Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Boys' Basketball

Johnson, Winkel are repeat selections to CIML Conference first team

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Senior guards Carson Johnson of Ankeny and Luke Winkel of Ankeny Centennial were both repeat selections to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' basketball coaches. They were both unanimous picks. Johnson led the Hawks to an 18-7 record and a trip to the Class 4A semifinals. He was the second-leading scorer in Class 4A with an … [Read more...] about Johnson, Winkel are repeat selections to CIML Conference first team

Cougars contain Johnson with trapping defense, advance to Class 4A title game

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Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' basketball coach Jon McKowen refused to let Ankeny's Carson Johnson beat his team. The strategy proved to be effective. The top-ranked Cougars used a trapping defense to hold Johnson to nine points on 4-of-13 shooting and posted a 63-51 victory in the Class 4A semifinals on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. "We press every … [Read more...] about Cougars contain Johnson with trapping defense, advance to Class 4A title game

‘I was really proud of our fight’: Hawks’ rally falls short against C.R. Kennedy

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team closed out the season on Thursday with a 63-51 loss to top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Class 4A semifinals at Wells Fargo Arena. The loss ended an eight-game winning streak for the Hawks, who finished with an 18-7 record. "I was really proud of our fight. I thought we won the last three quarters ultimately, but … [Read more...] about ‘I was really proud of our fight’: Hawks’ rally falls short against C.R. Kennedy

An all-CIML final? Here are Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for 4A semifinals

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And now we're down to the Final Four. There wasn't much drama in the Class 4A quarterfinals on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena, where the four games were decided by an average of 12.5 points. The last two games ended up with single-digit margins, but Valley and Bettendorf both held on to win after once leading by 15 and 19 points, respectively. So … [Read more...] about An all-CIML final? Here are Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for 4A semifinals

‘This is just the first one’: Hawks top Dub. Senior, will face No. 1 C.R. Kennedy next

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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

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

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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

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Rio Aguirre, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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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

‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney

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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

Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state

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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

Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament

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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

Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The crowd was loud and the stakes were high as the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team hosted Iowa City Liberty in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. Liberty had won five of its last six games and was looking to continue that hot streak and move closer to the state tournament, but Carson Johnson and the Hawks had … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

Johnson, Hawks outduel Born, Norwalk to close out regular season at 15-6

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team finally got a defensive stop Monday when the Hawks needed it the most. Norwalk's Redek Born came up short on a 3-point shot at the buzzer and eighth-ranked Ankeny held on for a 66-64 victory over the visiting Warriors in a non-conference game to close out the regular season. Born, who finished with 39 points on 11-of-19 … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks outduel Born, Norwalk to close out regular season at 15-6

Rubber match?: Ankeny, Centennial boys are top 2 seeds in Class 4A Substate 8

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams finally learned their postseason assignments on Monday. The crosstown rivals may have to play each other for a trip to the state tournament. After moving into the No. 8 spot in the final Class 4A rankings, Ankeny (14-6) was awarded the No. 1 seed in Substate 8 by the Iowa High School Athletic … [Read more...] about Rubber match?: Ankeny, Centennial boys are top 2 seeds in Class 4A Substate 8

‘I knew we could get this one’: Hawks stun No. 3 Valley with late 10-0 run

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The Valley boys' basketball team had a chance to clinch at least a tie for the CIML Conference title on Friday. But visiting Ankeny had a lot to play for, too. The Hawks scored the final 10 points of the game over the last 3 minutes 53 seconds to post a 76-72 victory over third-ranked Valley, knocking off the defending Class 4A state champions and … [Read more...] about ‘I knew we could get this one’: Hawks stun No. 3 Valley with late 10-0 run

‘There’s not a lot of time to waste’: Hawks roll past Urbandale for 3rd straight win

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A huge second quarter lifted the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 76-39 win at Urbandale on Tuesday. The Hawks outscored Urbandale in the second period, 30-7, to build a 46-18 halftime lead. They then cruised to their third consecutive victory--all of them in the last five days. "We shot the ball well again, so that was two nights in a row," said … [Read more...] about ‘There’s not a lot of time to waste’: Hawks roll past Urbandale for 3rd straight win