Ankeny Centennial's Averi Porter has made a lot of big shots in her high school basketball career. On Tuesday night, the senior guard connected on a few more. Porter erupted for 10 points in the first 3 minutes of the fourth quarter as the sixth-ranked Jaguars pulled away from a 33-33 tie to post a 52-46 victory at No. 9 Southeast Polk. She finished … [Read more...] about ‘I’ve been feeling it lately’: Porter’s late flurry lifts Jaguars to victory at S.E. Polk
Girls' Basketball
‘We didn’t quite deserve it’: Jaguars lose late lead, fall at No. 2 Johnston in OT
A week ago, the Johnston girls' basketball team suffered its first loss in 43 games, proving that the second-ranked Dragons are beatable. On Friday, the defending state champions nearly took another loss--this time on their home court. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial built a 49-42 lead with 2 minutes 51 seconds left, but Johnston used a 10-3 run to force … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t quite deserve it’: Jaguars lose late lead, fall at No. 2 Johnston in OT
No. 6 Centennial girls roll past Waukee for their 7th victory in last 8 games
After a rare Friday night off, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team returned to the court on Tuesday and put together a complete performance. The sixth-ranked Jaguars placed four players in double figures and rolled past No. 14 Waukee, 55-36, in a CIML Conference game at Centennial. It was their second 19-point win over the Warriors, who had … [Read more...] about No. 6 Centennial girls roll past Waukee for their 7th victory in last 8 games
Jaguars avenge loss to No. 4 Valley, move into 3rd-place tie with Tigers
When the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team suffered a loss at Valley last month, the Jaguars were held to a season-low 40 points. On Tuesday night, that same offensive output was enough to produce a 40-34 victory in a rematch between the two teams at Centennial. "Valley's been a top-five team all year long," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. … [Read more...] about Jaguars avenge loss to No. 4 Valley, move into 3rd-place tie with Tigers
With a chip on their shoulder, Jaguars romp to 77-28 victory at Urbandale
Each time the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has suffered a loss this season, the Jaguars have bounced back with a resounding victory. Seventh-ranked Centennial did it again on Friday with a 77-28 win at Urbandale. The Jaguars are now 4-0 in games after a loss--with an average winning margin of 35.8 points. "You hope when you're coming off a … [Read more...] about With a chip on their shoulder, Jaguars romp to 77-28 victory at Urbandale
FOUL PLAY: Jaguars adjust slowly to ‘tighter whistle’ in loss at No. 8 Dowling
Some early foul trouble proved to be disastrous for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars fell behind in the first quarter at No. 8 Dowling Catholic, 22-10, and could never recover. The Maroons went on to post a 57-40 victory. "We just didn't play well enough," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. "The foul … [Read more...] about FOUL PLAY: Jaguars adjust slowly to ‘tighter whistle’ in loss at No. 8 Dowling
‘It was a great win’: Centennial girls use late rally to knock off No. 6 S.E. Polk
In the latest Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union basketball rankings, Ankeny Centennial moved up one spot to No. 5 in Class 5A, trading places with CIML rival Southeast Polk. Perhaps the IGHSAU officials can predict the future. On Friday, the two teams battled down to the wire before Centennial escaped with a 54-52 victory on its home court. The … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great win’: Centennial girls use late rally to knock off No. 6 S.E. Polk
‘We sure didn’t show any rust’: Clark, Crawford lead Jaguars past Waukee NW
There was no holiday rust for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The sixth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 23-7 lead and rolled to a 44-30 victory over No. 7 Waukee Northwest in a CIML Conference game on Tuesday at Centennial. "We've been having great practices throughout the break so we were ready to finally get back out on the court and … [Read more...] about ‘We sure didn’t show any rust’: Clark, Crawford lead Jaguars past Waukee NW
Crawford, Centennial girls get off to fast start, cruise to road victory at Waukee
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team led from start to finish en route to a 48-29 victory on Friday at Waukee. The eighth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and held a 27-19 advantage at halftime. The No. 12 Warriors couldn't rally in the second half, when they scored just 10 points. "We definitely wanted to get out … [Read more...] about Crawford, Centennial girls get off to fast start, cruise to road victory at Waukee
‘We kept battling back’: Jaguars’ upset bid falls short against No. 2 Johnston
Ankeny Centennial's Averi Porter was hoping to celebrate her birthday with a huge victory. Unfortunately, the Jaguars' upset bid came up just short. The second-ranked Johnston girls' basketball team scored the game's final seven points and escaped with a 46-40 win at No. 6 Centennial on Tuesday. The defending Class 5A state champion Dragons extended … [Read more...] about ‘We kept battling back’: Jaguars’ upset bid falls short against No. 2 Johnston
‘We took care of business’: Centennial girls rebound from loss to beat Ames
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team bounced back from Friday's loss at Valley with a 65-25 victory at Ames in a non-conference game on Saturday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars raised their record to 6-2. The Little Cyclones dropped to 1-5. "We had a knockdown, dragout game on Friday so we were a little slow at the beginning, but we took care of … [Read more...] about ‘We took care of business’: Centennial girls rebound from loss to beat Ames
Valley girls hold Jaguars scoreless over last 5 minutes to win seesaw battle
A late scoring drought proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Friday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars went scoreless over the last 5 minutes and suffered a 44-40 loss at No. 8 Valley. The Tigers have won the last five meetings against Centennial. "We turned the ball over way too much," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. "You have … [Read more...] about Valley girls hold Jaguars scoreless over last 5 minutes to win seesaw battle
‘She was very efficient’: White scores career-high 23 in Jaguars’ win over Riders
Kennedy White was coming off a season-low six-point game in a loss to Dowling Catholic on Friday. It didn't take long for the senior post player to surpass that total on Tuesday. White poured in a career-high 23 points and also grabbed seven rebounds to lead the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 69-34 victory over No. 10 Des … [Read more...] about ‘She was very efficient’: White scores career-high 23 in Jaguars’ win over Riders
Zediker’s late free throws spoil Jaguars’ rally, lift Dowling Catholic to 65-64 win
For the first time this season, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team played a game that went down to the wire. It resulted in a heartbreaking loss. The third-ranked Jaguars rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 64-63 lead with 9.4 seconds left, but No. 6 Dowling Catholic got a pair of free throws from Ava Zediker … [Read more...] about Zediker’s late free throws spoil Jaguars’ rally, lift Dowling Catholic to 65-64 win
No. 3 Jaguars crank up defense, cruise past Urbandale to raise record to 4-0
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team wasn't perfect on Tuesday, but the Jaguars' record remained spotless. Third-ranked Centennial allowed just eight points over the last three quarters and rolled past visiting Urbandale, 52-21, in its CIML Conference opener. The Jaguars are now 4-0 on the season. "They hit some shots early on. They made a … [Read more...] about No. 3 Jaguars crank up defense, cruise past Urbandale to raise record to 4-0
Despite shooting woes, Jaguars shut down I.C. Liberty to remain unbeaten
Sometimes, the shots aren't falling for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. Fortunately for the Jaguars, their defense seldom takes a day off. Third-ranked Centennial held No. 13 Iowa City Liberty to just 25 percent shooting and remained unbeaten with a 46-35 victory on Saturday at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. "Their guard … [Read more...] about Despite shooting woes, Jaguars shut down I.C. Liberty to remain unbeaten
Jaguars get Jenkins into early foul trouble, roll to 66-26 victory at North
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team found a way to neutralize Des Moines North standout Amani Jenkins. Get her in some early foul trouble. Jenkins sat out most of the first half with three fouls as visiting Centennial built a 26-9 halftime lead, and the third-ranked Jaguars went on to defeat No. 11 North, 66-26, in a non-conference game on … [Read more...] about Jaguars get Jenkins into early foul trouble, roll to 66-26 victory at North
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kennedy White, Centennial girls’ hoops
Senior post player Kennedy White is one of three returning starters for the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. She was a first-team all-conference pick as a junior, when she averaged 10.3 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game while helping the Jaguars to a 20-4 record. White had 12 points and two rebounds on Friday as the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kennedy White, Centennial girls’ hoops
TOTAL MISMATCH: Jaguars romp to 74-6 victory at East in season opener
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team will play perhaps the most difficult schedule in program history this season--thanks to the formation of the new nine-team CIML Conference. Friday's season opener at Des Moines East might have been one of the few breathers on the Jaguars' schedule. Third-ranked Centennial jumped out to a 28-1 lead at the end … [Read more...] about TOTAL MISMATCH: Jaguars romp to 74-6 victory at East in season opener
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 204
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong about the Jaguars' upcoming season. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 204