Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Jaguars rally past No. 2 Johnston, earn smoothies from DeJong

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The Johnston girls' basketball team had a chance on Friday to move closer to the CIML Central Conference championship. After leading most of the way, however, the visiting Dragons couldn't put Ankeny Centennial away. The 12th-ranked Jaguars rallied in the final 2 minutes for a 50-48 victory, handing No. 2 Johnston its first conference loss. Meg Burns … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally past No. 2 Johnston, earn smoothies from DeJong

Kelling, Centennial boys hand Dragons their first conference loss

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When the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team appeared to be on the verge of blowing an 11-point lead in Friday's game against visiting Johnston, Preston Kelling refused to let it happen. Kelling scored on back-to-back drives to the basket in the final 2 minutes to help seal the Jaguars' 53-46 victory. His layup with 1:44 left ended a 9-0 run by the … [Read more...] about Kelling, Centennial boys hand Dragons their first conference loss

Owens reaches 100-win milestone, helps Jaguars to victory over Dowling

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Eric Owens earned his 100th career victory to help the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to a 50-17 triumph at Dowling Catholic on Thursday. Owens, who is ranked sixth at 145 pounds, reached the milestone by pinning Max Derry in 2 minutes 46 seconds. "I always had the goal of getting 100 wins since my freshman year," said Owens. "I thought I would never get … [Read more...] about Owens reaches 100-win milestone, helps Jaguars to victory over Dowling

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jackie Wells, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

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Sophomore Jackie Wells is a member of the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. He has already enjoyed a lot of success on the mat this season. "Jackie stepped into the lineup at 220 (pounds) during the Centennial Duals (on Dec. 8) and wrestled really well," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "He won his JV match against Ankeny (on Dec. 13) by fall, won the JV … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jackie Wells, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Meg Burns, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Junior guard Meg Burns has helped the 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 6-4 record. She scored a season-high 13 points in the Jaguars' 62-40 victory over then-No. 6 Dowling Catholic on Tuesday. Burns is averaging 8.0 points per game. She leads the Jaguars in 3-point goals and is shooting 32.7 percent from behind the arc … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Meg Burns, Centennial girls’ basketball

Jaguars snap out of shooting slump with victory at Urbandale

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After scoring a combined 65 points in its previous two games, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team nearly matched that total in just 32 minutes on Friday. The Jaguars placed four players in double figures and rolled to a 64-37 victory at Urbandale. "We needed a win before the break big time," said Centennial point guard Tyler Rodgers, who … [Read more...] about Jaguars snap out of shooting slump with victory at Urbandale

Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory

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During the preseason, Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong pointed out the strength of the six teams in the CIML Central Conference. "Legitimately, you could finish fifth or sixth in our conference and be a strong state tournament contender," DeJong said. On Friday, Urbandale showed that DeJong knew what he was talking about. The … [Read more...] about Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory

Jaguars stomp Urbandale, head into holiday break with 9-0 record

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It didn't take long for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to earn their ninth dual-meet win of the season on Thursday. The Jaguars recorded six falls, five of them in the opening period, en route to a 64-17 victory at Urbandale. Another match ended early due to injury time, and the J-Hawks also forfeited at three of the upper weights. Centennial's Jackie … [Read more...] about Jaguars stomp Urbandale, head into holiday break with 9-0 record

Jaguars hit the boards, shut down Clark and roll to 62-40 victory

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If there was one play that summed up the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team's victory over visiting Dowling Catholic on Tuesday, it came in the final minute of the game. The 10th-ranked Jaguars were already ahead by 20 points when senior Rachel Schon stepped to the free-throw line for a bonus opportunity. Her first attempt bounced off the back of … [Read more...] about Jaguars hit the boards, shut down Clark and roll to 62-40 victory

Struggling Centennial boys fall to 2-5 overall with loss to Maroons

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The shooting woes for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team went from bad to worse on Tuesday night. The Jaguars shot just 25 percent from the field (9-of-36) and lost to visiting Dowling Catholic, 50-32, in a CIML Central Conference game. It was the fewest points ever scored by Centennial in its six-year history, and it came just four days after … [Read more...] about Struggling Centennial boys fall to 2-5 overall with loss to Maroons

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Caleb Van Meter, Centennial boys’ basketball

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Caleb Van Meter is one of the top reserves on the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. Van Meter, a junior guard, has helped Centennial to a 2-5 record. He is averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. Van Meter scored four points and had two assists in the Jaguars' 62-45 victory over Southeast Polk in their season opener on Nov. 27. … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Caleb Van Meter, Centennial boys’ basketball

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Nic Leo, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

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Senior Nic Leo captured an individual title at 182 pounds to help the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to a runner-up finish in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge. The fifth-ranked Leo raised his record to 16-1 with an 8-1 decision over fourth-ranked Zach Needham of Dallas Center-Grimes. Leo also helped the ninth-ranked Jaguars to … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Nic Leo, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

Centennial’s Monroe, Neils, Leo earn crowns at Miller Invite

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers crowned three individual champions in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge, where the Jaguars earned a second-place finish in the 12-team tournament. Top-ranked Ben Monroe at 132 pounds, third-ranked Logan Neils at 170 and fifth-ranked Nic Leo at 182 each captured an individual title. Teammate Lane Pruisner … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Monroe, Neils, Leo earn crowns at Miller Invite

Jaguars score just 33 points in loss to Ames boys

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It was almost a record-setting night for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. Unfortunately, it wasn't the kind of record that the Jaguars wanted to break. Centennial made just 13-of-41 shots (31.7 percent) and lost to visiting Ames, 42-33, in a CIML Central Conference game on Friday. The 33 points matched the fewest ever scored by the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars score just 33 points in loss to Ames boys

Cold-shooting Centennial girls tumble to Little Cyclones

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On most nights, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team relies on a stingy defense to give the 10th-ranked Jaguars an opportunity to defeat nearly any opponent. However, if Centennial's shots aren't falling, then the Jaguars' defensive effort can only take them so far. Coach Scott DeJong's team shot just 28 percent from the field (12-of-43) and … [Read more...] about Cold-shooting Centennial girls tumble to Little Cyclones

Hawkettes snap two-game skid with hard-fought victory at Urbandale

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Ankeny's Kayla Pitz stood at the charity stripe and ignored the chants from the rowdy Urbandale student section. The junior guard made four consecutive free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the Hawkettes' 46-40 victory in a CIML Central Conference girls' basketball game on Friday. She went 7-of-8 from the line and had nine of her 11 points in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes snap two-game skid with hard-fought victory at Urbandale

Hawks, Jaguars ready for showdown on the mat

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Last Friday, Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial collided on the basketball court at Ankeny, where the Jaguars pulled away to win the girls' game before the Hawks used a fast start to win the boys' matchup. On Thursday, the crosstown rivalry will move to the wrestling mat. Ninth-ranked Centennial (7-0) will host Ankeny (2-1) in the CIML Central Conference opener … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars ready for showdown on the mat

Strong bench effort helps Centennial boys to win over Roughriders

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Micah Johnson sat on the bench as the final minutes ticked off the clock during Tuesday's boys' basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena. Johnson and the other Ankeny Centennial starters stood up and cheered as reserves Eugene Bukenya and Cade Macke each made a 3-point goal late in the game, helping the Jaguars to close out a 66-36 victory over host Des … [Read more...] about Strong bench effort helps Centennial boys to win over Roughriders

Jaguars hungry for more after beating Roosevelt at Wells Fargo Arena

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Cleao Murray was a sixth grader back in 2016 when the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team captured the Class 5A state championship. "It's always been a dream of mine to make it to state and to play here at Wells Fargo Arena," Murray said. On Tuesday, Murray got a chance to play on the state tournament court for the first time. The freshman guard … [Read more...] about Jaguars hungry for more after beating Roosevelt at Wells Fargo Arena