Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Basketball

Centennial girls deliver early knockout punch, roll to victory over Railsplitters

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter of Tuesday's non-conference game at Des Moines Lincoln. The Railsplitters never recovered from the knockout punch. Centennial extended its advantage to 34-3 at halftime and 42-3 after three quarters before coasting to a 45-12 victory. The eighth-ranked Jaguars … [Read more...] about Centennial girls deliver early knockout punch, roll to victory over Railsplitters

‘I was really feeling my shot’: Clark scores 22 points, leads Jaguars past Fort Dodge

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Ankeny Centennial's Makenna Clark had scored a total of 19 points in her first three games of the season. It took her less than a half on Friday to surpass that total. Clark made five 3-point goals and scored 21 points in the first two quarters as the eighth-ranked Jaguars built a 36-13 halftime lead against visiting Fort Dodge and went on to post a … [Read more...] about ‘I was really feeling my shot’: Clark scores 22 points, leads Jaguars past Fort Dodge

Jaguars shut down Dailey, lead from start to finish in victory over No. 5 S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team struggled at the free-throw line during Tuesday's game against visiting Southeast Polk, making just 16-of-29 attempts. But the way the Jaguars were defending, it didn't matter. Ninth-ranked Centennial led from start to finish and posted a 45-38 victory over the No. 5 Rams. The Jaguars improved to 3-0 on the … [Read more...] about Jaguars shut down Dailey, lead from start to finish in victory over No. 5 S.E. Polk

Jaguars make nine 3-pointers, cruise to 42-point victory at Urbandale

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The ball was falling through the hoop on Friday for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The ninth-ranked Jaguars found their shooting stroke in a 58-16 victory at Urbandale. They raised their record to 2-0 on the season, while the J-Hawks dropped to 0-2. "We shot the ball well," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. "We hadn't done that in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars make nine 3-pointers, cruise to 42-point victory at Urbandale

‘We were happy to get out of there’: Jaguars win opener over improved North

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A matchup against Des Moines North used to be an easy win for most girls' basketball teams in the CIML. Ankeny Centennial found out on Tuesday in its season opener that this year's version of the Polar Bears is different. The ninth-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the second half for a 44-30 road victory, but North showed that it's going to be a lot more … [Read more...] about ‘We were happy to get out of there’: Jaguars win opener over improved North

No. 9 Jaguars return experienced guards, add talented post player from Ames

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Some high school basketball teams are fortunate to have two good ballhandlers. The Ankeny Centennial girls' squad is blessed to have four veteran guards who can share the ballhandling duties. Seniors Cleao Murray and Elle Street along with juniors Makenna Clark and Averi Porter will form the nucleus of this year's roster. "Those four are the core of … [Read more...] about No. 9 Jaguars return experienced guards, add talented post player from Ames

With several key returnees, Centennial girls are 9th in 5A preseason rankings

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is No. 9 in Class 5A in the preseason rankings by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The Jaguars posted a 16-3 record last season and reached the Class 5A semifinals before losing to eventual champion Waukee. They return several key players from that team, including senior guards Cleao Murray and Elle … [Read more...] about With several key returnees, Centennial girls are 9th in 5A preseason rankings

Centennial’s Murray to play basketball at Missouri Western State University

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With offers from seven different schools, Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Cleao Murray had plenty of options. In the end, one of the schools stood out above the rest. Murray verbally committed on Thursday night to play for Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. Missouri Western is an NCAA Division II school. "The deciding … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Murray to play basketball at Missouri Western State University

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Makenna Clark, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Sophomore guard Makenna Clark helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 16-3 record this season. Clark averaged 4.9 points per game. She scored a career-high 16 points in the Jaguars' 79-43 win at Ames on Dec. 22. That win provided Centennial coach Scott DeJong with his 650th career victory. "Makenna had a great start to our season, … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Makenna Clark, Centennial girls’ basketball

Crews, Fontana, Phipps to participate in Pizza Ranch All-Star games

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana will get one more opportunity to coach his star point guard. Senior Jaron Crews has been selected to play in the 2021 Pizza Ranch All-Star games sponsored by the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association. He will play for the Southwest Iowa boys' team that will be co-coached by Fontana and Josh Henry of … [Read more...] about Crews, Fontana, Phipps to participate in Pizza Ranch All-Star games

Phipps earns all-state second-team honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers

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Chalk up another postseason honor for Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Maggie Phipps. Phipps has been named to the Class 5A all-state second team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. The senior guard led Centennial to a 16-3 record this season. Phipps was earlier selected to the Class 5A first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches … [Read more...] about Phipps earns all-state second-team honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cleao Murray, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Junior wing player Cleao Murray scored nine points on Thursday as the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team lost to No. 1 Waukee, 50-29, in the Class 5A semifinals at Wells Fargo Arena. She went 3-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Murray played in the final seven games after recovering from offseason knee surgery. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cleao Murray, Centennial girls’ basketball

Waukee’s Dinnebier named captain of Class 5A all-tournament team

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Waukee guard Katie Dinnebier was named the captain of the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading her team to the state title on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Dinnebier poured in 29 points as the top-ranked Warriors rolled to a 71-43 victory over No. 2 Johnston, avenging last year's loss to the Dragons in the Class 5A final. She went 11-of-14 from … [Read more...] about Waukee’s Dinnebier named captain of Class 5A all-tournament team

‘We couldn’t buy a basket’: Long shooting drought dooms Jaguars’ title hopes

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The Waukee girls' basketball players were well aware of Ankeny Centennial's ability to come back from a double-digit deficit. The top-ranked Warriors weren't about to let it happen again. Waukee built a 28-18 halftime lead, then used a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 50-29 victory over No. 5 Centennial in the Class 5A semifinals on … [Read more...] about ‘We couldn’t buy a basket’: Long shooting drought dooms Jaguars’ title hopes

Jaguars’ magical postseason run ends with semifinal loss to No. 1 Waukee

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The Comeback Kids couldn't do it again. After reaching the Class 5A semifinals with back-to-back rallies from double-digit deficits, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team finally dug itself a hole that it couldn't overcome. Top-ranked Waukee built a 28-18 halftime lead, then used a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 5 Centennial, … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ magical postseason run ends with semifinal loss to No. 1 Waukee

PURPLE REIGN: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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I'm not sure if Thursday's Class 5A semifinals in the girls' state basketball tournament can match the intensity and the drama of Monday's quarterfinals, but you never know. That's why they play the games. The Final Four includes three teams from the CIML as well as sixth-ranked Iowa City West, which avenged an earlier loss to No. 3 Waterloo West to reach … [Read more...] about PURPLE REIGN: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer

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March Madness is off to a roaring start at Wells Fargo Arena. Jackie Pippett scored the winning basket at the buzzer to give the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team a 47-45 victory over No. 4 Southeast Polk in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday. "I really didn't even think I was going to get the ball," said Pippett. "But I did, and … [Read more...] about MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer