sioux City East in a Class 4A substate … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 4A quarterfinals

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This could be one of the most wide-open boys' Class 4A state basketball tournaments in recent memory. Top-seeded Ankeny Centennial might be considered a slight favorite to win the crown, but several other teams in the field are legitimate contenders to capture the title, including sixth-seeded Ankeny. When the quarterfinal games get under way on … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 4A quarterfinals

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Nolan Otten, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Senior center Nolan Otten helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team advance to the Class 4A state tournament for the first time since 2012. He had eight points, three rebounds and two steals in the Hawks' 73-67 victory over Sioux City East in a substate final on Tuesday at Fort Dodge. Otten is averaging 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He leads the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Nolan Otten, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Here are some under-the-radar players to look out for in Class 4A tournament

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A lot of eyes will be on Ankeny's Braxton Bayless and Ankeny Centennial's Cody McCullough during next week's boys' Class 4A state basketball tournament. North Scott's Ty Anderson, Iowa City West's Even Brauns and Waukee's Tucker DeVries will also garner plenty of attention at Wells Fargo Arena. Those are just some of the stars who could lead their … [Read more...] about Here are some under-the-radar players to look out for in Class 4A tournament

A brief rundown of the teams in the boys’ Class 4A state tournament field

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Here's a quick look at each of the boys' basketball teams in the Class 4A state tournament: No. 4 seed Waukee (21-2): The Warriors avenged one of their two losses with a 59-55 victory over Valley in a substate final. Waukee boasts two of the state's top players in the Class of 2021, Tucker DeVries and Payton Sandfort, who combined for 39 points in the … [Read more...] about A brief rundown of the teams in the boys’ Class 4A state tournament field

‘It’s just the best feeling ever’: Hawks outlast Sioux City East for trip to state

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Braxton Bayless draped the state qualifier banner around his body and beamed with joy as he pranced around the Fort Dodge gym. The senior guard had just fulfilled a lifelong dream--leading his Ankeny boys' basketball team to the Class 4A state tournament. "It's the best feeling I've had my whole career," said Bayless. "It's just the best feeling … [Read more...] about ‘It’s just the best feeling ever’: Hawks outlast Sioux City East for trip to state

‘They threw a lot of junk at us’: Hawks solve Fort Dodge’s defense in 66-46 win

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The Fort Dodge boys' basketball team tried several different defenses on Friday in an effort to slow down Ankeny star Braxton Bayless. None of them were very successful. Bayless poured in 26 points, 19 of them in the first half, to lead the Hawks to a 66-46 victory in a Class 4A substate semifinal at Ankeny. "They threw a lot of junk at us, but we … [Read more...] about ‘They threw a lot of junk at us’: Hawks solve Fort Dodge’s defense in 66-46 win

Jaguars, Hawks open substate play at home against familiar opponents

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The road to the state tournament begins on Friday night for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams. The top-ranked Jaguars (21-1) will host Des Moines Roosevelt (7-14) in a Class 4A Substate 6 semifinal, while the Hawks (16-5) will host Fort Dodge (3-19) in a Substate 1 semifinal. Both games begin at 7 p.m. Centennial enters the … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks open substate play at home against familiar opponents