Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory

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During the preseason, Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong pointed out the strength of the six teams in the CIML Central Conference. "Legitimately, you could finish fifth or sixth in our conference and be a strong state tournament contender," DeJong said. On Friday, Urbandale showed that DeJong knew what he was talking about. The … [Read more...] about Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory

Jaguars hit the boards, shut down Clark and roll to 62-40 victory

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If there was one play that summed up the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team's victory over visiting Dowling Catholic on Tuesday, it came in the final minute of the game. The 10th-ranked Jaguars were already ahead by 20 points when senior Rachel Schon stepped to the free-throw line for a bonus opportunity. Her first attempt bounced off the back of … [Read more...] about Jaguars hit the boards, shut down Clark and roll to 62-40 victory

Cold-shooting Centennial girls tumble to Little Cyclones

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On most nights, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team relies on a stingy defense to give the 10th-ranked Jaguars an opportunity to defeat nearly any opponent. However, if Centennial's shots aren't falling, then the Jaguars' defensive effort can only take them so far. Coach Scott DeJong's team shot just 28 percent from the field (12-of-43) and … [Read more...] about Cold-shooting Centennial girls tumble to Little Cyclones

Hawkettes snap two-game skid with hard-fought victory at Urbandale

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Ankeny's Kayla Pitz stood at the charity stripe and ignored the chants from the rowdy Urbandale student section. The junior guard made four consecutive free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the Hawkettes' 46-40 victory in a CIML Central Conference girls' basketball game on Friday. She went 7-of-8 from the line and had nine of her 11 points in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes snap two-game skid with hard-fought victory at Urbandale

Jaguars hungry for more after beating Roosevelt at Wells Fargo Arena

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Cleao Murray was a sixth grader back in 2016 when the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team captured the Class 5A state championship. "It's always been a dream of mine to make it to state and to play here at Wells Fargo Arena," Murray said. On Tuesday, Murray got a chance to play on the state tournament court for the first time. The freshman guard … [Read more...] about Jaguars hungry for more after beating Roosevelt at Wells Fargo Arena

Jaguars overcome slow start, pull away from Ankeny in 2nd half

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Ankeny Centennial's Rachel Schon has yet to lose a game to Ankeny during her high school basketball career. She'd like to keep it that way. Schon scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half as the 10th-ranked Jaguars pulled away on Friday for a 49-27 victory at No. 13 Ankeny. The Jaguars improved to 11-0 all-time in the series. "It's so fun … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome slow start, pull away from Ankeny in 2nd half

Young takes over in 2nd half, leads No. 4 Valley girls past Jaguars

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At times on Tuesday, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team forced Valley star Zoe Young into a turnover or a missed shot. Whenever the Jaguars threatened to take the lead, however, the Maryland recruit came up with a huge play for the fourth-ranked Tigers. Young scored 19 of her 29 points in the second half to lead Valley to a 63-50 victory at … [Read more...] about Young takes over in 2nd half, leads No. 4 Valley girls past Jaguars

Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies

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Ten different players scored for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team in an 84-24 victory at Des Moines Hoover on Friday. Unfortunately, junior guard Meg Burns wasn't one of them. Burns sat on the bench in street clothes as she continues to battle a lingering foot injury that she suffered in July. "Her foot's just been bad, and it needs to … [Read more...] about Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies

No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss

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A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. Or, maybe, it was just a fast start by Southeast Polk. The top-ranked Rams jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the first quarter and led all the way en route to a 51-44 victory at No. 10 Centennial. The Jaguars dropped to 2-1 on the season. "They came out on fire--they … [Read more...] about No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

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Bella Robben of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Robben, a sophomore guard, has helped the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 2-1 record. She is averaging 3.3 points per game. Robben scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in Centennial's season-opening 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln

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If the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team misses a shot, there's a good chance that the Jaguars will grab an offensive rebound. That proved to be the case on Saturday afternoon at Des Moines Lincoln, where 10th-ranked Centennial won the battle of the boards, 43-12, and rolled to a 75-20 victory over the Railsplitters. "We were really strong on … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln

Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

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It took only 15 seconds for Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns to make her first 3-point goal of the season. The junior guard swished a shot from the top of the key on the game's opening possession and went on to score 12 points, all of them in the first half, to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in their season opener on … [Read more...] about Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

Centennial’s Schon commits to play for William Jewell College

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Rachel Schon and Codee Myers were once crosstown rivals. Beginning next year, the duo will become teammates. Schon, an Ankeny Centennial senior, has committed to play basketball at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. She will join a roster that includes Myers, a former Ankeny standout. "I am happy to have made my decision," Schon said. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Schon commits to play for William Jewell College

Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a slew of injuries to post a 19-4 record. Centennial coach Scott DeJong is hoping to have better luck this season, but the Jaguars have already been bitten by the injury bug. Junior guard Meg Burns, one of the team's top returning players, has been sidelined since July due to a foot … [Read more...] about Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

Inaugural Athletic Boosters Cake Auction slated for Jan. 11

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The inaugural Ankeny Athletic Boosters Cake Auction will be held on Friday, Jan. 11 during the Ankeny vs. Ankeny Centennial girls' and boys' basketball doubleheader. This exciting event will be a fundraiser for the Booster Club to support both athletic programs. Sweet cake sponsorships are being offered for $250. The boosters will arrange to have a cake … [Read more...] about Inaugural Athletic Boosters Cake Auction slated for Jan. 11

Centennial’s Williams to play for Mineral Area College

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Keanna Williams wants to get out of her comfort zone. That's one of the reasons the Ankeny Centennial point guard has verbally committed to play basketball for Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo. She picked the Cardinals over nearby Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. "I have always been around my mom and dad and have never ventured off," … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Williams to play for Mineral Area College

McCullough, Olson earn all-state honors from Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association

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Ankeny's Sara McCullough and Ankeny Centennial's Chloe Olson have received all-state basketball honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. McCullough, a junior forward, was named to the Class 5A second team. She averaged 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while leading the Hawkettes to an 11-12 record, their best season since the split into two … [Read more...] about McCullough, Olson earn all-state honors from Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chloe Olson, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

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Chloe Olson is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The senior forward helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 19-4 record this season. Olson averaged a team-high 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Jaguars. She made 51.3 percent of her shots from the field. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chloe Olson, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

McCullough, Olson named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-CIML second team

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  Although Monday was a rough day for the CIML at the girls' state basketball tournament, the 18-team conference still boasts some of the best talent in the state. And much of that talent will be coming back next year. Four of the five players named to Ankeny Fanatic's all-CIML first team are underclassmen. Four of the five second-team players … [Read more...] about McCullough, Olson named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-CIML second team