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Hawkettes fall to Johnston in finale, but could get rematch in regional final

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The Ankeny girls' basketball players would like nothing more than another chance to play third-ranked Johnston. The two teams can only meet again in a Class 5A regional final on Feb. 25. But if it happens, that means Ankeny has defeated Des Moines North and No. 14 Council Bluffs Lincoln in the first two rounds of the postseason. Johnston showed on … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Johnston in finale, but could get rematch in regional final

Centennial boys finish 9-1 in league; Dowling, Johnston girls tie for crown

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While the CIML Central Conference boys' basketball title had already been decided last week, the girls' crown came down to the final night of the regular season. Third-ranked Johnston clinched a share of the league title with a 76-38 victory on Friday at Ankeny. Kendall Nead had 24 points and five assists as the Dragons improved to 19-2 on the … [Read more...] about Centennial boys finish 9-1 in league; Dowling, Johnston girls tie for crown

Jaguars, Hawks earn No. 1 seeds in boys’ Class 4A substate pairings

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Top-ranked Ankeny Centennial and crosstown rival Ankeny have both received No. 1 seeds from the Iowa High School Athletic Association, which announced its postseason basketball pairings for Class 4A on Friday. The Jaguars (18-1) earned a first-round bye in Substate 6. They will host Des Moines Roosevelt (6-11) or Southeast Polk (11-7) in a substate … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks earn No. 1 seeds in boys’ Class 4A substate pairings

Hawk swimmers look to defend title, but Iowa City West owns sizable advantage

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When the Ankeny boys' swimming team won its first state title a year ago, the Hawks racked up 226 points, 16 more than runner-up Waukee. Third-ranked Ankeny may have to surpass that total by a considerable margin on Saturday in order to defend its crown. No. 1 Iowa City West is a clear favorite to capture the title in its backyard. The state meet will … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers look to defend title, but Iowa City West owns sizable advantage

Without 4 regulars, Hawk wrestlers tumble to Norwalk in regional dual

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Although his team failed to advance to the state duals tournament, Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall was happy that the Hawks got an opportunity to compete on Wednesday night. Ankeny, the No. 14 team in the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Class 3A dual rankings, dropped a 43-28 decision to No. 15 Norwalk in the opening round of a … [Read more...] about Without 4 regulars, Hawk wrestlers tumble to Norwalk in regional dual

Valley matmen edge Centennial on criteria decision, advance to state duals

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers were hoping to contend for both the Class 3A traditional and dual tournament titles. Now, the Jaguars can focus exclusively on next week's individual state tournament. Fifth-ranked Centennial ended its dual season on Wednesday with a 29-28 loss to No. 11 Valley in a regional dual at Centennial. The Tigers won the meet on … [Read more...] about Valley matmen edge Centennial on criteria decision, advance to state duals

Girls’ pairings announced: Jaguars, Hawkettes draw tough roads to state

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The Class 5A regional basketball pairings have been released by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Both Ankeny and 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial might have to defeat a top-five opponent in order to qualify for the state tournament. The Jaguars (11-9) have been placed in Region 6. They will host Indianola (13-6) or Des Moines East (5-15) in a … [Read more...] about Girls’ pairings announced: Jaguars, Hawkettes draw tough roads to state

Hawks overcome sluggish start to beat Hoover for 14th win of season

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In Friday's loss to top-ranked Ankeny Centennial, the Ankeny boys' basketball team got a game-high 26 points from Braxton Bayless, but none of his teammates scored more than six. On Tuesday, Bayless again led the way with 20 points, but he got some much-needed help as the Hawks posted a 65-58 victory at Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. Jaxon … [Read more...] about Hawks overcome sluggish start to beat Hoover for 14th win of season

Centennial boys enjoy record-setting night in victory over Mohawks

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After rising to the No. 1 spot in the latest Class 4A rankings by the Associated Press, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team extended its winning streak to 12 games with a 97-61 non-conference victory at Mason City on Tuesday. The Jaguars tied the school record for most points in a game. They also scored 97 in a win at Des Moines East three years … [Read more...] about Centennial boys enjoy record-setting night in victory over Mohawks

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

Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

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Once the shots started falling for the Ankeny girls' basketball team on Tuesday, they just kept dropping. The Hawkettes made 15 3-point goals and rolled to a 78-46 victory at Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. It was their highest offensive output of the season and their highest in four years under coach Dru McAnelly. "Hoover isn't very good, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

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

Hawk bowlers surpass 3,000-pin mark in victory over Fort Dodge

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All season long, the Ankeny boys' bowling team has been inching closer to the 3,000-pin mark. On Monday, the Hawks finally surpassed it. Ankeny bowled a season-high score to defeat visiting Fort Dodge in a non-conference dual meet at Great Escape. The Hawks won by a score of 3,069 to 2,909. "We've been chasing that number all year, and we all were … [Read more...] about Hawk bowlers surpass 3,000-pin mark in victory over Fort Dodge

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Weston Miner, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Junior Weston Miner helped the Ankeny boys' swimming team to its third straight district title on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. He placed second in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Miner and the Hawks will try to win a second consecutive state championship on Saturday in Iowa City. He placed eighth in the backstroke and also swam … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Weston Miner, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Hawk swimmers claim district title, but fail to qualify for state in some events

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Although the second-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team easily captured a district title on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center, the Hawks' dominance wasn't necessarily a good thing. The defending state champions were competing in a field that included only one other top-20 squad--No. 16 Des Moines Roosevelt. The lack of competition proved costly at … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers claim district title, but fail to qualify for state in some events

No. 2 Jaguars hold off Ankeny, capture first conference crown since 2015

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Braxton Bayless wouldn't hesitate to pass the ball to Jaxon Smith again. Smith missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of Friday's Jag-Hawk rematch at Ankeny, allowing the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to escape with a 50-48 victory. "I'll give it to him 100 percent of the time if he's wide open like … [Read more...] about No. 2 Jaguars hold off Ankeny, capture first conference crown since 2015

‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team turned in a spectacular defensive effort on Friday. It wasn't enough to knock off archrival Ankeny Centennial. The 12th-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 43-27 victory at Ankeny. They closed out the game with a 16-2 run. "This is the way it's been down here for the last seven years. It's … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

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Ankeny Centennial's Cody McCullough wasn't happy when he missed a free throw with 9 seconds left in Friday's game at Ankeny. The miss allowed the Hawks to have an opportunity to win the game on the final possession. Braxton Bayless fired a pass to Jaxon Smith in the left corner, but Smith's 3-point try bounced off the rim in the final seconds. … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title