Ankeny Fanatic

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Boys' Basketball

Talented Hawks look to become ‘most unselfish team in state’

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There's a lot of excitement around this year's Ankeny boys' basketball team. The Hawks are coming off an 8-15 season a year ago, but that record is deceiving. The team got off to a 1-10 start that included six losses by five points or less, three of them in overtime. Ankeny went 6-4 to close out the regular season, then posted a 48-46 victory at Ames in a … [Read more...] about Talented Hawks look to become ‘most unselfish team in state’

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ben Lyon, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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  Ben Lyon is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The senior wing helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to an 8-15 record this season. Lyon averaged 10.7 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game. He also led the Hawks in assists (3.5) and blocks (2.2). Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ben Lyon, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Locure scores 36 points, leads North boys to win over Hawks

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If the Des Moines North boys' basketball team continues to play like it did on Friday night, the Polar Bears may have a good chance to cut down the nets in two weeks at Wells Fargo Arena. Tyreke Locure poured in 36 points to lead North to an 87-73 victory over visiting Ankeny in a Class 4A substate semifinal. The Polar Bears (20-3) will play Johnston … [Read more...] about Locure scores 36 points, leads North boys to win over Hawks

Ankeny boys edge Little Cyclones in substate thriller

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Overcoming adversity has become a way of life for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The Hawks, who got off to a 1-10 start this season, avenged two of those losses with a 48-46 victory at Ames in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Monday. They rallied from an early 10-point deficit despite playing without sophomore forward Nolan Otten, who tripped at his … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys edge Little Cyclones in substate thriller

Hawks, Jaguars to begin postseason play with rematches

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The boys' basketball postseason gets under way for the Class 4A teams on Monday night. Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will face a rematch in the quarterfinal round. The third-seeded Jaguars (13-8) host sixth-seeded Des Moines Lincoln (5-17) at 7 p.m. The Railsplitters have lost 10 of their last 11 games, including a 66-52 decision at Centennial in the … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars to begin postseason play with rematches

Hawks ‘run out of gas’ in loss to Dowling Catholic

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In its regular-season finale, the Ankeny boys' basketball team showed just how dangerous the Hawks can be during postseason play. Visiting Dowling Catholic also demonstrated its potential to be a contender for the Class 4A state title. Ankeny made five 3-point goals while jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first half before the Maroons rallied … [Read more...] about Hawks ‘run out of gas’ in loss to Dowling Catholic

Carlson’s late 3-point goal lifts Hawks to win over Lincoln

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When the Ankeny boys' basketball team needed a bucket on Tuesday night, the Hawks got the rock in the hands of Dillon Carlson. The junior sharpshooter responded to the challenge nearly every time. After scoring a basket at the end of the first and second quarters, Carlson saved his most dramatic buzzer-beater for last. He made a 3-point goal with about … [Read more...] about Carlson’s late 3-point goal lifts Hawks to win over Lincoln

Valley boys hold off Hawks, earn share of conference title

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A huge second quarter lifted the Valley boys' basketball team to a 68-60 victory over visiting Ankeny on Friday, allowing the Tigers to share the CIML Central Conference title with Waukee. Valley outscored Ankeny in the second quarter, 24-10, to build a 35-24 lead at halftime. The Hawks pulled to within six points in the second half, but could not get any … [Read more...] about Valley boys hold off Hawks, earn share of conference title

Ankeny boys lose Crews to knee injury, then fall to Roughriders

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Jaron Crews walked out of the locker room on crutches after Tuesday's game at Des Moines Roosevelt. It was that kind of night for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. Crews, a freshman forward, was helped off the court after injuring his right knee midway through the fourth quarter. The Roughriders then outscored Ankeny the rest of the way, 11-5, to post … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys lose Crews to knee injury, then fall to Roughriders

Hawks knock off Waukee, prevent Warriors from clinching conference title

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A week ago, the Ankeny boys' basketball team knocked Ankeny Centennial out of a first-place tie in the CIML Central Conference. On Friday, the Hawks prevented Waukee from clinching at least a tie for the league title, helping their crosstown rival in the process. Dillon Carlson scored 19 points, including four late free throws to seal the victory, as … [Read more...] about Hawks knock off Waukee, prevent Warriors from clinching conference title

Hawks fall to Fort Dodge in preview of potential substate matchup

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A four-game winning streak put the Ankeny boys' basketball team into position to possibly host a first-round game in next month's Class 4A substate tournament. The final 5 minutes of Tuesday's CIML non-conference game against visiting Fort Dodge probably negated all of those wins. The Dodgers used a 19-5 run to rally for a 65-61 victory that likely had … [Read more...] about Hawks fall to Fort Dodge in preview of potential substate matchup

Hawks blow big lead, then recover to beat Centennial despite Strait’s 32 points

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The inexperienced Ankeny boys' basketball team appears to be growing up in a hurry. After blowing a 21-point lead in Friday's game at Ankeny Centennial, the Hawks made several big plays down the stretch and then held on for a 56-52 victory over their crosstown rival. The win was Ankeny's fourth in a row and avenged last month's 55-52 loss to the … [Read more...] about Hawks blow big lead, then recover to beat Centennial despite Strait’s 32 points

Boys’ basketball substate assignments announced

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Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams could be facing some familiar opponents during postseason play. The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced its Class 4A substate assignments on Friday. Centennial has been placed in Substate No. 7 along with Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Marshalltown, Urbandale and Valley, … [Read more...] about Boys’ basketball substate assignments announced

Ankeny teams enter Friday’s rematch at Centennial with plenty of confidence

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If Friday's basketball doubleheader at Ankeny Centennial is as entertaining as last month's rivalry games at Ankeny, then fans of the Hawks and Jaguars will be in for a treat. Both the girls' and boys' games came down to the last possession on Dec. 21, when Centennial posted a pair of narrow wins. The Jaguars escaped with a 43-41 victory in the opener as … [Read more...] about Ankeny teams enter Friday’s rematch at Centennial with plenty of confidence

Ankeny boys romp to their 3rd straight victory, keep Scarlets winless

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If the Ankeny boys' basketball team wants to qualify for the Class 4A state tournament, the Hawks are going to have to win three consecutive games during postseason play. Now they know they're capable of doing just that. Ankeny built a 30-17 halftime lead and rolled to a 67-51 victory at Des Moines East in a CIML non-conference game on Tuesday. It was … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys romp to their 3rd straight victory, keep Scarlets winless

Ankeny boys roll past Rams for their second straight victory

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After ending an eight-game losing skid, the Ankeny boys' basketball team is suddenly on a winning streak. The Hawks earned their second straight victory on Friday by defeating visiting Southeast Polk, 66-52, in a CIML Central Conference game. It was the first league win for Ankeny, which avenged an earlier overtime loss to the Rams. "It was fun," said … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys roll past Rams for their second straight victory

Otten returns from injury, helps Hawks end losing skid with win over Mason City

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For the first time in six weeks, the Ankeny boys' basketball players finally got to celebrate a victory on Tuesday. Dillon Carlson poured in 22 points as the Hawks snapped an eight-game losing skid with a 63-53 win over visiting Mason City in a CIML non-conference contest. "We definitely needed it," Carlson said. "It was a long losing streak, but I … [Read more...] about Otten returns from injury, helps Hawks end losing skid with win over Mason City