Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

by

Ankeny girls' basketball star Jayla Williams has been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny Centennial standout Lizzie Beam. Williams was a first-team pick for the third consecutive year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. She was also a unanimous selection. Williams, a senior guard, led the Hawkettes to a semifinal … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

by

Ankeny star Jayla Williams has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Hawkettes to the semifinals of the girls' state basketball tournament. Williams scored 20 points and had four steals in Ankeny's 49-39 loss to top-ranked Johnston in Thursday's semifinals at the Casey's Center. The Dragons went on to capture their third … [Read more...] about Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

by

Ankeny senior Allison Hawkins was the recipient of the Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award during the girls' basketball state tournament on Friday night at the Casey's Center. Hawkins helped Ankeny to its first state tournament appearance since 2013. The Hawkettes advanced to the Class 5A semifinals before dropping a 49-39 decision to … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

by

There was no reason for Ankeny seniors Ainsley Kiene and Jayla Williams to shed any tears while they answered questions from reporters in the media interview room on Thursday at the girls' state basketball tournament. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes had left it all out on the court at the Casey's Center, where they dropped a 49-39 decision to No. 1 Johnston in … [Read more...] about ‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

Ankeny girls surge past Warriors behind barrage of 3s from Baldwin, Schaapveld

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball team relied heavily on all-state guard Jayla Williams to reach the state tournament for the first time since 2013. But on a day when Williams became the program's all-time leading scorer, it was the squad's supporting cast who led a second-half charge that lifted the sixth-ranked Hawkettes into the Class 5A semifinals at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls surge past Warriors behind barrage of 3s from Baldwin, Schaapveld

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball

by

Senior guard Jayla Williams has led the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 15-8 record. The Creighton recruit ranks among the leaders in Class 5A in scoring (21.1 points), steals (3.5) and field goals made (8.1) per game. Williams scored 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists as Ankeny rolled to a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘It’s so incredible!’: Ankeny routs S.C. East, advances to state for first time since 2013

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After 13 years, the wait is officially over. The Ankeny girls' basketball team is headed to the state tournament. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes ended their drought by defeating No. 11 Sioux City East, 60-30, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Ankeny. “It’s so incredible!” senior guard Ainsley Kiene said with a … [Read more...] about ‘It’s so incredible!’: Ankeny routs S.C. East, advances to state for first time since 2013

Hawkettes rout S.C. North, advance to regional final for 6th consecutive year

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball team moved one step closer toward ending its state tournament drought. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 57-21 victory over visiting Sioux City North in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. They are now one win away from advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 2013--before the community of Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout S.C. North, advance to regional final for 6th consecutive year

Hawkettes slow pace, but No. 1 Johnston prevails to earn 73rd consecutive victory

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball team held top-ranked Johnston to just 50 points in the regular-season finale on Friday at Ankeny, one of the Dragons' worst offensive performances of the year. But the two-time defending Class 5A state champions still managed to extend their winning streak to 73 games. The Dragons limited No. 5 Ankeny to its lowest scoring … [Read more...] about Hawkettes slow pace, but No. 1 Johnston prevails to earn 73rd consecutive victory

HOME COOKIN’: Hawkettes earn top seed in Region 5, Jags will also host semifinal

by

The Class 5A girls' regional basketball pairings were announced on Thursday afternoon by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Fifth-ranked Ankeny (13-7) is the top seed in Region 5 and will host a semifinal game on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. The Hawkettes will play the winner of Wednesday's game between Sioux City North (5-16) and Sioux City West … [Read more...] about HOME COOKIN’: Hawkettes earn top seed in Region 5, Jags will also host semifinal

‘We just kind of let go of the rope’: Ankeny girls fade in 2nd half of loss to Wolves

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For almost the entire first half, Tuesday night in Waukee looked like it was going to be a traditional back-and-forth battle between two of the top five girls' basketball teams in Class 5A. But a 10-2 run in the final 2 minutes 44 seconds of the half by second-ranked Waukee Northwest completely changed things. No. 4 … [Read more...] about ‘We just kind of let go of the rope’: Ankeny girls fade in 2nd half of loss to Wolves

Hawkettes build big lead, cruise to 50-40 victory over Urbandale at Casey’s Center

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball players are hoping that Saturday's game against Urbandale won't be their only opportunity this season to play at the Casey's Center in Des Moines. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes built a 42-23 lead after three quarters and went on to post a 50-40 victory on the same court that will host the Class 5A state tournament in a few … [Read more...] about Hawkettes build big lead, cruise to 50-40 victory over Urbandale at Casey’s Center

‘It’s just tough to make shots against an elite team’: Ankeny falls to No. 3 Maroons

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball team got another big game from senior guard Jayla Williams, but it wasn't enough to knock off one of the state's top three squads. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes traveled to No. 3 Dowling Catholic on Friday for a showdown against the Maroons and dropped a 63-45 decision in the CIML Conference contest. Williams scored 22 points … [Read more...] about ‘It’s just tough to make shots against an elite team’: Ankeny falls to No. 3 Maroons

‘She’s amazing!’: Williams leads Hawkettes to rout at S.E. Polk with career-high 34

by

There's something about the Southeast Polk gym that brings out the best in Ankeny senior Jayla Williams. Perhaps...it's the smell. Williams poured in a career-high 34 points on 12-of-16 shooting to lead the fifth-ranked Hawkettes to a 72-40 victory at Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference girls' basketball game on Monday. "I really do like this gym," … [Read more...] about ‘She’s amazing!’: Williams leads Hawkettes to rout at S.E. Polk with career-high 34

‘We have work to do’: Hawkettes look to regroup after falling to No. 4 DC-Grimes

by

With only five games left in the regular season, the Ankeny girls' basketball team discovered that it might not be ready for postseason play. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes never led in Monday's non-conference game and dropped a 65-57 decision to visiting Dallas Center-Grimes, the No. 4 team in Class 4A. "They're good, and we made them look pretty good at … [Read more...] about ‘We have work to do’: Hawkettes look to regroup after falling to No. 4 DC-Grimes

Hawkettes make 11-of-25 3-point shots, cruise to 69-46 victory at Clear Lake

by

After having Friday's game against top-ranked Johnston postponed due to the weather, the Ankeny girls' basketball team turned its attention toward another opponent. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes traveled to Clear Lake on Saturday for a non-conference game and rolled to a 69-46 victory over the Lions. "They're a pretty good team and will contend for a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes make 11-of-25 3-point shots, cruise to 69-46 victory at Clear Lake

‘She was all over the court’: Williams scores 27, leads Hawkettes past Waukee

by

As the sixth-leading scorer in Class 5A, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams is among the most productive offensive players in Iowa girls' basketball. But it's everything else that the Creighton recruit does on the court that makes her one of the state's best all-around players in the Class of 2026. Williams showed off all of her skills on Tuesday while … [Read more...] about ‘She was all over the court’: Williams scores 27, leads Hawkettes past Waukee