Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Basketball

‘I didn’t mean to bank it!’: Kiene’s 3-pointer at buzzer lifts Hawkettes past Cedar Falls

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Ainsley Kiene wasn't supposed to take the final shot for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. But with time running out and the ball in her hands from well beyond the arc, Kiene knew that she had no other choice. The senior guard banked in a 3-point goal from the top of the key as time expired to give the third-ranked Hawkettes a 50-47 victory at No. 8 … [Read more...] about ‘I didn’t mean to bank it!’: Kiene’s 3-pointer at buzzer lifts Hawkettes past Cedar Falls

‘We’re hungry this year’: Hawkettes move up to No. 3 in 5A after defeating S.E. Polk

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The target on their backs is only going to get bigger for the Ankeny girls' basketball players. The Hawkettes moved up one spot to No. 3 in the latest Class 5A rankings after posting a 52-38 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Tuesday. It is the program's highest ranking since the community of Ankeny split into two high schools in 2013. "Every game … [Read more...] about ‘We’re hungry this year’: Hawkettes move up to No. 3 in 5A after defeating S.E. Polk

Williams reaches 1,000-point mark, leads Hawkettes to victory over No. 13 Waukee

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Over the past couple of years, Jayla Williams has been the engine that’s kept the Ankeny girls' basketball team moving. The senior guard and future Creighton Bluejay checked off a major milestone while guiding the fourth-ranked Hawkettes to a 56-48 home win over No. 13 Waukee on Friday night. Williams scored a game-high … [Read more...] about Williams reaches 1,000-point mark, leads Hawkettes to victory over No. 13 Waukee

‘Johnston keeps coming at you’: No. 1 Dragons surge past Ankeny girls, 74-51

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It's not often that a high school basketball team can take some positives away from a 23-point loss. But that was the case on Tuesday for the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' squad, which held a lead midway through the second quarter at No. 1 Johnston before the Dragons rallied for a 74-51 victory. "That was where we expected to be," said Ankeny coach Nate … [Read more...] about ‘Johnston keeps coming at you’: No. 1 Dragons surge past Ankeny girls, 74-51

‘I’m just happy for our girls’: Hawkettes end four-game skid against Centennial

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For just the third time since Ankeny split into two high schools, the Ankeny Hawkettes defeated their crosstown rival in girls' basketball. Sixth-ranked Ankeny stayed a few steps ahead of a young, scrappy Ankeny Centennial team for a 55-39 road victory on Friday night. It snapped a four-game losing streak in the series and … [Read more...] about ‘I’m just happy for our girls’: Hawkettes end four-game skid against Centennial

‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

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At 5-foot-9, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams doesn't look like a typical post player on the basketball court. But with her outstanding athleticism, the Creighton recruit can occasionally take advantage of a smaller defender in the paint. That's exactly what Williams did on Tuesday night, when she scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

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A fast start lifted the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 59-41 victory over visiting Des Moines Christian in a non-conference game on Monday. The Hawkettes (2-0) made five 3-point goals in the first quarter, three of them by Reagan Baldwin in the first 2 minutes 30 seconds, and jumped out to a 22-12 lead. Des Moines Christian (2-1), the … [Read more...] about Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior forward Reagan Baldwin made a pair of 3-point goals and scored eight points to help the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 51-32 victory at Ames in its season opener on Nov. 22. Baldwin helped the Hawkettes to a 10-13 record as a junior, when she averaged 6.5 points per game and led the team with 40 3-pointers. She shot 38.5 percent … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘It wasn’t always pretty’: Hawkettes top Ames in turnover-plagued season opener

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Jayla Williams scored 20 points and had eight of her team's 20 steals as the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball squad opened its season on Saturday with a 51-32 victory at Ames. Both teams used a full-court press to turn the non-conference game into a ragged affair. There were 54 combined turnovers and 50 deflections, according to Ankeny coach Nate … [Read more...] about ‘It wasn’t always pretty’: Hawkettes top Ames in turnover-plagued season opener

‘We have more depth than ever before’: Hawkettes enter season with high hopes

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team may not have to rely quite as heavily this winter on all-state guard Jayla Williams. Saturday's season opener at Ames could be an opportunity for Ankeny coach Nate Tobey to show off his deeper bench. The Hawkettes rolled past Ames, 66-28, in last year's opener. Tip-off for the matinee is at 2:30 p.m. "We have more … [Read more...] about ‘We have more depth than ever before’: Hawkettes enter season with high hopes

Ankeny girls are No. 8 in preseason Class 5A basketball rankings from IGHSAU

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team is eighth in the preseason Class 5A rankings released on Wednesday by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Ankeny returns four starters from a team that posted a 10-13 record last year, led by all-state guard and Creighton commit Jayla Williams. The Hawkettes will open their season on Saturday with a non-conference … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls are No. 8 in preseason Class 5A basketball rankings from IGHSAU

‘I hope I can make an impact there’: Williams picks Bluejays over Buffaloes

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After narrowing down her list of schools to a top five, Ankeny basketball standout Jayla Williams picked the one that was closest to home. Even though the location wasn't much of a factor. "I actually didn't really want to go that close to home," Williams said on Tuesday after committing to play for Creighton. The senior-to-be is considered Iowa's … [Read more...] about ‘I hope I can make an impact there’: Williams picks Bluejays over Buffaloes

Ankeny basketball standout Williams verbally commits to play for Creighton

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One of Iowa's top girls' basketball players in the Class of 2026 has made her college decision. Ankeny wing Jayla Williams announced on Tuesday she has verbally committed to Creighton. The senior-to-be held more than a dozen offers from Division I schools and had previously narrowed her list down to five schools, which also included Colorado, Columbia, … [Read more...] about Ankeny basketball standout Williams verbally commits to play for Creighton

Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-state honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers

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Girls' basketball standouts Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial have earned some more all-state honors along with Ankeny star Jayla Williams. Crawford was a repeat selection to the Class 5A first team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Pratt was named to the Class 5A second team for the third consecutive year, while Williams was … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-state honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers

Crawford again named to 5A 1st team; Two others earn repeat 2nd-team honors

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There were a lot of familiar names on the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association's all-state girls' basketball teams that were announced on Monday. Some of the players were named to the same squads for the second year in a row, including senior stars Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial and versatile junior Jayla Williams of Ankeny. Crawford was … [Read more...] about Crawford again named to 5A 1st team; Two others earn repeat 2nd-team honors

Ankeny’s Gage to play alongside Jags’ duo of Crawford, Pratt in Senior All-Star Game

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Ankeny's Savannah Gage has been selected to play in the Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star Game along with fellow girls' basketball standouts Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial. The event will be held on Saturday at Cedar Falls. It will consist of a series of six all-star games, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Crawford, Gage and Pratt will all play … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Gage to play alongside Jags’ duo of Crawford, Pratt in Senior All-Star Game

Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-CIML Conference first-team honors for 2nd time

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball stars Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt have been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny standout Jayla Williams. Crawford was a unanimous pick for the second straight year, while Williams was again a repeat selection. Pratt also earned first-team honors for the second time; she was previously honored as … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-CIML Conference first-team honors for 2nd time