Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

Centennial girls shut down No. 8 Little Cyclones for huge road victory

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There are a number of things in the world that you can just count on. The sun will rise every morning. Then it will go down at night. And the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team will continue to play stifling defense. The 13th-ranked Jaguars allowed just 19 points through the first three quarters and posted a 50-32 victory at No. 8 Ames on … [Read more...] about Centennial girls shut down No. 8 Little Cyclones for huge road victory

‘We really wanted to step up our energy’: Jaguars roll past Roosevelt

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There was no letdown Tuesday for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The 13th-ranked Jaguars, who let a 12-point lead slip away in the final 6 minutes of Friday's loss at No. 4 Johnston, rolled to a 62-27 victory over No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt on Tuesday at Centennial. "After that loss at Johnston, we really wanted to step up our energy," … [Read more...] about ‘We really wanted to step up our energy’: Jaguars roll past Roosevelt

‘You have to play a full 4 quarters’: Centennial girls let late lead slip away

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For more than three quarters Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad outplayed one of the state's best teams. The 13th-ranked Jaguars held a 40-28 lead at No. 4 Johnston with 6 minutes left in the CIML Central Conference opener. But they couldn't close out the victory. The Dragons outscored Centennial the rest of the way, 19-4, and … [Read more...] about ‘You have to play a full 4 quarters’: Centennial girls let late lead slip away

Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had the defending Class 5A state champion on the ropes Tuesday night. But the Jaguars were unable to deliver the knockout blow. Eighth-ranked Centennial jumped out to an early 11-1 lead at No. 12 Valley before the Tigers used runs of 14-2 and 19-5 to rally for a 52-44 victory. "We started off really well, … [Read more...] about Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs

Centennial girls rebound from loss with thumping of Huskies

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team pitched a shutout during the first quarter of Friday's game against visiting Des Moines Hoover. The eighth-ranked Jaguars raced out to a 23-0 lead at the end of the opening period. They built a 41-6 advantage at halftime and then cruised to a 76-15 victory over the Huskies. Centennial coach Scott DeJong … [Read more...] about Centennial girls rebound from loss with thumping of Huskies

Centennial girls’ late rally falls short in loss to No. 6 S.E. Polk

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During last year's state tournament, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit before losing to Southeast Polk in overtime in the Class 5A quarterfinals. The Jaguars tried to pull off a similar comeback against their CIML rival on Tuesday, but this time the deficit was too large. Sixth-ranked Southeast Polk built a … [Read more...] about Centennial girls’ late rally falls short in loss to No. 6 S.E. Polk

Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history

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Don't expect the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to win every game by 70 points. For one day, though, that's exactly what the seventh-ranked Jaguars did. Centennial built a 57-7 halftime lead and then coasted to an 84-14 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in its season opener on Saturday afternoon. It was the Jaguars' most lopsided win … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history

Young Jaguars will need to get key contributions from several players

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For much of the last three seasons, Kenna Sauer and Rachel Schon were the faces of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball program. The duo led the Jaguars to a 51-18 record during that stretch, but have now taken their talents to the collegiate level. Sauer is playing volleyball at Missouri, while Schon is averaging 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game … [Read more...] about Young Jaguars will need to get key contributions from several players

Schon, McCullough earn all-state honors from IGCA, IPSWA

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The Central Iowa Metropolitan League dominated the Class 5A state tournament last week, placing seven of its schools in the eight-team field. Now, the CIML has dominated the Class 5A all-state teams by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The league boasts six of the eight first-team selections and 15 of the 24 all-staters overall. Seniors Rachel Schon … [Read more...] about Schon, McCullough earn all-state honors from IGCA, IPSWA

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Alexandria Keahna-Harris, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Junior forward Alexandria Keahna-Harris helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 15-8 record. She scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in the Jaguars' 61-56 overtime loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A quarterfinals of the state tournament on Feb. 25 at Wells Fargo Arena. Keahna-Harris averaged 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Alexandria Keahna-Harris, Centennial girls’ basketball

McCullough, Schon named to coaches’ Central Conference first team

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After racking up double-doubles on a regular basis, Sara McCullough of Ankeny and Rachel Schon of Ankeny Centennial have both been named to the CIML Central Conference first team by a vote of the league's girls' basketball coaches. McCullough, a senior forward, led the Hawkettes to a 9-12 record this season. The Northern Iowa recruit averaged a team-high … [Read more...] about McCullough, Schon named to coaches’ Central Conference first team

McCullough, Schon to play in Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star Game

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For the last four seasons, Sara McCullough of Ankeny and Rachel Schon of Ankeny Centennial have been rivals on the basketball court. For one weekend next month, the two seniors will become teammates. Both McCullough and Schon have been selected to play in the Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star Game on April 6-7 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar … [Read more...] about McCullough, Schon to play in Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star Game

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lily King, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

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Lily King was one of the top reserves on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The senior guard helped the Jaguars to a 15-8 record. She had three points, two rebounds and two assists as the Jaguars ended their season with a 61-56 overtime loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. King averaged 1.6 … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lily King, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

McGraw, S.E. Polk girls outlast Jaguars in overtime thriller

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The final shot of Rachel Schon's high school basketball career won't define her legacy. But the spirit and determination that Schon and her Ankeny Centennial teammates showed during Monday's Class 5A quarterfinal against third-ranked Southeast Polk most certainly will. The No. 10 Jaguars battled back from an early 13-point deficit to force overtime … [Read more...] about McGraw, S.E. Polk girls outlast Jaguars in overtime thriller

Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

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Here's a quick primer on Monday's Class 5A quarterfinals and what COULD happen in the girls' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena: 10 a.m.--#1 Johnston (21-2) vs. #8 Urbandale (13-9). The key matchup here will be between talented point guards Maya McDermott of Johnston and DeeDee Pryor of Urbandale, who have committed to play for Northern Iowa … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

Williams hits game-winning basket in final seconds for MAC

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Three years ago, Keanna Williams helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to its first state championship. Then a sophomore, Williams was a clutch performer for the Jaguars. She made all five of her free throws and scored 13 points in Centennial's 46-42 victory over Johnston in the Class 5A final. Now a freshman guard on the Mineral Area … [Read more...] about Williams hits game-winning basket in final seconds for MAC

After pulling off one upset, Jaguars will try for another against S.E. Polk

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When the girls' state basketball tournament tips off on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena, 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial won't be mentioned as one of the favorites to capture the Class 5A title. But that's just fine with the Jaguars. Centennial pulled off one upset in order to reach the state tournament, and now it will try for another one. The Jaguars … [Read more...] about After pulling off one upset, Jaguars will try for another against S.E. Polk

WELL DONE: Jaguars topple Pleasant Valley, earn trip to state tournament

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Wells Fargo Arena sits only about 10 miles away from the city of Ankeny. To earn a chance to play there, however, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had to make its longest road trip ever. The 10th-ranked Jaguars traveled to Pleasant Valley on Tuesday for a Class 5A regional final against the No. 7 Spartans, who entered the game with a 21-0 … [Read more...] about WELL DONE: Jaguars topple Pleasant Valley, earn trip to state tournament