Karsen Jacks tied her career-high with 30 points to lead the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 66-38 victory at Urbandale on Tuesday. Jacks, who made 11-of-16 shots from the field, also scored 30 points in an overtime win against then-No. 6 Cedar Falls on Nov. 21. "I was just taking what the defense was giving me," said Jacks, who also had seven … [Read more...] about Jacks ties her career-high with 30 points, leads Hawkettes to win at Urbandale
Girls' Basketball
Hawkettes put huge scare into No. 1 Johnston before upset bid falls short
The Ankeny girls' basketball team had nothing to lose on Monday night. It nearly resulted in a massive upset. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes put a huge scare into No. 1 Johnston before the visiting Dragons, who are ranked 20th in the nation by ESPN, scored the last six points of the game to hold on for a 62-52 victory. "It was nice to see our girls … [Read more...] about Hawkettes put huge scare into No. 1 Johnston before upset bid falls short
CIML Conference basketball standings
The CIML Conference boys' basketball race is far from over. Third-ranked Valley posted an 84-60 victory over Southeast Polk on Friday and moved one game behind No. 5 Waukee, which dropped a 66-45 decision at Johnston. The Tigers will host Waukee on Tuesday and can move into a tie for first place with a victory. Ankeny moved into third place with a … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Johnson outduels Winkel in shootout, leads Ankeny boys past No. 8 Centennial
Two of the state's best boys' basketball players put on a dazzling display Friday at the Ankeny gym. Only one of them walked away with a victory. Ankeny's Carson Johnson poured in 38 points to offset a career-high 37 from Ankeny Centennial's Luke Winkel and the Hawks avenged an earlier loss with a 76-63 win. "It's always a great rivalry," said … [Read more...] about Johnson outduels Winkel in shootout, leads Ankeny boys past No. 8 Centennial
‘She’s a clutch player’: Blackmore’s late trey seals Jaguars’ win over Ankeny
There's something about the Ankeny girls' basketball team that brings out the best in Ankeny Centennial's Finley Blackmore. The fifth-ranked Jaguars were clinging to a 47-45 lead on Friday at No. 8 Ankeny when Blackmore, a junior guard, made a 3-point goal from the left corner with 1 minute 15 seconds left. Her squad went on to post a 53-45 … [Read more...] about ‘She’s a clutch player’: Blackmore’s late trey seals Jaguars’ win over Ankeny
Here are Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Jag-Hawk basketball rematches
Round 2 of the Jag-Hawk basketball showdowns will be held on Friday at Ankeny, where Ankeny Centennial will try to complete a sweep of both the boys' and girls' series for the fourth time ever. Bragging rights will be at stake along with positioning in the CIML Conference. The winner of the boys' game will own sole possession of third place in the league … [Read more...] about Here are Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Jag-Hawk basketball rematches
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 247
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews Friday's Jag-Hawk hoops doubleheader with girls' coaches Nate Tobey of Ankeny and Scott DeJong of Ankeny Centennial along with boys' coaches Brandt Carlson of Ankeny and Bob Fontana of Ankeny Centennial. Coldwell Banker realtor Tom … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 247
CIML Conference basketball standings
Perhaps the top-ranked Johnston girls' basketball team isn't unbeatable after all. No. 5 Ankeny Centennial led for much of the game on Friday before the visiting Dragons rallied for a 64-59 victory. It marked the first time this season that Johnston defeated its opponent by fewer than 10 points. "I think we beat them every quarter but the third," said … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
‘We just found our groove’: Gage’s late heroics lift Ankeny girls past Wolves
Savannah Gage and the Ankeny girls' basketball team have found their mojo. Gage scored 11 consecutive points over the final 2 minutes 55 seconds and the ninth-ranked Hawkettes held off No. 10 Waukee Northwest, 50-45, in a CIML Conference game on Friday at Ankeny. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Ankeny, which had shot just 20.7 percent … [Read more...] about ‘We just found our groove’: Gage’s late heroics lift Ankeny girls past Wolves
‘There was some progress’: Hawkettes remain upbeat despite loss to Dowling
Nate Tobey still has confidence in his Ankeny girls' basketball team. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes dropped a third consecutive game on their home court Tuesday, when they suffered a 56-27 loss to No. 3 Dowling Catholic. The defeat followed a 55-29 loss to No. 12 Southeast Polk on Friday. "I think for us it's just a matter of getting some scoring and … [Read more...] about ‘There was some progress’: Hawkettes remain upbeat despite loss to Dowling
‘Our offense just totally disappeared’: Hawkettes fizzle out in 2nd half vs. SEP
A long basketball season can often include both peaks and valleys--sometimes just a few days apart. That was the case last week for the seventh-ranked Ankeny girls' team, which followed up Tuesday's 46-35 win at Class 4A No. 1 Dallas Center-Grimes with a disappointing 55-29 loss on its home court Friday to No. 12 Southeast Polk. The Rams avenged last … [Read more...] about ‘Our offense just totally disappeared’: Hawkettes fizzle out in 2nd half vs. SEP
CIML Conference basketball standings
It was another good week for the unbeaten Johnston girls' basketball team. After rolling to a 91-32 victory over visiting Urbandale on Tuesday, the top-ranked Dragons moved a step closer toward the CIML Conference title with a 43-31 win at No. 3 Dowling Catholic on Friday. Aaliyah Riley had 15 points and five steals for Johnston, which only needs to win … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Hawkettes rely on defensive pressure to hand No. 1 DC-Grimes its 2nd loss
The Ankeny girls' basketball team held Dallas Center-Grimes to just 33.3 percent shooting and handed the Mustangs their second loss of the season on Tuesday. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes posted a 46-35 win in the non-conference game at Dallas Center-Grimes, the No. 1 team in Class 4A. The Mustangs converted just 13-of-39 shots. "DCG played really well, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rely on defensive pressure to hand No. 1 DC-Grimes its 2nd loss
Here are key games that could decide CIML Conference basketball titles
The race for the CIML Conference basketball titles will likely be decided by a handful of games over the next few weeks. In the boys' race, sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial might be the only remaining contender that could prevent No. 5 Waukee from running away with the crown. The Warriors are 9-0 in the league with seven games left, while Centennial (6-2) … [Read more...] about Here are key games that could decide CIML Conference basketball titles
CIML Conference basketball standings
Most of the high school basketball events in central Iowa were postponed this week--with the exception of two doubleheaders on Thursday. It was a good night for the community of Waukee as both Waukee and Waukee Northwest swept a pair of games against one of their CIML Conference rivals. The fourth-ranked Waukee girls' team rallied for a 54-50 win at … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
No. 4 Waukee uses full-court press to rally past Hawkettes for 54-50 victory
A desperate team can sometimes be a dangerous team. That proved to be the case on Thursday at the Ankeny gym. Trailing by double digits midway through the fourth quarter, the fourth-ranked Waukee girls' basketball team slapped on a full-court press in an effort to get back into the game. The Warriors forced several turnovers down the stretch and closed … [Read more...] about No. 4 Waukee uses full-court press to rally past Hawkettes for 54-50 victory
CIML Conference basketball standings
It was the shot heard around central Iowa. Mason Costello banked in a 60-foot heave as time expired in the second overtime to give seventh-ranked Waukee an 82-81 victory over No. 2 Valley on Friday. The win allowed the Warriors to complete the first half of CIML Conference play with an unbeaten mark. Valley's loss dropped the Tigers into a … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Without leading scorer, Hawkettes pull away to beat Urbandale behind Gage
The Ankeny girls' basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 50-29 victory over visiting Urbandale on Friday. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes led by just 21-19 at halftime, but then outscored Urbandale in the third quarter, 19-5, to build a 40-24 advantage. "It was close for quite a while," said Ankeny coach Nate Tobey. "But credit to Urbandale. … [Read more...] about Without leading scorer, Hawkettes pull away to beat Urbandale behind Gage
Late free throws by Jacks, Gage allow Hawkettes to beat No. 5 Valley, 55-50
Anytime the ball is in Karsen Jacks' hands, Ankeny girls' basketball coach Nate Tobey is confident that the senior point guard will make the right play. Jacks was fouled with 17.5 seconds left to go and made two free throws to put her team ahead, and the eighth-ranked Hawkettes went on to post a 55-50 victory over No. 5 Valley in a CIML Conference game on … [Read more...] about Late free throws by Jacks, Gage allow Hawkettes to beat No. 5 Valley, 55-50
CIML Conference basketball standings
While the Johnston girls' basketball team has taken control of the CIML Conference race, Waukee will have a chance to do likewise in the boys' race later this week. The seventh-ranked Warriors will host No. 2 Valley, the defending Class 4A state champion, on Friday. A win would give Waukee at least a two-game lead heading into the second half of the … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings