Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

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

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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

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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

Ex-Centennial point guard Crews to play basketball at DMACC (Boone)

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Former Ankeny Centennial basketball star Jaron Crews is headed back to central Iowa. After spending a year at Don Bosco Prep in Crown Point, Ind., Crews has committed to play for DMACC (Boone) next season. "It was between DMACC and Kirkwood," said Crews, who announced his decision via Twitter on Sunday. "I took visits and worked out at both (schools) … [Read more...] about Ex-Centennial point guard Crews to play basketball at DMACC (Boone)

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

‘It was a tough game’: Jaguars close out season with loss to Hoover, Henderson

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When the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team posted a 50-41 victory over Des Moines Hoover on Jan. 18, the Huskies played without their leading scorer, Chase Henderson. The junior guard showed on Friday just how valuable he is. Henderson poured in a game-high 23 points despite battling some foul trouble and the Huskies avenged that loss with a … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough game’: Jaguars close out season with loss to Hoover, Henderson

‘There’s nothing like it!’: Centennial girls are headed back to Wells Fargo Arena

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Ankeny Centennial's Cleao Murray stood at the charity stripe in the final seconds of Wednesday's game against visiting Sioux City East with a chance to send her team to the girls' state basketball tournament. She wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away. Murray made four straight free throws in the final 7.8 seconds and the third-ranked Jaguars … [Read more...] about ‘There’s nothing like it!’: Centennial girls are headed back to Wells Fargo Arena

Centennial’s Helmkamp, Cahill close out careers as two-time state placewinners

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Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth has been blessed with some talented wrestlers in his nine years at the school. He'll now have to say goodbye to two of the best that he has coached. Seniors Carter Cahill and Jackson Helmkamp closed out their high school careers on Saturday at the consolation finals of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Helmkamp, Cahill close out careers as two-time state placewinners

After their bus breaks down, Bobcats get thumped by Centennial in regional game

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Scott DeJong told his Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball players to be prepared for anything prior to Saturday's Class 5A regional semifinal against visiting Marshalltown. That turned out to be some good advice. The Bobcats arrived late for the game after their bus broke down on the way to Ankeny. The contest started about 30 minutes later than … [Read more...] about After their bus breaks down, Bobcats get thumped by Centennial in regional game

‘It was very disappointing’: Jaguars let lead slip away, fall in OT at Urbandale

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A second-half scoring drought proved to be costly for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team in its regular-season finale on Friday at Urbandale. The J-Hawks rallied from a 27-15 halftime deficit to forge a 44-44 tie at the end of regulation, then outscored No. 10 Centennial in overtime, 11-7, to post a 55-51 victory in the non-conference … [Read more...] about ‘It was very disappointing’: Jaguars let lead slip away, fall in OT at Urbandale

Centennial boys cruise past Polar Bears, raise their overall record to 12-8

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana went deeper into his bench on Tuesday night. Coming off a hard-fought win over Marshalltown 24 hours earlier, the 10th-ranked Jaguars went on the road and posted a 76-48 victory over Des Moines North in a non-conference contest. "We were able to play 10 or 11 kids throughout the game on a regular … [Read more...] about Centennial boys cruise past Polar Bears, raise their overall record to 12-8

No. 10 Centennial boys use late 10-1 run to hold off Marshalltown, Thomas

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Chris Louis breathed a sigh of relief following Monday's boys' basketball game against visiting Marshalltown. The senior guard scored six consecutive points in the final minute as 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial held off a late Bobcats' rally to post a 76-71 victory in a make-up CIML Iowa Conference contest. The Jaguars bounced back from an 81-79 … [Read more...] about No. 10 Centennial boys use late 10-1 run to hold off Marshalltown, Thomas

Centennial wrestlers top Norwalk at regional dual, then fall to No. 3 Wolves

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A week ago, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team closed out the regular season with a 39-35 loss to Waukee Northwest. The two squads met again on Wednesday with a lot more at stake. In the final of a regional dual at Northwest, the third-ranked Wolves posted a 45-21 victory over No. 13 Centennial to qualify for the state duals tournament. "We didn't … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers top Norwalk at regional dual, then fall to No. 3 Wolves

Centennial boys pull away in 4th quarter for 49-40 victory over Dowling

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The Dowling Catholic boys' basketball team entered Tuesday's non-conference game at Ankeny Centennial with a 6-11 record. Centennial coach Bob Fontana wouldn't let his players be fooled by the Maroons' .353 winning percentage. "In the latest BC Moore rankings, Dowling had the toughest schedule in the state," Fontana said. "They've lost to a lot of … [Read more...] about Centennial boys pull away in 4th quarter for 49-40 victory over Dowling

White’s perfect shooting night leads Jaguars past Dowling in top-5 showdown

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With each victory, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team appears to be more and more ready for postseason play. The third-ranked Jaguars extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 41-31 triumph over No. 5 Dowling Catholic in a non-conference game on Tuesday. Fans of both teams packed into the Centennial gym for the top-five showdown. "The … [Read more...] about White’s perfect shooting night leads Jaguars past Dowling in top-5 showdown