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
Winter
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
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Carson Johnson, Ankeny senior
The sharpshooting point guard returns from an injury and pours in 38 points to lead the Hawks to a 76-63 victory over Ankeny Centennial. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Carson Johnson, Ankeny senior
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 girls’ bowling team tops Dowling by nearly 300 pins for its 2nd victory
The Ankeny girls' bowling team earned its second victory of the season on Thursday. The Hawkettes defeated host Dowling Catholic by a score of 2,088 to 1,805 at Game Day Lanes. They improved to 1-5 in the CIML Conference and 2-9 overall. It was the second-highest score of the season for the Ankeny girls' squad. The Hawkettes' season-high total of 2,108 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling by nearly 300 pins for its 2nd victory
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
‘That was a nailbiter’: Jags use late pins to beat Johnston, advance to state duals
Lucas Bruhl and the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers are headed back to the state duals tournament. The top-ranked Bruhl got a fall at 150 pounds to clinch the fifth-seeded Jaguars' 45-34 victory over No. 11 Johnston in the final of a Class 3A regional dual on Tuesday at Centennial. He pinned Kinnick Thompson in just 24 seconds to punch his team's ticket to … [Read more...] about ‘That was a nailbiter’: Jags use late pins to beat Johnston, advance to state duals
Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Jay Groth, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
The Jaguars advance to the state duals tournament for the second year in a row with a 45-34 victory over Johnston. … [Read more...] about Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Jay Groth, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Hawk wrestlers beat Valley again, then fall to Indianola in final of regional dual
The Ankeny wrestling team was hoping to earn a third consecutive trip to the state duals tournament. Second-seeded Indianola proved to be an obstacle that the Hawks couldn't overcome. The host Indians posted a 45-15 victory over No. 15 Ankeny in the final of a regional duals tournament on Tuesday. The Hawks, who placed fourth in Class 3A a year ago, … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers beat Valley again, then fall to Indianola in final of regional dual
Without injured Johnson, Ankeny boys suffer 67-48 loss to defending champs
Tuesday's game against third-ranked Valley was already going to be a challenge for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. It became even tougher when Carson Johnson, the leading scorer in Class 4A, was unable to play. Johnson sat out with a hand injury that he suffered during Friday's loss to Waukee Northwest, and the host Hawks went on to drop a 67-48 … [Read more...] about Without injured Johnson, Ankeny boys suffer 67-48 loss to defending champs
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
Ankeny bowling teams fall to Greene County in rematch at Spare Times
The high school bowling season is heading into the home stretch. Both of Ankeny's teams traveled to Jefferson on Friday for a non-conference meet against Greene County at Spare Times Lanes & Lounge. It was Ankeny's second meet in two days. Greene County won the boys' meet by a score of 2,699 to 2,618. Chase Fecher had a 472 series for the Rams … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams fall to Greene County in rematch at Spare Times
Ankeny boys lose star guard Johnson to hand injury during loss to Waukee NW
Some losses are more costly than others. The Ankeny boys' basketball team is hoping that Friday's defeat to visiting Waukee Northwest won't be too damaging in the grand scheme of things. However, an injury to star point guard Carson Johnson could be even more detrimental than the 62-49 loss. Johnson, the leading scorer in Class 4A with an average of … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys lose star guard Johnson to hand injury during loss to Waukee NW
‘We were just hungry for this win’: Jaguars top Waukee NW, raise record to 18-1
Mitchell Grider and the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers wanted to keep their momentum going heading into next week's Class 3A regional dual. Grider won by a major decision at 215 pounds to help the Jaguars to a 39-28 victory at Waukee Northwest in their final dual meet of the regular season on Thursday. "We had a good game plan coming in," said Grider, who … [Read more...] about ‘We were just hungry for this win’: Jaguars top Waukee NW, raise record to 18-1
Hawk wrestlers roll past Valley, will meet Tigers again in Class 3A regional dual
Thursday's wrestling dual meet at Ankeny was a preview of Tuesday's regional dual at Indianola. Ankeny posted a 46-15 victory over Valley in its final dual of the regular season. The Hawks finished 3-5 in the CIML Conference and raised their overall record to 8-9. The two teams will meet again in the opening round of a Class 3A regional dual next … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers roll past Valley, will meet Tigers again in Class 3A regional dual
‘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
Ankeny boys hold off Dowling Catholic, move into 3rd place in CIML Conference
Every win matters right now for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The ninth-ranked Hawks, who are fighting for a top seed in a Class 4A substate tournament, took another step toward reaching that goal with a 66-60 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic on Tuesday. They completed a sweep of the season series against the Maroons, who dropped the first … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys hold off Dowling Catholic, move into 3rd place in CIML Conference
‘Our kids wrestled hard’: Hawks notch 5 pins, but drop 33-32 decision to Wolves
Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall saw some progress from his team despite a close loss on Tuesday. The 12th-ranked Hawks dropped a 33-32 decision to No. 6 Waukee Northwest in a CIML Conference dual meet at Southview Middle School. The Wolves got a pin from Abe Parker at 190 pounds to close out the meet. "It was pretty close," said Ankeny coach Jack … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids wrestled hard’: Hawks notch 5 pins, but drop 33-32 decision to Wolves