Holy comeback. For the second straight game, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team pulled off an amazing rally. Jackie Pippett scored the winning basket as time expired and the fifth-ranked Jaguars overcame a 14-point deficit to beat No. 4 Southeast Polk, 47-45, in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Monday at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Pippett’s buzzer-beater caps Jaguars’ amazing rally to beat S.E. Polk
Girls' Basketball
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
The girls' state basketball tournament gets under way at Wells Fargo Arena with the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday. We already know that at least one team from the CIML will advance to Friday night's championship game. Top-ranked Waukee is joined in the top half of the bracket by Dowling Catholic, Southeast Polk and Ankeny Centennial. No. 2 Johnston … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
‘We just hung in there’: Jaguars overcome 18-point deficit, earn trip to state
Scott DeJong has had some amazing wins in his legendary coaching career. Tuesday's victory over Des Moines Roosevelt would have to be near the top of his list. The fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team erased an 18-point deficit to beat No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt, 44-42, in a Class 5A regional final at Centennial. The Jaguars advanced … [Read more...] about ‘We just hung in there’: Jaguars overcome 18-point deficit, earn trip to state
Jaguars use epic comeback to edge Roosevelt, advance to state tourney
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is headed to the state tournament for the third time in school history. It took an epic comeback for the Jaguars to survive and advance. Fifth-ranked Centennial rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt, 44-42, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. Maggie Phipps … [Read more...] about Jaguars use epic comeback to edge Roosevelt, advance to state tourney
Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final
Scott DeJong knows that his Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team isn't always going to shoot the lights out. But when the fifth-ranked Jaguars defend like they did on Saturday night, it really doesn't matter. Centennial allowed just two points in the first 13 minutes of the game, built a 36-9 halftime lead and then cruised to a 52-32 victory over … [Read more...] about Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final
Centennial girls close out regular season with 76-35 victory at Mason City
Because of COVID-19 issues, it hasn't been a perfect season for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. But that didn't stop the fifth-ranked Jaguars from completing a perfect run through their CIML Iowa Conference schedule. Centennial raced out to a 40-12 halftime lead and cruised to a 76-35 victory at Mason City on Thursday. The Jaguars, who … [Read more...] about Centennial girls close out regular season with 76-35 victory at Mason City
‘We gutted it out’: Jaguars use big 4th quarter to knock off No. 9 Dowling
Averi Porter had not attempted a shot all night for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. When she finally took one, it turned out to be the biggest shot of the game. Porter drilled a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 8 seconds left and the fifth-ranked Jaguars went on to post a 48-40 victory at No. 9 Dowling Catholic in a non-conference … [Read more...] about ‘We gutted it out’: Jaguars use big 4th quarter to knock off No. 9 Dowling
Jaguars celebrate Senior Night by claiming outright Iowa Conference crown
The four seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had a lot of reasons to celebrate on Friday night. Not only was it Senior Night, but the fifth-ranked Jaguars wrapped up the outright CIML Iowa Conference title with a 57-50 victory over visiting Ames. "It feels really good," said senior forward Bella Robben. "Our team has worked really … [Read more...] about Jaguars celebrate Senior Night by claiming outright Iowa Conference crown
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial senior
The forward racked up eight points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Jaguars defeated Ames to wrap up the outright CIML Iowa Conference title. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial senior
No. 2 Waukee overcomes star’s absence, Porter’s hot shooting to defeat Jaguars
What appeared to be a break for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team turned out to be a mirage. When the fifth-ranked Jaguars showed up for Tuesday's showdown against No. 2 Waukee, they discovered that the visiting Warriors would be without their best player--senior guard Katie Dinnebier. Dinnebier, a Drake recruit, was forced to sit out after … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee overcomes star’s absence, Porter’s hot shooting to defeat Jaguars
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 122
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. Publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny Centennial basketball coaches Scott DeJong and Bob Fontana, as well as players Cleao Murray and Colin McAleer, about the Jaguars' season thus far and looks ahead to Friday's showdown at Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 122
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jackie Pippett, Centennial girls’ basketball
Senior forward Jackie Pippett has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 9-1 record. She is averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Pippett is shooting 58.2 percent from the field. She has made 94.1 percent of her free throws (16-of-17). Pippett scored a season-high 18 points in the Jaguars' 57-41 victory over … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jackie Pippett, Centennial girls’ basketball
Strom, Centennial girls rout Bobcats again, raise their record to 9-1
Lizzie Strom and the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team are on a roll. Strom scored 14 points and had two blocks off the bench to help the fifth-ranked Jaguars to a 71-8 victory over visiting Marshalltown on Friday. The senior forward has averaged 14 points in her last three games. "She knows where the rim is," Centennial coach Scott DeJong said … [Read more...] about Strom, Centennial girls rout Bobcats again, raise their record to 9-1
Four Centennial players outscore Hoover by themselves in 94-10 victory
Last month, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team rolled to a 98-13 victory at Marshalltown for the most lopsided win in school history. On Tuesday, the sixth-ranked Jaguars nearly matched that 85-point winning margin. Centennial jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter, built a 58-3 halftime lead and cruised to a 94-10 win at Des Moines … [Read more...] about Four Centennial players outscore Hoover by themselves in 94-10 victory
Centennial girls overcome poor outside shooting to defeat Mason City
Now is the time to beat the Mason City girls' basketball team. The Mohawks are likely going to be considerably better next season. Sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial overcame some poor outside shooting to beat visiting Mason City, 64-50, in a CIML Iowa Conference game on Saturday. The Jaguars won despite making just 4-of-19 attempts from 3-point … [Read more...] about Centennial girls overcome poor outside shooting to defeat Mason City
Centennial girls rout Dodgers for 2nd time, improve to 5-0 in conference
A fast start ignited the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 65-24 victory over visiting Fort Dodge on Tuesday. The fourth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 23-4 lead in the first quarter and held a 37-11 advantage at halftime. They extended the margin to 35 points in the third quarter, putting the running clock into effect. "I thought we played … [Read more...] about Centennial girls rout Dodgers for 2nd time, improve to 5-0 in conference
Jaguars can’t solve Valley’s box-and-one defense, suffer their first loss
The 13th-ranked Valley girls' basketball team was coming off a pair of 23-point losses to No. 2 Johnston and No. 5 Southeast Polk earlier this week. The Tigers didn't want to lose to another top-five opponent. With two freshmen playing key roles, Valley erased a 32-27 deficit in the second half and pulled away for a 61-47 victory on Saturday over … [Read more...] about Jaguars can’t solve Valley’s box-and-one defense, suffer their first loss
Phipps sets record, DeJong earns 650th victory as Jaguars roll past Ames
The battle for the CIML Iowa Conference girls' basketball title won't be decided until after the holiday break. But seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial may have taken a giant step toward the crown with an impressive victory on Tuesday. The Jaguars pulled away in the second half and rolled to a 79-43 win at No. 11 Ames. It was the 650th career victory for … [Read more...] about Phipps sets record, DeJong earns 650th victory as Jaguars roll past Ames
Jaguars throttle Marshalltown for most lopsided victory in school history
Nothing could stop the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Friday night. Marshalltown certainly couldn't. The seventh-ranked Jaguars built a 62-5 halftime lead and rolled to a 98-13 victory at Marshalltown in a CIML Iowa Conference game. It was the most points ever scored by Centennial and the most lopsided win in school history, surpassing the … [Read more...] about Jaguars throttle Marshalltown for most lopsided victory in school history
Despite shooting woes, Centennial girls romp to lopsided win over Cardinals
For the first 3 minutes of Tuesday's game against visiting Newton, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team couldn't find the basket. Thanks to a relentless defensive effort, the Jaguars' slow start proved to be insignificant. Seventh-ranked Centennial rolled to a 60-19 victory in the non-conference game, despite shooting just 36.5 percent from the … [Read more...] about Despite shooting woes, Centennial girls romp to lopsided win over Cardinals