The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team kept its CIML Central Conference title hopes alive with a 57-47 victory at Dowling Catholic on Friday. The 11th-ranked Jaguars remained in sole possession of second place heading into a showdown at No. 3 Johnston on Feb. 1. The Dragons can clinch the league crown with a win over Centennial. If the Jaguars win, … [Read more...] about Central Conference basketball standings
Girls' Basketball
Surging Urbandale girls avenge earlier loss to continue Hawkettes’ slide
When the Ankeny girls' basketball team hosted Urbandale on Thursday, it was a matchup between two teams whose fortunes have been reversed since the last time they met on Dec. 14. Ankeny posted a 46-40 triumph at Urbandale last month, but suffered a huge blow in that game when sophomore forward Abby Johnson suffered a deep bone bruise in her foot with … [Read more...] about Surging Urbandale girls avenge earlier loss to continue Hawkettes’ slide
Central Conference basketball standings
The Ankeny boys' basketball team moved into a tie for third place in the CIML Central Conference with a 45-42 victory over visiting Urbandale on Thursday. The Hawks are now 4-3 in the league and tied with Dowling Catholic, which had a chance to move into a tie for first place but dropped a 77-76 decision at Johnston. The Dragons can clinch at least a tie … [Read more...] about Central Conference basketball standings
McAnelly: Hawkettes ‘learn valuable lesson’ in 71-43 loss to No. 4 Valley
The Ankeny girls' basketball team ran into a buzzsaw on Tuesday at Valley. The fourth-ranked Tigers raced out to a 31-7 lead in the first half and cruised to a 71-43 victory over No. 15 Ankeny. The Hawkettes lost for the seventh time in their last nine games, dropping to 6-8 on the season. "It was kind of Southeast Polk all over again," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about McAnelly: Hawkettes ‘learn valuable lesson’ in 71-43 loss to No. 4 Valley
Revive Clinic and Spa Preps of the Week: Hoop stars Cody and Sara McCullough
Cousins Sara and Cody McCullough have grown up on the opposite sides of Ankeny's crosstown rivalry. Sara, a senior forward, is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Ankeny girls' basketball team, which dropped a 47-32 decision at Ankeny Centennial on Friday. The Northern Iowa recruit has averaged 13.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while helping the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Preps of the Week: Hoop stars Cody and Sara McCullough
Harrington, Kueker ignite Hawkettes past Ottumwa at Wells Fargo Arena
Ankeny's Ashley Harrington and Jaelynn Kueker are used to fighting for 50/50 balls on the soccer field. The duo can also make those winning plays on the basketball court. Harrington and Kueker came up with several loose balls and combined for 22 points Tuesday to help the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 53-36 victory over Ottumwa at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Harrington, Kueker ignite Hawkettes past Ottumwa at Wells Fargo Arena
Clark scores 33, leads Dowling girls to win over Hawkettes
Another strong effort by the Ankeny girls' basketball team came up short on Friday as the Hawkettes dropped a 57-48 decision at ninth-ranked Dowling Catholic. It was Ankeny's third consecutive loss, all of them on the road, since sophomore forward Abby Johnson suffered a deep bone bruise in her foot during the Hawkettes' victory at Urbandale on Dec. 14. … [Read more...] about Clark scores 33, leads Dowling girls to win over Hawkettes
Deep bone bruise will sideline Ankeny’s Johnson for another month
The Ankeny girls' basketball team will likely be without its second-leading scorer and rebounder for another month. An MRI on Thursday revealed that sophomore forward Abby Johnson suffered a deep bone bruise in her foot during the Hawkettes' 46-40 victory at Urbandale on Dec. 14. "She'll be in a walking boot for two weeks and will then have at least … [Read more...] about Deep bone bruise will sideline Ankeny’s Johnson for another month
Hawkettes lead most of the way before falling at No. 2 Johnston
The Ankeny girls' basketball team nearly pulled off a monumental upset on Friday. Instead, the Hawkettes had to settle for a moral victory. "I couldn't be more proud of a group of girls," Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly said after his team led most of the way before dropping a 66-64 decision at second-ranked Johnston. "Coming in to play the No. 2 team in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes lead most of the way before falling at No. 2 Johnston
Central Conference basketball standings
Johnston remained atop the CIML Central Conference boys' and girls' basketball standings with a pair of narrow victories over Ankeny on Friday. The second-ranked Dragons now own a two-game lead in the girls' race after extending their winning streak to nine games. No. 9 Dowling Catholic knocked off No. 13 Ames and has moved into a second-place tie with … [Read more...] about Central Conference basketball standings
Short-handed Hawkettes fall to Ames without Johnson, McCullough
The odds were against the Ankeny girls' basketball team before Tuesday's game at 14th-ranked Ames even tipped off. The Hawkettes took the court without their top two scorers and rebounders, Sara McCullough and Abby Johnson. McCullough was out with an illness, while Johnson tore some tendons on the top of her foot during Friday's game at Urbandale and will … [Read more...] about Short-handed Hawkettes fall to Ames without Johnson, McCullough
Dynamic duo leads No. 8 S.E. Polk girls past Hawkettes
When it comes to potent girls' basketball duos, there might not be a better 1-2 punch in the state than Southeast Polk's Grace Larkins and Maggie McGraw. The two standouts combined for 55 points Tuesday to lead the eighth-ranked Rams to a 71-47 victory over No. 13 Ankeny at Southeast Polk. "We came out a little flat, and those two girls got going early … [Read more...] about Dynamic duo leads No. 8 S.E. Polk girls past Hawkettes
Jag-Hawk hoops doubleheader features pair of intriguing matchups
Here are some of the key things to look for during Friday's Jag-Hawk basketball doubleheader at Ankeny: Girls' game: No. 10 Centennial (3-2) vs. No. 13 Ankeny (4-1) The Hawkettes are riding a three-game winning streak during which they have outscored their opponents by an average of 37 points. The Jaguars, meanwhile, are coming off a 63-50 loss on … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk hoops doubleheader features pair of intriguing matchups
McCullough racks up 21 points, 17 rebounds in Hawkettes’ victory
The Des Moines Lincoln girls' basketball team didn't have an answer for Ankeny's Sara McCullough. McCullough recorded a double-double by halftime of Tuesday's game at Ankeny, racking up 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Northern Iowa recruit finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds as the Hawkettes rolled to a 74-39 victory. "Sara got going early," said … [Read more...] about McCullough racks up 21 points, 17 rebounds in Hawkettes’ victory
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ashley Harrington, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Ashley Harrington of the Ankeny girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Harrington, a junior guard, has helped Ankeny to a 4-1 record. She scored nine points and had two assists as the Hawkettes posted a 74-39 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln on Tuesday. Harrington is averaging 7.8 points per game. … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ashley Harrington, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Hawkettes blow past Fort Dodge, improve their record to 3-1
The Ankeny girls' basketball team had started slowly in each of its first three games of the season. The Hawkettes didn't have another slow start on Friday. Ankeny jumped out to a 9-0 lead right away, later scored 22 consecutive points before halftime, and rolled to a 66-28 victory at Fort Dodge. The Hawkettes improved their record to 3-1 on the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes blow past Fort Dodge, improve their record to 3-1
Balanced scoring helps Hawkettes to easy victory over North
For the second time in two nights, the Ankeny girls' basketball team had a balanced scoring attack, putting three players in double figures. This time, it resulted in a win. The Hawkettes bounced back from Monday's loss at Mason City with a 63-24 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Tuesday. They raised their record to 2-1 on the season. "The … [Read more...] about Balanced scoring helps Hawkettes to easy victory over North
Hawkettes look to rebound from Monday’s loss at Mason City
The Ankeny girls' basketball team won't have time to dwell on its first loss of the season. The Hawkettes, who dropped a 72-58 decision at Mason City on Monday, will be back on the court less than 24 hours later. They will host Des Moines North on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. Mason City, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, built a 40-27 halftime lead in Monday's game. … [Read more...] about Hawkettes look to rebound from Monday’s loss at Mason City
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kayla Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Junior guard Kayla Pitz scored five points and had six assists to help the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 45-38 victory over 13th-ranked Des Moines East in its season opener on Tuesday at Ankeny. The Hawkettes will play at Mason City, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, on Monday. Pitz started every game for Ankeny as a sophomore, when she averaged 5.7 points … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kayla Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Hawkettes hold off No. 13 D.M. East in season opener, 45-38
Dru McAnelly wiped the sweat off his brow after watching his Ankeny girls' basketball team open the season with a hard-fought victory. The Hawkettes took the lead for good with a 14-2 run in the second half and then held off 13th-ranked Des Moines East, 45-38, in a CIML non-conference game on Tuesday at Ankeny. "East is an extremely long, athletic, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes hold off No. 13 D.M. East in season opener, 45-38