Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Girls' Basketball

‘We took care of business’: Centennial girls rebound from loss to beat Ames

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

‘Very athletic’ Jags to rely on 3 returning seniors, large sophomore group

by

Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong always relies heavily on his seniors. This year, DeJong has a trio of senior starters with a lot of experience on the court. Guards Makenna Clark and Averi Porter both played key roles on last year's team along with post player Kennedy White, helping the Jaguars to a 20-4 record and a second … [Read more...] about ‘Very athletic’ Jags to rely on 3 returning seniors, large sophomore group

Centennial’s Porter chooses basketball over soccer, will play for William Jewell

by

Senior Averi Porter has been a multi-sport standout at Ankeny Centennial, competing in basketball, soccer and track. Now, she just wants to focus on one sport at the collegiate level. Porter announced on Thursday that she will play basketball next year at William Jewell College, an NCAA Division II school in Liberty, Mo. "I'm very excited to … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Porter chooses basketball over soccer, will play for William Jewell

‘I knew it was the best place for me!’: Clark commits to play for Wayne State

by

Ankeny Centennial's Makenna Clark has committed to play basketball at Wayne State College, beginning in the fall of 2023. The junior guard made her decision after visiting Wayne State and a few other schools. "The coaching staff was very welcoming, and when I left the visit, I knew it was the best place for me!" Clark said. Clark averaged 6.2 points … [Read more...] about ‘I knew it was the best place for me!’: Clark commits to play for Wayne State

‘We knew it was a tough draw’: Talented Wahawks end Centennial’s bid for crown

by

The Class 5A field for this year's girls' state basketball tournament might be one of the best ever. It's certainly the deepest. Sixth-ranked Waterloo West showed that it may be the most talented team in Class 5A with a 67-59 victory over No. 3 Ankeny Centennial in the quarterfinals on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. The Wahawks (22-2) advanced to … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it was a tough draw’: Talented Wahawks end Centennial’s bid for crown

Wahawks top Centennial 25 years after Ankeny’s epic five-OT win against West

by

Before they coached against each other on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena, girls' basketball coaches Scott DeJong of Ankeny Centennial and Dr. Anthony Pappas of Waterloo West had a few moments to reminisce. It was 25 years ago that the two coaches battled in an epic state tournament game at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, which was also known as "The … [Read more...] about Wahawks top Centennial 25 years after Ankeny’s epic five-OT win against West

‘We left it all out on the court’: Jaguars fall to hot-shooting Waterloo West, 67-59

by

The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team didn't go down without a fight. The third-ranked Jaguars made several runs in the second half but came up short against No. 6 Waterloo West, 67-59, in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. "I think we left it all out on the court," said Centennial senior Cleao … [Read more...] about ‘We left it all out on the court’: Jaguars fall to hot-shooting Waterloo West, 67-59

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Elle Street, Centennial girls’ basketball

by

Senior guard Elle Street has helped the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 20-3 record and a berth in this week's Class 5A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Jaguars advanced to state for the second year in a row with a 46-41 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a regional final on Wednesday. Street, who has committed … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Elle Street, Centennial girls’ basketball

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

by

A year ago, Waukee stormed to the Class 5A girls' basketball title in dominant fashion, winning its three games at Wells Fargo Arena by 23, 21 and 28 points. Now, another CIML school is poised to make some history as well. Top-ranked Johnston, which won the state championship in 2020 before losing a title-game rematch against Waukee last year, enters … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals