Ankeny Fanatic

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Boys' Basketball

Experienced Hawks looking to rebound from last season’s 10-10 campaign

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There won't be any break for Ankeny football standouts Ryan Crandall, JJ Kohl and Braden Simonsen. After helping the Hawks to a runner-up finish in the Class 5A playoffs on the gridiron earlier this month, the trio has made a quick transition to the basketball court. The Ankeny boys' squad will open its season on Friday with a difficult road test at Ames, … [Read more...] about Experienced Hawks looking to rebound from last season’s 10-10 campaign

Changes coming in boys’ and girls’ basketball, bowling, and track and field

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Three recommendations from the joint committees of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union have been recently approved by both boards for boys' and girls' competition in basketball, bowling, and track and field. The IGHSAU Board of Directors unanimously voted the measures through at their July meeting that will … [Read more...] about Changes coming in boys’ and girls’ basketball, bowling, and track and field

‘I believe I can achieve my goals there’: Neyail to play for Impact Academy

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Bentor Neyail's best basketball is still ahead of him. The Ankeny senior is hoping that a year of prep school hoops will help him reach his potential. Neyail has decided to play for Impact Academy in Las Vegas, Nev. He announced his decision via Twitter on Sunday. "What I liked about Impact was how they care about every individual athlete and focus … [Read more...] about ‘I believe I can achieve my goals there’: Neyail to play for Impact Academy

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Bentor Neyail, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Senior forward Bentor Neyail helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 10-10 record this season. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while tying for the team lead in blocks with nine. Neyail scored a career-high 13 points in the Hawks' 66-38 victory over visiting Des Moines Hoover on Feb. 9. He had 10 points in a 68-64 loss at eventual … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Bentor Neyail, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Crews, McAleer, Crandall named to CIML Iowa Conference first team

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For the second straight year, Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball standout Jaron Crews has earned first-team all-conference honors from the coaches in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Crews, a senior guard, was named to the CIML Iowa Conference first team along with Centennial teammate Colin McAleer, a senior forward. Junior forward Ryan Crandall of … [Read more...] about Crews, McAleer, Crandall named to CIML Iowa Conference first team

‘Our guys didn’t back down’: Hawks put up a fight in loss to No. 2 Waukee

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When the Ankeny boys' basketball team suffered a 65-28 loss to Waukee on Dec. 21, the Hawks clearly had a long way to go to compete with one of the state's best squads. Ankeny showed some signs of progress a month later, when the Hawks trailed Waukee by just eight points at halftime before dropping a 65-37 decision. On Tuesday, the Hawks closed the gap … [Read more...] about ‘Our guys didn’t back down’: Hawks put up a fight in loss to No. 2 Waukee

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karson Wehde, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Sophomore forward Karson Wehde helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 10-10 record. He scored six points as the Hawks ended their season with a 74-54 loss to second-ranked Waukee in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Indianola. Wehde averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He placed third on the team with 15 3-point goals, shooting 35.7 … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karson Wehde, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Junior forward Ryan Crandall scored nine points to help the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 48-40 victory over visiting Norwalk in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. He also had 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Crandall leads Ankeny in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.2 points and 7.4 boards. He has also racked up a team-high … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Ankeny boys hold off Norwalk, earn another shot against No. 2 Waukee

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team was ready for the start of postseason play. The defending state champion Hawks jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and then held off visiting Norwalk's rally in the second half to post a 48-40 victory in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. "It relieved some pressure to get that early lead," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys hold off Norwalk, earn another shot against No. 2 Waukee

‘This was big for us’: Crandall, Hawks roll past North in their regular-season finale

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At times this season, the Ankeny boys' basketball team has struggled to find the basket. That wasn't an issue for the Hawks on Friday night. Ryan Crandall poured in 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting and Ankeny rolled to an 84-72 victory at Des Moines North in its final game of the regular season. The Hawks scored more points than they did in their … [Read more...] about ‘This was big for us’: Crandall, Hawks roll past North in their regular-season finale

‘It was kind of like we forgot how to play basketball’: Hawks drubbed by S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team has posted some impressive victories this season. The Hawks have also suffered some disappointing losses. Tuesday's non-conference game at Southeast Polk would fall into the latter category. After jumping out to a 21-14 lead, Ankeny went cold midway through the second quarter and never recovered. The Rams went on a … [Read more...] about ‘It was kind of like we forgot how to play basketball’: Hawks drubbed by S.E. Polk

No. 6 Ames boys extend winning streak to 8 games with victory over Hawks

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The Ames boys' basketball team is one of the hottest squads in the state. The sixth-ranked Little Cyclones extended their winning streak to eight games on Friday with a 56-37 victory at Ankeny. They won the first matchup against the Hawks last month by a similar score, 55-34. "We just couldn't get any shots to fall," said Ankeny coach Brandt Carlson. … [Read more...] about No. 6 Ames boys extend winning streak to 8 games with victory over Hawks

Boys’ Class 4A substate basketball pairings announced

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The boys' Class 4A substate basketball pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial (10-4) has earned a No. 1 seed in Substate 2. The Jaguars will host a semifinal game against Des Moines Lincoln (4-9) or Indianola (13-6) on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. No. 6 Ames (12-3) will host Des Moines … [Read more...] about Boys’ Class 4A substate basketball pairings announced

THE HAMMER AND NEYAIL: Ankeny boys roll to 66-38 victory over Huskies

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If the Ankeny boys' basketball team hopes to make another deep postseason run, then the Hawks need to start building some momentum in the next two weeks. Tuesday's non-conference game against visiting Des Moines Hoover was a huge step in the right direction. Ankeny equaled its best defensive performance of the season in romping to a 66-38 victory over … [Read more...] about THE HAMMER AND NEYAIL: Ankeny boys roll to 66-38 victory over Huskies

Hawks pull away from Roosevelt in 4th quarter, move back to .500 mark

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With the Class 4A postseason pairings to be determined soon, the Ankeny boys' basketball team needs every victory it can get. Coming off a pair of losses to ranked opponents, the Hawks moved back to the .500 mark with a 53-42 win at Des Moines Roosevelt in a non-conference game on Tuesday. They evened their overall mark at 7-7. "We were solid … [Read more...] about Hawks pull away from Roosevelt in 4th quarter, move back to .500 mark

‘We didn’t finish very well’: Hawks falter down stretch in loss at No. 5 Valley

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team went on some mini-runs during Monday's game at Valley. It wasn't enough to offset the fifth-ranked Tigers' longer runs. Valley used an 11-0 spurt in the first half to take a 17-7 lead, then later went on a 17-2 run in the second half to pull away for a 66-44 victory in a CIML non-conference game. "We didn't finish … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t finish very well’: Hawks falter down stretch in loss at No. 5 Valley

Centennial boys outlast Hawks in seesaw battle, clinch share of league crown

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It's a good bet that the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team will be practicing its free throws before Tuesday's game against second-ranked Waukee. The No. 4 Jaguars nearly let Friday's game at Ankeny slip away due to some poor free-throw shooting. They missed all seven of their attempts in the third quarter, which allowed the Hawks to rally from a … [Read more...] about Centennial boys outlast Hawks in seesaw battle, clinch share of league crown

4A postseason assignments announced: Hawks, Jaguars face tough draws

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The road to the state tournament will be a tough one for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams. The Class 4A postseason assignments were announced on Friday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Fourth-ranked Centennial (9-1) has been placed in Substate No. 2, while Ankeny (6-5) has been placed in Substate No. 8. Both … [Read more...] about 4A postseason assignments announced: Hawks, Jaguars face tough draws