This was the Ankeny girls' basketball team that was eighth in Class 5A in the preseason rankings and moved up to sixth after a 4-0 start. The now-No. 15 Hawkettes overcame an early nine-point deficit to beat No. 8 Waukee, 57-45, in a CIML Conference game on Tuesday at Ankeny. It was the second straight win for coach Nate Tobey's squad following a … [Read more...] about ‘They were having fun out there’: Ankeny girls avenge earlier loss to No. 8 Waukee
Girls' Basketball
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Jayla Williams, Ankeny junior
The standout guard scores a game-high 22 points to lead the Hawkettes to a 57-45 victory over No. 8 Waukee for their biggest win of the season. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Jayla Williams, Ankeny junior
CIML Conference basketball standings
Only one loss separates the top five boys' basketball teams in the CIML Conference, but the upcoming week should help differentiate the contenders from the pretenders. Second-ranked Valley leads the logjam at the top of the league standings with a 7-1 record. The Tigers are followed closely by No. 8 Waukee (6-1), No. 5 Johnston (7-2), No. 3 Waukee … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Gage surpasses 1,000-point milestone, leads Ankeny past Tigers to end skid
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Over the course of her career, Savannah Gage has scored countless baskets and accumulated many points in the process. But her 14 points on Friday night gave the Ankeny girls' basketball team more than one reason to celebrate. Gage not only helped the 15th-ranked Hawkettes snap a seven-game losing streak in a 52-49 win over … [Read more...] about Gage surpasses 1,000-point milestone, leads Ankeny past Tigers to end skid
‘It felt so relieving’: Smith’s late 3-pointers seal Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny girls
The shots weren't falling on Tuesday night for Tillie Smith. But her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad told her to keep shooting, and the advice paid off. The senior guard made just 2-of-9 shots from the field and went 2-of-8 from behind the arc, but she connected on a pair of 3-point goals in the final 3 minutes as the … [Read more...] about ‘It felt so relieving’: Smith’s late 3-pointers seal Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny girls
CIML Conference basketball standings
This will be a big week for the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The Jaguars are sitting in fourth place in the CIML Conference with a 3-3 record. They trail the top three teams in Class 5A--Johnston, Dowling Catholic and Waukee Northwest--and are followed closely by four other squads in the middle of the pack. Centennial will … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
No. 3 Wolves use fast start to hand Ankeny girls their 6th consecutive loss
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The new year has arrived, and the Ankeny girls' basketball team is still working on righting the ship following its 4-0 start to the season. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes looked to snap the five-game losing skid that they ended 2024 with, but a road matchup against No. 3 Waukee Northwest on Friday ended with a 70-49 loss that … [Read more...] about No. 3 Wolves use fast start to hand Ankeny girls their 6th consecutive loss
CIML Conference basketball standings
The CIML Conference boys' basketball race is shaping up to be a tremendous battle. Only one loss separates the top five teams in the league standings. Co-leaders Johnston and Valley, who have yet to meet, are both 5-1 heading into the holiday break with Waukee a half-game behind at 4-1. The Dragons' only loss came to Waukee Northwest, but the Wolves … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Cold-shooting Ankeny girls tumble to Cedar Falls for 5th consecutive loss
The holiday break is coming at a good time for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes suffered their fifth straight loss on Thursday, dropping a 41-37 decision to visiting Cedar Falls. Junior guard Karis Finley, a Drake recruit, scored 16 points as the No. 10 Tigers (6-2) won their third consecutive game. "We just played five … [Read more...] about Cold-shooting Ankeny girls tumble to Cedar Falls for 5th consecutive loss
After trailing by 18 points, Hawkettes’ furious rally falls just short at S.E. Polk
A dramatic rally by the Ankeny girls' basketball team came up just short on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes nearly overcame an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter before No. 14 Southeast Polk held on for a 61-55 victory in a CIML Conference matchup. The Rams improved to 2-2 in the league and 3-3 overall, while Ankeny's records … [Read more...] about After trailing by 18 points, Hawkettes’ furious rally falls just short at S.E. Polk
Waukee girls use big 3rd quarter to hand No. 6 Hawkettes their 3rd straight loss
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After starting off the season with a 4-0 record, a three-game losing streak wasn’t what the Ankeny girls' basketball team was hoping for heading into its final two contests of 2024. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes had a chance to get back into the win column in a top-10 matchup against No. 10 Waukee, but a cold stretch coming out … [Read more...] about Waukee girls use big 3rd quarter to hand No. 6 Hawkettes their 3rd straight loss
No. 1 Johnston girls extend their winning streak to 30 games with victory at Ankeny
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny girls' basketball team is getting some big tests in December, and none was bigger than Tuesday night's. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes were tasked with trying to snap the 29-game winning streak of reigning Class 5A state champion Johnston, but a large deficit in the first quarter ended those hopes as the No. 1 … [Read more...] about No. 1 Johnston girls extend their winning streak to 30 games with victory at Ankeny
‘I thought we showed some maturity’: Jaguars hand Ankeny girls their first loss
It wasn't difficult for Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong to get the attention of his players following Tuesday's overtime loss to Waukee Northwest. The fifth-ranked Jaguars responded on Friday with a 44-33 victory at No. 7 Ankeny in a CIML Conference matchup. It was Centennial's third straight win in the series after dropping two of … [Read more...] about ‘I thought we showed some maturity’: Jaguars hand Ankeny girls their first loss
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 286
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the start of the girls' basketball season with coach Scott DeJong and senior Tillie Smith of Ankeny Centennial along with coach Nate Tobey, senior Savannah Gage and junior Jayla Williams of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 286
‘I’m having a lot of fun’: Baldwin helps Hawkettes past Des Moines Christian
It's been a smooth transition onto the Ankeny girls' basketball team for former Valley player Reagan Baldwin. The junior forward scored nine points on Monday to help the eighth-ranked Hawkettes to a 50-36 victory in a non-conference game at Des Moines Christian. "I'm having a lot of fun playing with everyone," said Baldwin. Baldwin has averaged nine … [Read more...] about ‘I’m having a lot of fun’: Baldwin helps Hawkettes past Des Moines Christian
Kiene scores career-high 23 points, leads Hawkettes to rout in conference opener
Ainsley Kiene poured in a career-high 23 points to lead the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 67-25 victory at Urbandale in its CIML Conference opener on Tuesday. Kiene made four 3-point goals and needed only three quarters to surpass her previous career-high of 19, but she was far from the Hawkettes' only threat from behind the arc. Four … [Read more...] about Kiene scores career-high 23 points, leads Hawkettes to rout in conference opener
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ainsley Kiene, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Junior guard Ainsley Kiene had six points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals to help the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 66-28 victory over visiting Ames in its season opener on Saturday. Kiene averaged 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore as the Hawkettes posted a 13-10 record. She earned all-conference honorable mention … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ainsley Kiene, Ankeny girls’ basketball
‘We made progress with our focus areas’: Deeper Hawkettes rout Ames in opener
Saturday's season opener against visiting Ames showed that the Ankeny girls' basketball team will have a deeper bench than it did a year ago. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes got solid contributions from many different players in a 66-28 victory in the non-conference game. "Overall, we made progress with our focus areas for the season," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about ‘We made progress with our focus areas’: Deeper Hawkettes rout Ames in opener
Jaguars are No. 3, Ankeny No. 8 in Class 5A preseason girls’ basketball rankings
Both Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny are in the top 10 of the preseason girls' basketball rankings from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Centennial is ranked third in Class 5A behind two of its CIML Conference rivals. No. 1 Johnston defeated No. 2 Dowling Catholic, 48-36, in last year's Class 5A championship game. The Jaguars posted a 14-9 … [Read more...] about Jaguars are No. 3, Ankeny No. 8 in Class 5A preseason girls’ basketball rankings
Ankeny girls return trio of double-digit scorers in Gage, Williams and Kiene
With the return of three double-digit scorers, the Ankeny girls' basketball team will likely boast one of the best offensive trios in the state. Senior guard Savannah Gage combined with junior guards Jayla Williams and Ainsley Kiene to average nearly 40 points per game last season. They helped the Hawkettes to a 13-10 record in their first season under … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls return trio of double-digit scorers in Gage, Williams and Kiene