Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Basketball

Short-handed Hawkettes fall to Ames without Johnson, McCullough

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

McCullough, Hawkettes look to build on last year’s success

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team advanced to a Class 5A regional final last year for the first time since the split into two high schools. The Hawkettes also reached double digits in victories for the first time, finishing with an 11-12 record in their second season under coach Dru McAnelly. Now, McAnelly's goal is to take the program to even greater … [Read more...] about McCullough, Hawkettes look to build on last year’s success

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Abby Johnson of the Ankeny girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. The freshman forward helped the Hawkettes to an 11-12 record, their best season since the split into two high schools. She averaged 1.8 points and 0.6 rebounds per game. Johnson went 2-for-2 from 3-point range and scored six points to spark … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball

McAnelly tells Hawkettes, ‘Don’t you dare put your heads down’ after season-ending loss

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The Dowling Catholic girls' basketball team entered Tuesday's Class 5A regional final against visiting Ankeny as a prohibitive favorite. That didn't make the Hawkettes' season-ending loss any easier to swallow. The third-ranked Maroons got 30 points from sophomore sensation Caitlin Clark and pulled away in the second half for a 68-41 victory to advance … [Read more...] about McAnelly tells Hawkettes, ‘Don’t you dare put your heads down’ after season-ending loss

Valley’s Young, Dowling’s Clark to provide huge tests for Jaguars, Hawkettes

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In order to reach the state tournament, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball teams will both have to figure out a way to slow down one of the nation's top players. The fifth-ranked Jaguars (19-3) will host No. 12 Valley (12-10) in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. It will be a matchup of the last two state champions--Centennial … [Read more...] about Valley’s Young, Dowling’s Clark to provide huge tests for Jaguars, Hawkettes

Hawkettes celebrate tournament victory by doing the Hokey Pokey

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Apparently, there is a second girls' basketball coach in Ankeny who likes to celebrate big victories by doing the Hokey Pokey. Scott DeJong started the tradition during his long run at Ankeny High School, where he guided the Hawkettes to six state championships. He then continued the ritual when he moved across town to Ankeny Centennial, where he led the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes celebrate tournament victory by doing the Hokey Pokey

Young leads the way as Valley girls avenge loss to Hawkettes

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Valley's Zoe Young showed again on Friday why she's considered one of the nation's top girls' basketball players in the Class of 2019. Young, a Maryland recruit, made a trio of 3-point goals and scored 19 points to lead the 12th-ranked Tigers to a 68-58 victory over No. 15 Ankeny at Valley. The junior guard also had eight rebounds, three assists, two … [Read more...] about Young leads the way as Valley girls avenge loss to Hawkettes

Hawkettes rout Roosevelt for their 10th win of the season

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Dru McAnelly checked off another box Tuesday following the latest victory by his Ankeny girls' basketball team. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 69-30 win at Des Moines Roosevelt in a CIML non-conference game, allowing them to even their record at 10-10. "We've been calling it a season of firsts, starting with getting rated and getting our first … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout Roosevelt for their 10th win of the season

No. 6 Waukee girls roll past Hawkettes, keep pace with Centennial

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team didn't have an answer for Waukee's diverse offensive attack on Friday. The sixth-ranked Warriors relied on their superior size to score numerous baskets in the paint, but they also connected for nine 3-point goals en route to a 66-44 victory at No. 15 Ankeny. "They're who they are for a reason--they're very good," … [Read more...] about No. 6 Waukee girls roll past Hawkettes, keep pace with Centennial

Hawkettes get back to .500 mark with win over Fort Dodge

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  For much of the first half on Tuesday, the Ankeny girls' basketball team let visiting Fort Dodge dictate the pace of the game. "They play a defense that is just kind of helter skelter," Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly said of the Dodgers, "and we were playing right into the hands of it. We were a little robotic, and they were kind of eating us up … [Read more...] about Hawkettes get back to .500 mark with win over Fort Dodge