Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

FEEL THE BURNS: Senior guard leads Jaguars past Deets, Mason City

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Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns proved again on Tuesday that she's one of the state's best two-way players on the basketball court. The senior guard poured in 22 points while holding Mason City standout Anna Deets to just seven as the visiting Jaguars rolled to a 63-39 victory in a non-conference game. "It was a big night for her," Centennial coach Scott … [Read more...] about FEEL THE BURNS: Senior guard leads Jaguars past Deets, Mason City

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lizzie Strom, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Junior forward Lizzie Strom has helped the 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to an 11-9 record. The Jaguars posted a 63-39 victory on Tuesday at Mason City, the No. 13 team in Class 4A. Strom is averaging 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She scored a career-high 11 points in the Jaguars' 62-57 overtime loss to No. 3 Johnston on … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lizzie Strom, Centennial girls’ basketball

Centennial boys now ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Associated Press

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There's a new No. 1 boys' basketball team in Class 4A. And it's Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars moved into the top spot of the Associated Press rankings following Iowa City West's 41-38 loss to Cedar Falls on Saturday. It was the second loss of the season for the Trojans (15-2), who fell to fourth in this week's rankings. Centennial (17-1) is riding … [Read more...] about Centennial boys now ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Associated Press

Jaguars close out regular season with victories over Indianola, Valley

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Thursday's triangular meet at Valley provided an opportunity for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to see a couple of their potential upcoming opponents. The Jaguars took advantage of the meet to earn a pair of victories. Centennial, the No. 6 team in the Class 3A dual rankings by The Predicament, opened the night with a 34-31 victory over No. 12 … [Read more...] about Jaguars close out regular season with victories over Indianola, Valley

Coaches vs. Cancer event raises more than $3,000 for American Cancer Society

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More than $3,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society in the Coaches vs. Cancer event on Tuesday at Ankeny Centennial. Ankeny Fanatic, HyVee and Wee's Tees were sponsors of the event. Jason Loutsch, owner of Ankeny Fanatic, donated the funds for the commemorative boys' basketball uniforms, which were auctioned off to raise money for the … [Read more...] about Coaches vs. Cancer event raises more than $3,000 for American Cancer Society

Centennial boys earn 10th straight win, hand Scarlets their 31st loss in a row

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It would have been easy for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to overlook its opponent on Tuesday. Des Moines East entered the non-conference game at Centennial with a 1-57 record over the last three years. The Scarlets' last two losses, which came by margins of 16 and 14 points, were their closest games of this season. "You just hope in … [Read more...] about Centennial boys earn 10th straight win, hand Scarlets their 31st loss in a row

Jaguars roll past D.M. East, snap losing skid behind Murray’s career night

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Breaking out of a recent slump, Cleao Murray scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 66-23 victory over visiting Des Moines East on Tuesday. Murray--who had averaged just seven points per game over the previous six contests--went 8-for-15 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. She also had … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past D.M. East, snap losing skid behind Murray’s career night

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Preston Kelling, Centennial boys’ hoops

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Senior guard Preston Kelling has helped the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 15-1 record. He scored a season-high 23 points on Tuesday in the Jaguars' 78-70 victory at No. 1 Waukee. Kelling is averaging 8.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting 46.4 percent from the field (52-of-112). Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Preston Kelling, Centennial boys’ hoops

Jaguars, Hawks placed in different substate brackets by IHSAA

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The coaches from the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams were hoping to be placed in different substate brackets, which would create the possibility of both squads advancing to the state tournament. They got their wish. The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced its Class 4A assignments on Friday. Ankeny has been placed in … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks placed in different substate brackets by IHSAA

Jaguars avenge their only loss, move closer to Central Conference crown

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team moved a step closer toward the CIML Central Conference title by avenging its only loss of the season. The fourth-ranked Jaguars closed out Friday's game on a 32-10 run to defeat visiting Dowling Catholic, 63-48. It was Centennial's ninth straight win since suffering a 68-55 loss at Dowling on Jan. 3. "We lost … [Read more...] about Jaguars avenge their only loss, move closer to Central Conference crown

Clark’s defense proves to be difference in Dowling’s win over Centennial girls

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team held Dowling Catholic star Caitlin Clark to just two 3-point goals during Friday's game at Centennial. The Iowa recruit found other ways to score, though, and finished with 32 points in leading the second-ranked Maroons to a 56-49 victory. Clark wreaked havoc on defense, turning several steals into layups at … [Read more...] about Clark’s defense proves to be difference in Dowling’s win over Centennial girls

Jaguars take down No. 1 Waukee, give Fontana his 400th career victory

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Bob Fontana's 400th career coaching victory is one that he'll never forget. The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team led almost the entire way and posted a 78-70 victory at No. 1 Waukee on Tuesday, allowing Fontana to reach the milestone. Afterwards, Fontana told his team outside the locker room that he'd rather have a state tournament … [Read more...] about Jaguars take down No. 1 Waukee, give Fontana his 400th career victory

No. 5 Waukee girls start fast, finish strong in win over Centennial

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A slow start doomed the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. The 10th-ranked Jaguars fell behind after the first quarter, 25-7, and eventually dropped a 55-33 decision in a non-conference game at No. 5 Waukee. It was their lowest offensive output of the season and their lowest total overall since a 46-27 loss at Johnston last year. "It … [Read more...] about No. 5 Waukee girls start fast, finish strong in win over Centennial

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cade Macke, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

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Senior guard Cade Macke has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 14-1 record. He is averaging 1.8 points per game. Macke is shooting 33.3 percent from 3-point range (5-of-15). He has scored a season-high five points on three different occasions. "The thing that stands out about Cade is that he is always there for his … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cade Macke, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

TOUGH AS NEILS: Unbeaten Centennial senior wins crown at Ed Winger Invite

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One of the reasons Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth wanted his team to compete in the Ed Winger Invitational was to prepare the Jaguars for the stretch run of the season. It remains to be seen how things will turn out. On Saturday, Centennial placed sixth in the 19-team field at the Urbandale tournament. The eighth-ranked Jaguars racked up … [Read more...] about TOUGH AS NEILS: Unbeaten Centennial senior wins crown at Ed Winger Invite

Ames girls top Jaguars after forcing OT on miraculous basket at buzzer

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Sometimes, the ball doesn't bounce your way. Or, the questionable call that could have gone either way doesn't go in your favor. The 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team experienced both of those things Friday on the same play--a miraculous basket by Ames' Teagan Lipsey that forced overtime and eventually helped the No. 12 Little … [Read more...] about Ames girls top Jaguars after forcing OT on miraculous basket at buzzer

McAleer’s career night helps Centennial boys pull away from Little Cyclones

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A 29-3 run that spanned both halves allowed the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to post a 50-29 victory over visiting Ames on Friday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars trailed, 16-11, before scoring the last 10 points of the first half. They then outscored Ames in the third quarter, 16-3, to build a 37-19 advantage. "It was a slow-paced game the first … [Read more...] about McAleer’s career night helps Centennial boys pull away from Little Cyclones

Jaguars avoid letdown, convert 30-of-33 free throws in win over North

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana was hoping that his team could avoid a letdown after Monday's huge victory over Ankeny. He should not have been worried. The sixth-ranked Jaguars returned to the court on Tuesday and defeated visiting Des Moines North, 85-74, in a non-conference game. They improved to 12-1 on the season, while … [Read more...] about Jaguars avoid letdown, convert 30-of-33 free throws in win over North

Centennial girls cruise to 80-23 victory over short-handed Polar Bears

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Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns picked up right where she left off on Monday. Burns scored 14 points while playing only the first 6 minutes of the game to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to an 80-23 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Tuesday. She went 5-for-5 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Burns had scored 19 points in a win … [Read more...] about Centennial girls cruise to 80-23 victory over short-handed Polar Bears