Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

Burns named to all-conference 1st team; Runchey, Pitz earn 2nd-team honors

by

Ankeny Centennial standout Meg Burns has been unanimously selected to the CIML Central Conference first team by a vote of the league's girls' basketball coaches. She led the Jaguars to a 13-10 record this season. Burns, a senior guard, averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game and shot 48.4 percent from 3-point range, making 61-of-126 attempts. The … [Read more...] about Burns named to all-conference 1st team; Runchey, Pitz earn 2nd-team honors

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Rachael Christmann, Ankeny girls’ basketball

by

Junior guard Rachael Christmann helped the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 10-13 record this season. Christmann played in 19 of the 23 games, averaging 3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. She shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range, making 20-of-46 attempts. Christmann went 3-for-4 from behind the arc and scored a career-high 11 points in the Hawkettes' … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Rachael Christmann, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Third-quarter scoring drought proves costly as Hawkettes fall to C.B. Lincoln

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball players had no reason to hang their heads following Saturday's 67-53 loss at Council Bluffs Lincoln in a Class 5A regional semifinal. The Hawkettes, who finished with a 10-13 record, exceeded most expectations after losing two of their top players to season-ending injuries. "I think we only had three or four wins when we … [Read more...] about Third-quarter scoring drought proves costly as Hawkettes fall to C.B. Lincoln

Harrington, ‘Splash Sisters’ shoot lights out in regional win over Polar Bears

by

During Golden State's recent dominance of the NBA, the Warriors have been known as the Splash Brothers. On Wednesday night, the Ankeny girls' basketball team looked like a version of the Splash Sisters. The Hawkettes made 14 3-point goals and rolled to a 76-32 victory over visiting Des Moines North in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal. The Polar Bears … [Read more...] about Harrington, ‘Splash Sisters’ shoot lights out in regional win over Polar Bears

Centennial’s Burns, Ankeny’s Pitz named to Class 5A West all-district team

by

Senior guards Meg Burns of Ankeny Centennial and Kayla Pitz of Ankeny have both been named to the Class 5A West all-district girls' basketball team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Burns has led the 12th-ranked Jaguars to a 12-9 record. She is averaging a team-high 12.0 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from 3-point range … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Burns, Ankeny’s Pitz named to Class 5A West all-district team

Hawkettes fall to Johnston in finale, but could get rematch in regional final

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball players would like nothing more than another chance to play third-ranked Johnston. The two teams can only meet again in a Class 5A regional final on Feb. 25. But if it happens, that means Ankeny has defeated Des Moines North and No. 14 Council Bluffs Lincoln in the first two rounds of the postseason. Johnston showed on … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Johnston in finale, but could get rematch in regional final

Centennial boys finish 9-1 in league; Dowling, Johnston girls tie for crown

by

While the CIML Central Conference boys' basketball title had already been decided last week, the girls' crown came down to the final night of the regular season. Third-ranked Johnston clinched a share of the league title with a 76-38 victory on Friday at Ankeny. Kendall Nead had 24 points and five assists as the Dragons improved to 19-2 on the … [Read more...] about Centennial boys finish 9-1 in league; Dowling, Johnston girls tie for crown

Girls’ pairings announced: Jaguars, Hawkettes draw tough roads to state

by

The Class 5A regional basketball pairings have been released by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Both Ankeny and 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial might have to defeat a top-five opponent in order to qualify for the state tournament. The Jaguars (11-9) have been placed in Region 6. They will host Indianola (13-6) or Des Moines East (5-15) in a … [Read more...] about Girls’ pairings announced: Jaguars, Hawkettes draw tough roads to state

Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

by

Once the shots started falling for the Ankeny girls' basketball team on Tuesday, they just kept dropping. The Hawkettes made 15 3-point goals and rolled to a 78-46 victory at Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. It was their highest offensive output of the season and their highest in four years under coach Dru McAnelly. "Hoover isn't very good, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

by

The Ankeny girls' basketball team turned in a spectacular defensive effort on Friday. It wasn't enough to knock off archrival Ankeny Centennial. The 12th-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 43-27 victory at Ankeny. They closed out the game with a 16-2 run. "This is the way it's been down here for the last seven years. It's … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

by

Ankeny Centennial's Cody McCullough wasn't happy when he missed a free throw with 9 seconds left in Friday's game at Ankeny. The miss allowed the Hawks to have an opportunity to win the game on the final possession. Braxton Bayless fired a pass to Jaxon Smith in the left corner, but Smith's 3-point try bounced off the rim in the final seconds. … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride

by

A lot will be at stake on Friday when the two Ankeny boys' basketball teams meet for the second time in less than three weeks. Second-ranked Ankeny Centennial heads across town for a rematch against the Hawks, who will be looking to avenge a 69-61 loss at Centennial on Jan. 20. The Jaguars (7-1, 16-1) can clinch the outright CIML Central Conference title … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride

Reserves shine as Hawkettes romp past Marshalltown to extend winning streak

by

Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly wasn't happy with his team's effort in the first quarter of Tuesday's game against visiting Marshalltown. The Hawkettes held a 12-9 lead after the opening period against a struggling squad that had scored just 14 and 18 points in its previous two losses to fifth-ranked Waukee and No. 11 Valley. "I got after … [Read more...] about Reserves shine as Hawkettes romp past Marshalltown to extend winning streak

‘It was just a matter of time’: Hawkettes stifle Ames for first conference victory

by

Ashley Harrington knew that the Ankeny girls' basketball team was going to win its first conference game. She just didn't know when. Friday turned out to be the night as Harrington scored 16 points to lead the Hawkettes to a 60-49 victory at Ames. They improved to 1-7 in the CIML Central Conference and 7-10 overall, while Ames' records fell to 3-5 and … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a matter of time’: Hawkettes stifle Ames for first conference victory

Ankeny girls snap five-game losing streak with victory at Roosevelt

by

The reward finally came for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. After suffering back-to-back losses to a pair of ranked opponents by a combined five points, the Hawkettes earned a close win of their own on Tuesday with a 48-45 victory at Des Moines Roosevelt in a non-conference game. They improved their record to 6-10 while snapping a five-game losing … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls snap five-game losing streak with victory at Roosevelt

Hawkettes lose another heartbreaker, fall to No. 9 Urbandale in OT

by

Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly isn't fond of moral victories. But that's exactly what his short-handed squad came away with on Friday. The Hawkettes battled ninth-ranked Urbandale into overtime before dropping a 59-57 decision at Ankeny. It was another strong effort by McAnelly's team that wasn't rewarded with a win. "That's a top-10 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes lose another heartbreaker, fall to No. 9 Urbandale in OT

Centennial boys maintain league lead; Dowling girls take over top spot

by

The race for the CIML Central Conference boys' basketball title could be turning into a two-team battle. Ankeny Centennial maintained sole possession of the league lead with a 50-29 victory over visiting Ames on Friday. Ankeny remained one game behind the Jaguars as Braxton Bayless scored the winning basket in the final seconds to give the Hawks a 65-63 … [Read more...] about Centennial boys maintain league lead; Dowling girls take over top spot

Hawkettes pass ‘test of character’, but Valley girls escape with victory

by

After losing to its crosstown rival on Monday, the Ankeny girls' basketball team was anxious to get back on the court. The Hawkettes didn't have to wait too long. Ankeny hosted 15th-ranked Valley on Tuesday and battled the Class 5A defending state champion down to the wire before dropping a 62-59 decision. "It was good to try to get back in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pass ‘test of character’, but Valley girls escape with victory