Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

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

Centennial girls head to Pleasant Valley for 5A regional final

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Two of the state's best defensive teams will collide on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley with a trip to the girls' state basketball tournament at stake. The Class 5A Region 8 final will match seventh-ranked Pleasant Valley (21-0) against No. 10 Ankeny Centennial (14-7). Tip-off has been moved up to 6 p.m. due to the weather. "We know they're undefeated," … [Read more...] about Centennial girls head to Pleasant Valley for 5A regional final

‘We’re not done yet’: Centennial girls advance to regional final

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Kenna Sauer didn't want her basketball career to end on Saturday afternoon. The Missouri volleyball recruit scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Ankeny Centennial girls' team to a 50-31 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 5A regional semifinal. She also had two steals and a block. "We're not done yet," said … [Read more...] about ‘We’re not done yet’: Centennial girls advance to regional final

Jaguars stumble against Urbandale, will look to bounce back on Monday

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It's a good thing that the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team will play a make-up game at Des Moines East on Monday. The Jaguars would like to regain some momentum before the start of postseason play later next week. "We need to get out and play again," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. The ninth-ranked Jaguars were coming off back-to-back … [Read more...] about Jaguars stumble against Urbandale, will look to bounce back on Monday

Jaguars rely on balanced scoring, rugged defense to beat Mason City

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One of the hallmarks of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball program under coach Scott DeJong has been a rugged defense. The Jaguars typically try to wear down their opponents over the course of a 32-minute game. On Tuesday, Centennial's strategy may have benefited from a quirk in the schedule. Its opponent, Mason City, was coming off a 90-78 loss … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on balanced scoring, rugged defense to beat Mason City

Centennial girls avenge loss to Ames behind Sauer’s double-double

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Kenna Sauer had a sour taste in her mouth following Friday's game at Johnston. Less than 24 hours later, she had a chance to do something about it. The senior forward tied a season-high with 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 47-39 victory at No. 14 Ames on Saturday. "(Friday) … [Read more...] about Centennial girls avenge loss to Ames behind Sauer’s double-double

Jaguars connect on just 11-of-46 shots in loss to No. 3 Johnston

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The recent frigid temperatures may have cooled off the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. It took a late 3-point goal by reserve Jenny Hagg to prevent the Jaguars from setting a dubious record on Friday. Hagg connected from behind the arc with 45 seconds left to produce the final points of the game in Centennial's 46-27 loss at third-ranked … [Read more...] about Jaguars connect on just 11-of-46 shots in loss to No. 3 Johnston

Girls’ pairings announced: Hawkettes, Jaguars to host 5A regional semifinals

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The Class 5A regional basketball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Ankeny has been placed in Region 2, while Ankeny Centennial has been placed in Region 8. The Hawkettes (7-10) are seeded second in their bracket. They will host a semifinal game against Des Moines East (9-7) or Des Moines North (2-14) on Feb. 16 at … [Read more...] about Girls’ pairings announced: Hawkettes, Jaguars to host 5A regional semifinals

Dinnebier, Warriors snap 7-game losing streak to Centennial girls

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The Waukee girls' basketball team finally found a way to beat Ankeny Centennial. The emergence of sophomore guard Katie Dinnebier had a lot to do with it. Dinnebier scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half to lead the eighth-ranked Warriors to a 63-52 victory at No. 11 Centennial on Saturday. The win snapped Waukee's seven-game losing streak … [Read more...] about Dinnebier, Warriors snap 7-game losing streak to Centennial girls

Jaguars overcome Clark’s 40 points, rally past Dowling for huge win

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Don't ever count out the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. After scoring just 13 points in the first half of Friday's game at Dowling Catholic, the Jaguars appeared to be on their way to a loss that would have allowed third-ranked Johnston to clinch at least a share of the CIML Central Conference title. But a different Centennial team emerged … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome Clark’s 40 points, rally past Dowling for huge win