Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

‘We didn’t bring it’: Hawkettes struggle at both ends in 53-45 loss at Waukee

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When the Ankeny girls' basketball team struggles on defense, it can often lead to some poor offensive possessions. That's what happened on Tuesday as the 10th-ranked Hawkettes suffered a 53-45 loss at Waukee in a non-conference game. While the Warriors connected on 8-of-21 3-point attempts (38.1 percent), Ankeny could not find its shooting stroke from … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t bring it’: Hawkettes struggle at both ends in 53-45 loss at Waukee

Ankeny boys snap 4-game losing skid against Centennial behind ex-Jaguars

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A year ago, Lio Aguirre helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a pair of victories over its crosstown rival. On Tuesday, the sophomore forward returned to the Centennial gym and played a key role as Ankeny posted a 58-48 win over the Jaguars. He had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. "It was pretty exciting for me honestly," … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys snap 4-game losing skid against Centennial behind ex-Jaguars

CENTENNIAL REIGN: Jags’ dominance over rival continues with 57-37 victory

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Cleao Murray and her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad have never lost to crosstown rival Ankeny. They'd like to keep it that way. Murray scored 16 points and the seventh-ranked Jaguars defeated No. 8 Ankeny, 57-37, in a CIML Iowa Conference showdown on Tuesday at Centennial. The win allowed Centennial to pull into a … [Read more...] about CENTENNIAL REIGN: Jags’ dominance over rival continues with 57-37 victory

Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Jag-Hawk basketball showdowns

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Ever since the split into two high schools, the rivalry between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams has somewhat overshadowed the battle between the two girls' squads. Centennial owns a 9-7 lead in the boys' series, but the two teams have played several close games in the history of the rivalry. In 2015, Ankeny's Conor Riordan made a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Jag-Hawk basketball showdowns

Hawkettes extend winning streak to 5 heading into showdown at Centennial

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A 31-point first quarter ignited the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 69-15 victory at Des Moines East in a non-conference game on Saturday. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes jumped out to a 31-5 lead and extended the margin to 41-10 at halftime. They cruised to their fifth consecutive win, improving to 9-2 on the season. "The girls came out focused and … [Read more...] about Hawkettes extend winning streak to 5 heading into showdown at Centennial

Hawkettes build big lead, then hold off Mason City for 4th straight victory

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team has found a winning formula. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes again relied on some balanced scoring and a strong defensive effort to post a 47-42 victory at Mason City on Friday. It marked the fourth straight game and the seventh time in the last eight contests that Ankeny finished with three scorers in double … [Read more...] about Hawkettes build big lead, then hold off Mason City for 4th straight victory

Hawkettes respond to adversity, surge past Fort Dodge with strong finish

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If the Ankeny girls' basketball team is going to win the CIML Iowa Conference title, the Hawkettes can't afford to lose the games they are expected to win. Tuesday's contest against visiting Fort Dodge was one of those games. The Dodgers put up a good fight before ninth-ranked Ankeny pulled away in the second half for a 63-38 victory. The Hawkettes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes respond to adversity, surge past Fort Dodge with strong finish

Rematch against Northwest begins big week for Centennial basketball teams

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The race for the CIML Iowa Conference basketball titles will resume this week with some big matchups, highlighted by Tuesday's rematch between host Ankeny Centennial and Waukee Northwest. Prior to the holiday break, Northwest swept a doubleheader against the visiting Jaguars on Dec. 21. The 10th-ranked Wolves posted a 45-39 victory over No. 5 Centennial … [Read more...] about Rematch against Northwest begins big week for Centennial basketball teams

ALONE AT THE TOP: Ankeny girls top Wolves, take sole possession of 1st place

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team hadn't defeated an opponent from Waukee since the 2012-13 season. That streak is now over. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes closed the game with a 13-6 run to defeat No. 10 Waukee Northwest, 44-41, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on Friday at Ankeny. "That was a big one," said Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly. … [Read more...] about ALONE AT THE TOP: Ankeny girls top Wolves, take sole possession of 1st place

Hawkettes romp past Lincoln for most lopsided victory ever under McAnelly

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It's been a season of milestones thus far for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. On Dec. 7, the Hawkettes defeated then-No. 6 Valley to knock off their highest-ranked opponent under coach Dru McAnelly. Then, on Friday, Ankeny rolled to an 87-29 victory over Marshalltown. The 58-point margin matched the team's largest ever under McAnelly. Following a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes romp past Lincoln for most lopsided victory ever under McAnelly

‘It was too big of a difference’: Slow start dooms Hawkettes in loss at Indianola

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team was coming off one of the best shooting displays in school history. The Hawkettes were unable to duplicate that performance on Monday. Ankeny shot just 34.6 percent from the field (18-of-52) and suffered a 54-47 loss at Indianola, the No. 5 team in Class 4A. The non-conference defeat snapped a four-game winning streak … [Read more...] about ‘It was too big of a difference’: Slow start dooms Hawkettes in loss at Indianola

Hawkettes scorch the nets, make 13 treys in blowout victory over Marshalltown

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There were a lot of open shots for the Ankeny girls' basketball team during Friday's game against visiting Marshalltown. The Hawkettes didn't miss many of them. Ankeny jumped out to a 34-7 lead in the first quarter, extended the advantage to 66-16 at halftime and cruised to an 87-29 victory over the Bobcats. It was the fourth straight win for the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes scorch the nets, make 13 treys in blowout victory over Marshalltown

A STATEMENT WIN: Hawkettes knock off top-10 foe for first time under McAnelly

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A year ago, the Ankeny girls' basketball team posted the first winning season since the split into two high schools. On Tuesday, the Hawkettes' program took another huge step forward. Ankeny closed out the game with a 13-5 run to post a 51-43 victory over visiting Valley, the No. 6 team in Class 5A. It was the Hawkettes' first win over a top-10 … [Read more...] about A STATEMENT WIN: Hawkettes knock off top-10 foe for first time under McAnelly

Hawkettes pick up the pace, force 33 turnovers in lopsided win at Ames

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The Ames girls' basketball team lost its first three games by an average margin of 65 points. A matchup against visiting Ankeny on Friday wasn't the breather that the Little Cyclones needed. The Hawkettes had 25 steals while forcing 33 turnovers and rolled to a 65-12 victory in their CIML Iowa Conference opener. They used a full-court press to turn the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pick up the pace, force 33 turnovers in lopsided win at Ames

FILLING IT UP: Senior’s 3-pointer sparks late run, lifts Hawkettes past North

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Jadyn Filling didn't hesitate when she had an open look at the basket. The senior guard drained a huge 3-point goal with 3 minutes 32 seconds left, sparking a late 11-2 run that lifted the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 44-40 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Monday. "I was struggling with confidence coming into this game, but I really feel … [Read more...] about FILLING IT UP: Senior’s 3-pointer sparks late run, lifts Hawkettes past North

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jenna Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Junior guard Jenna Pitz is one of two returning starters for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. She was named to the CIML Iowa Conference first team as a sophomore, when she averaged 9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Pitz scored 12 points and had two steals in Ankeny's 59-45 loss to fifth-ranked Southeast Polk in its season opener on Tuesday. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jenna Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Valiant effort falls short as S.E. Polk’s late run foils upset bid by Hawkettes

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A few days ago, Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly said he thought he could have a pretty good basketball team by mid-January. If Tuesday's season opener against fifth-ranked Southeast Polk was any indication, it's not going to take that long. Ankeny battled the visiting Rams on even terms for much of the game before Southeast Polk pulled away … [Read more...] about Valiant effort falls short as S.E. Polk’s late run foils upset bid by Hawkettes

Hawkettes could experience growing pains, but McAnelly sees some potential

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It might take awhile for the Ankeny girls' basketball team to reach its potential. The Hawkettes return only two starters from a squad that posted a 10-7 record last year for the program's first winning season since the split into two high schools. "We are extremely young with only two seniors, and both of them have not played very many varsity minutes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes could experience growing pains, but McAnelly sees some potential