Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Centennial girls shut down No. 8 Little Cyclones for huge road victory

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There are a number of things in the world that you can just count on. The sun will rise every morning. Then it will go down at night. And the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team will continue to play stifling defense. The 13th-ranked Jaguars allowed just 19 points through the first three quarters and posted a 50-32 victory at No. 8 Ames on … [Read more...] about Centennial girls shut down No. 8 Little Cyclones for huge road victory

‘He just keeps getting better and better’: Crews leads Jaguars to 6-0 start

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana wasn't sure what to expect when former Ankeny player Jaron Crews transferred across town in the offseason. As a sophomore at Ankeny last year, Crews averaged 7.0 points per game. But he also shot 37.5 percent from 3-point range, which was one of the Jaguars' glaring weaknesses a year ago. "I knew his … [Read more...] about ‘He just keeps getting better and better’: Crews leads Jaguars to 6-0 start

Hawks turn up defensive pressure, pull away for 64-50 win at Urbandale

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Friday's game wasn't about the X's and the O's for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. It had more to do with effort and teamwork. "That game was really about us competing as a team," senior guard Jaxon Smith said after the Hawks posted a 64-50 victory at Urbandale. "Just getting everyone involved, and it was fun playing with everybody." Braxton … [Read more...] about Hawks turn up defensive pressure, pull away for 64-50 win at Urbandale

Hot-shooting Urbandale girls hand Hawkettes their 3rd straight loss

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team tried to counter Urbandale's superior size with a zone defense. The ninth-ranked J-Hawks spoiled the strategy with some deadly outside shooting. Urbandale made nine 3-point goals and defeated the visiting Hawkettes, 65-50, in a CIML Central Conference game on Friday. Jada Gyamfi and Faith Putz each had a trio of … [Read more...] about Hot-shooting Urbandale girls hand Hawkettes their 3rd straight loss

Centennial wins final 3 matches to top Ankeny in Jag-Hawk showdown

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After switching places in the latest Class 3A rankings by The Predicament, eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 5 Ankeny may have to revert back to their preseason spots. The visiting Jaguars won the final three matches to defeat Ankeny, 38-29, in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams on Thursday. It was Centennial's seventh win in eight … [Read more...] about Centennial wins final 3 matches to top Ankeny in Jag-Hawk showdown

Ankeny native Rhoads named defensive coordinator at Arizona

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Former Iowa State head football coach Paul Rhoads has been named the defensive coordinator at the University of Arizona. Rhoads, an Ankeny native, spent the last two seasons on the staff of UCLA coach Chip Kelly. He coached the Bruins' defensive backs. Rhoads served as the Cyclones' head coach from 2009-15. He then spent two seasons at Arkansas as the … [Read more...] about Ankeny native Rhoads named defensive coordinator at Arizona

Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you like free tacos and beer? Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

Jag-Hawk dual could be determined by outcome of several swing matches

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Thursday's wrestling showdown between fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 8 Ankeny will likely be decided by the outcome of several toss-up matches. The crosstown rivals will meet for their annual clash at 7:30 p.m. at Ankeny High School. Centennial brings a 6-1 record into the CIML Central Conference opener, while Ankeny has a 2-1 mark. "Both teams … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk dual could be determined by outcome of several swing matches

Ankeny teams bowl season-best scores, but still fall to Urbandale

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Despite posting season-best scores, the Ankeny bowling teams came up short in their dual meet against Urbandale on Tuesday at Great Escape. The J-Hawks won the boys' meet by just 20 pins--2,986 to 2,966. They also won the girls' meet by a score of 2,563 to 2,401. "What a match this was. It was an absolute blast to watch and be a part of," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Ankeny teams bowl season-best scores, but still fall to Urbandale

‘We’re glad to have him back’: Bayless returns to lineup, leads Hawks to win

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Braxton Bayless watched from the bench as the Ankeny boys' basketball team got off to a 3-1 start this season. The Hawks' top returning scorer and rebounder sat out the first four games after violating the school's good conduct policy. "It was real hard and very tough to watch my brothers battle without me," said Bayless. The senior point guard made … [Read more...] about ‘We’re glad to have him back’: Bayless returns to lineup, leads Hawks to win

‘We really wanted to step up our energy’: Jaguars roll past Roosevelt

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There was no letdown Tuesday for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The 13th-ranked Jaguars, who let a 12-point lead slip away in the final 6 minutes of Friday's loss at No. 4 Johnston, rolled to a 62-27 victory over No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt on Tuesday at Centennial. "After that loss at Johnston, we really wanted to step up our energy," … [Read more...] about ‘We really wanted to step up our energy’: Jaguars roll past Roosevelt

Centennial boys overcome offensive woes to beat Roosevelt, stay unbeaten

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On a night when the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team struggled to find the basket, the Jaguars overcame their offensive woes with another strong defensive performance. Centennial allowed a season-low for points as the Jaguars rolled to a 56-35 victory over visiting Des Moines Roosevelt on Tuesday. The Roughriders' leading scorer, Romanique Hellems, … [Read more...] about Centennial boys overcome offensive woes to beat Roosevelt, stay unbeaten

‘Fearless’ Hawkettes battle back, but fall short against No. 2 S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team took a step forward Tuesday night despite suffering a 74-61 loss to visiting Southeast Polk. The second-ranked Rams shot 61.3 percent from the field, including 11-of-19 from 3-point range, while raising their record to 7-0. But Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly was not unhappy with his team's defensive effort. "I actually … [Read more...] about ‘Fearless’ Hawkettes battle back, but fall short against No. 2 S.E. Polk

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Braden Simonsen, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Sophomore Braden Simonsen has helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 4-1 record. He is averaging 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Simonsen scored six points in the Hawks' 57-43 victory over visiting Fort Dodge on Dec. 6. He had three points and three rebounds in his team's 62-60 overtime win at Des Moines Lincoln on Dec. 10. "Braden has … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Braden Simonsen, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Hawks crown 3 champs, place 2nd overall at Frank Baltzley Invitational

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All things considered, the Ankeny wrestling team had a pretty good day Saturday in the Frank Baltzley Invitational at Johnston. The eighth-ranked Hawks crowned three individual champions and placed second in the 12-team field with 188 points. No. 10 Johnston won the tournament with 227.5. "I think our kids were wore out," said Ankeny coach Jack … [Read more...] about Hawks crown 3 champs, place 2nd overall at Frank Baltzley Invitational

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Micah Johnson, Centennial boys’ hoops

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Senior forward Micah Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team remained unbeaten with a 57-40 victory at Johnston on Friday. The Jaguars are now 1-0 in the CIML Central Conference and 4-0 overall. Johnson was a second-team all-conference pick a year ago, when he averaged 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Micah Johnson, Centennial boys’ hoops

Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? Do you like free tacos and beer? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest