Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Basketball

McAnelly: Hawkettes ‘learn valuable lesson’ in 71-43 loss to No. 4 Valley

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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