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Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

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Carson Johnson's historic season at the University of Denver came to an end on Friday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Johnson scored 17 points but also battled some foul problems as sixth-seeded Denver lost to third-seeded North Dakota, 83-67, in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament. The Pioneers finished the season with a … [Read more...] about Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

‘I think they out-toughed us’: Pratt, Illinois State women lose rematch vs. Bulldogs

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Jaeden Pratt has enjoyed a successful freshman season with the Illinois State women's basketball squad. Unfortunately, Thursday's game against Drake won't be one of Pratt's highlights on the court. The Redbirds fell behind at the end of the first quarter, 26-13, and went on to drop a 73-55 decision at the Knapp Center. … [Read more...] about ‘I think they out-toughed us’: Pratt, Illinois State women lose rematch vs. Bulldogs

Bayless battles foul woes, scores 4 points in final game of his college hoops career

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Braxton Bayless' college basketball career came to an end on Wednesday in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. The former Ankeny star battled foul trouble and played just 26 minutes, well below his 33.3 average, in Little Rock's 72-62 loss to Lindenwood. The graduate guard scored four points on … [Read more...] about Bayless battles foul woes, scores 4 points in final game of his college hoops career

Former Ankeny star Sears to be honored as Big East Conference basketball legend

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One of the greatest players in the history of the Ankeny boys' basketball program will be honored during next week's Big East Conference tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City--even though he never played in the league. Former Creighton star Ryan Sears will be honored as one of 11 Big East legends. He completed his college career in … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny star Sears to be honored as Big East Conference basketball legend

Winkel named to NSIC all-tourney team after leading Huskies to runner-up finish

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Former Ankeny Centennial basketball star Luke Winkel was named to the NSIC all-tournament team after leading regular-season champion St. Cloud State to a runner-up finish in the conference tournament. The 19th-ranked Huskies dropped a 76-65 decision to sixth-seeded Minnesota Duluth in the NSIC championship game on Tuesday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux … [Read more...] about Winkel named to NSIC all-tourney team after leading Huskies to runner-up finish

Denver’s Johnson named Summit League Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year

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Former Ankeny basketball star Carson Johnson has been named the Summit League Men's Basketball Player of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday in a vote of the league's coaches, media members and sports information directors. The University of Denver sophomore guard was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year and to the all-Summit … [Read more...] about Denver’s Johnson named Summit League Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year

Winkel earns repeat all-NSIC first-team honors after helping SCSU to league title

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Former Ankeny Centennial basketball star Luke Winkel has been named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference first team for the second year in a row, becoming the first St. Cloud State player since Anthony Roberts in 2021-22 to earn first-team honors in consecutive seasons. A sophomore point guard, Winkel has taken on a bigger role this season for … [Read more...] about Winkel earns repeat all-NSIC first-team honors after helping SCSU to league title

Former Ankeny standout Palmer leads way in hot start for Huskies’ softball team

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Former Ankeny softball standout Kennedy Palmer is off to a good start in her first season at St. Cloud State. The junior second baseman has helped the Huskies to a 9-1 record after transferring from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. She leads the team with a .480 batting average. Palmer hit .471 last weekend, going 8-for-17 at the plate, as … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny standout Palmer leads way in hot start for Huskies’ softball team

‘I’m proud of our guys’: Eagles start strong, but eventually tumble to No. 1 St. Edmond

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The Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team got off to a promising start in Tuesday's game at Fort Dodge St. Edmond. The early momentum, though, didn't last. The top-ranked Gaels used a 12-0 run to erase a 10-8 deficit and went on to post a 78-58 victory in a Class 1A district final. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Eagles, who … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of our guys’: Eagles start strong, but eventually tumble to No. 1 St. Edmond

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jed Rood, Ankeny Christian boys’ basketball

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Junior guard Jed Rood scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had two blocks to lead the Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team to a 50-49 victory over visiting Southeast Warren in a Class 1A district semifinal on Friday. He made a layup with 12 seconds left for the go-ahead basket. Rood has helped the Eagles to a 20-4 record. He averages a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jed Rood, Ankeny Christian boys’ basketball

Eagles edge Southeast Warren in thriller, will play No. 1 Gaels for District 14 title

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Survive and advance. That's what it's all about in the basketball postseason. The second-seeded Ankeny Christian Academy boys' team overcame its poor outside shooting to defeat visiting Southeast Warren, 50-49, in a Class 1A District 14 semifinal on Friday. "We weren’t our best offensively, but we found a way to win on the defensive end," said ACA … [Read more...] about Eagles edge Southeast Warren in thriller, will play No. 1 Gaels for District 14 title

‘It was a good game for us offensively’: Eagles roll to victory in district quarterfinal

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Sharing the ball with your teammates usually produces a good outcome. The second-seeded Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team placed four players in double figures and rolled past visiting Glidden-Ralston, 83-44, in a Class 1A district quarterfinal on Monday. "I loved how our team distributed the ball with 19 assists on 30 made field goals," … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good game for us offensively’: Eagles roll to victory in district quarterfinal

‘I would’ve rather gotten the win’: Johnson scores 1,000th point in loss at Omaha

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Carson Johnson and the Denver men's basketball team just couldn't get over the hump. After trailing by as many as 14 points, the visiting Pioneers rallied in the second half and closed to within three points before Omaha held on for an 83-76 victory on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 3,291 at Baxter Arena. "We came out kind of slow. We were fighting … [Read more...] about ‘I would’ve rather gotten the win’: Johnson scores 1,000th point in loss at Omaha

ACA girls’ team finishes season with 11-10 record after losing at West Bend-Mallard

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The Ankeny Christian Academy girls' basketball team closed out its season on Thursday with a 58-38 loss at West Bend-Mallard in the opening round of a Class 1A regional tournament. The Eagles finished with an 11-10 record. West Bend-Mallard (9-13) outscored ACA in the second quarter, 21-11, to build a 31-19 lead at halftime. The Wolverines continued to … [Read more...] about ACA girls’ team finishes season with 11-10 record after losing at West Bend-Mallard

‘It was just a great feeling’: Johnson erupts for 33 points, leads Pioneers past ORU

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It often takes only one basket for former Ankeny star Carson Johnson to get on a roll. That was the case on Wednesday night inside Hamilton Gymnasium, where the University of Denver's sophomore point guard got off to a hot start and scored a season-high 33 points to lead the Pioneers to a 98-87 victory over Oral Roberts. Johnson went 9-of-16 from the … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a great feeling’: Johnson erupts for 33 points, leads Pioneers past ORU

‘I was aggressive and looking to score’: Bayless leads Trojans past Lindenwood

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Braxton Bayless is taking advantage of his sixth year of collegiate eligibility. The former Ankeny basketball star scored a season-high 21 points on Saturday to lead Little Rock to an 82-74 road victory over Lindenwood at Robert F. Hyland Arena in Saint Charles, Mo. The graduate guard also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists for the … [Read more...] about ‘I was aggressive and looking to score’: Bayless leads Trojans past Lindenwood