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‘It was a tough one’: Centennial boys tumble to No. 3 Ames in substate final

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In order to reach the state tournament, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needed a couple breaks to go its way. It didn't help when junior guard Caden Kelling re-injured his ankle shortly after entering Tuesday's Class 4A substate final against third-ranked Ames. Later, senior forward Colin McAleer took a hard fall and briefly left the game, but … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough one’: Centennial boys tumble to No. 3 Ames in substate final

‘Our guys didn’t back down’: Hawks put up a fight in loss to No. 2 Waukee

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When the Ankeny boys' basketball team suffered a 65-28 loss to Waukee on Dec. 21, the Hawks clearly had a long way to go to compete with one of the state's best squads. Ankeny showed some signs of progress a month later, when the Hawks trailed Waukee by just eight points at halftime before dropping a 65-37 decision. On Tuesday, the Hawks closed the gap … [Read more...] about ‘Our guys didn’t back down’: Hawks put up a fight in loss to No. 2 Waukee

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karson Wehde, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Sophomore forward Karson Wehde helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 10-10 record. He scored six points as the Hawks ended their season with a 74-54 loss to second-ranked Waukee in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Indianola. Wehde averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He placed third on the team with 15 3-point goals, shooting 35.7 … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karson Wehde, Ankeny boys’ basketball

MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer

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March Madness is off to a roaring start at Wells Fargo Arena. Jackie Pippett scored the winning basket at the buzzer to give the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team a 47-45 victory over No. 4 Southeast Polk in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday. "I really didn't even think I was going to get the ball," said Pippett. "But I did, and … [Read more...] about MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer

Pippett’s buzzer-beater caps Jaguars’ amazing rally to beat S.E. Polk

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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

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Junior forward Ryan Crandall scored nine points to help the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 48-40 victory over visiting Norwalk in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. He also had 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Crandall leads Ankeny in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.2 points and 7.4 boards. He has also racked up a team-high … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryan Crandall, Ankeny boys’ basketball

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

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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

Ankeny boys hold off Norwalk, earn another shot against No. 2 Waukee

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team was ready for the start of postseason play. The defending state champion Hawks jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and then held off visiting Norwalk's rally in the second half to post a 48-40 victory in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. "It relieved some pressure to get that early lead," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys hold off Norwalk, earn another shot against No. 2 Waukee

Jaguars fight off Indianola’s upset bid, advance to substate final against Ames

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It took awhile for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to fight off a pesky Indianola squad in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. The visiting Indians battled Centennial to a 28-28 halftime tie before the eighth-ranked Jaguars used an 18-0 run in the second half to pull away for a 71-53 victory. "We just had to get it going," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars fight off Indianola’s upset bid, advance to substate final against Ames

Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Phipps named to Class 5A West all-district team

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Basketball standouts Abby Johnson of Ankeny and Maggie Phipps of Ankeny Centennial have both earned all-district honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Johnson and Phipps were named to the Class 5A West team. The squad consists of 17 players, 15 of them from the CIML. Phipps, a senior guard, has led the Jaguars to a 15-2 record and a berth in … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Phipps named to Class 5A West all-district team

‘We just hung in there’: Jaguars overcome 18-point deficit, earn trip to state

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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

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Isaac O’Toole, Ankeny wrestling

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Isaac O'Toole is a member of the Ankeny wrestling team. He helped the Hawks to an 11-6 dual-meet record this season. "Isaac puts the team first," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "He’s a 106-pounder that wrestled 113, but also bumped up to wrestle 120…and he only weighs about 112. Whatever we asked from him, the answer was always, 'Yes!'. "He … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Isaac O’Toole, Ankeny wrestling

‘Our girls battled all the way’: Hawkettes finish season with loss to No. 1 Waukee

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It's going to take a girls' basketball team with a lot of firepower to knock off top-ranked Waukee. Ankeny took its best shot on Tuesday in a Class 5A regional final. The Hawkettes just didn't have enough weapons to pull off the upset. Abby Johnson scored a career-high 23 points, but she was the only Ankeny player in double figures as the host Warriors … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls battled all the way’: Hawkettes finish season with loss to No. 1 Waukee

Jaguars use epic comeback to edge Roosevelt, advance to state tourney

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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

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior forward Abby Johnson scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 73-37 victory over visiting Ames in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. She has averaged 18.4 points over the last five games. The Hawkettes (10-6) will play at top-ranked Waukee (9-1) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘It feels really good to prove them wrong again’: Anderson wins his 2nd state title

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For the last 12 months, Ankeny wrestler Trever Anderson has been motivated to erase the memory of last year's disappointing third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. He wasn't even going to let a bum shoulder get in his way. The top-ranked junior captured his second state title on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Chad Bellis of Dubuque … [Read more...] about ‘It feels really good to prove them wrong again’: Anderson wins his 2nd state title

Hawkettes top Ames girls for 3rd time, earn rematch against No. 1 Waukee

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A regional final matchup against top-ranked Waukee isn't going to intimidate the Ankeny girls' basketball team. If the Hawkettes play like they did on Saturday night, they might even pull off a huge upset. "Coming off this game, I think we played really well," Ankeny guard Jenna Pitz said after the Hawkettes' 73-37 victory over visiting Ames in a Class … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Ames girls for 3rd time, earn rematch against No. 1 Waukee

Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final

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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