Bob Fontana

Bob Fontana wasn't sure how much his Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team had improved since the Jaguars lost to top-ranked Ames, 58-38, a month ago. Friday's rematch at Ames produced some mixed results. No. 10 Centennial battled Ames down to the wire before dropping a 44-37 decision, but the Little Cyclones earned the victory without their … [Read more...] about Without Lipsey, Little Cyclones hold off Centennial to clinch share of CIML crown

Ankeny Centennial's Jackson Snyder is going to wait until after the basketball season to undergo surgery for a torn labrum. The senior guard hasn't been slowed by the injury. Snyder sat out three games after getting hurt, then returned to the court on Friday and scored 12 points in the Jaguars' 80-75 victory at Marshalltown. On Saturday, he poured … [Read more...] about Snyder scores season-high 18 points, leads Jaguars past Davenport West

Earlier this month, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was reeling after suffering four straight losses by an average of 18.5 points. Now, the Jaguars are one of the hottest teams in the CIML. Centennial placed four players in double figures and held off a late rally by host Marshalltown to post an 80-75 victory on Friday, its fifth in a row. … [Read more...] about Red-hot Jaguars hold off Marshalltown’s late rally for 5th consecutive victory

There was no chance the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was going to overlook Des Moines East in Tuesday's non-conference game. The host Scarlets entered the contest with an unimpressive 3-9 record, but they snapped an eight-game losing skid with a 67-62 win over Fort Dodge on Saturday and then followed with a 72-57 victory over Des Moines North … [Read more...] about Centennial boys get off to fast start, beat Scarlets for their 4th straight victory

After suffering through a four-game losing streak, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team is now riding a three-game winning streak. But the latest win on Friday against visiting Mason City didn't come easily. The Jaguars finally prevailed, 89-82, in double overtime, overcoming a 38-point performance by Mason City's Cory Miner. "Mason City … [Read more...] about Kelling’s monster game allows Jaguars to hold off Mason City, Miner in double OT

Bob Fontana has been waiting for his Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to put together a complete game. He got one on Thursday night at Fort Dodge. The Jaguars made 9-of-17 attempts from 3-point range and rolled to a 76-33 victory in a CIML Iowa Conference make-up game. They improved to 3-4 in the league and 5-6 overall, while Fort Dodge's … [Read more...] about Business-like Jaguars roll to 76-33 win at Fort Dodge behind strong bench effort

The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team got a much-needed victory on Tuesday with a 50-41 win over visiting Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. The Jaguars (4-6) had lost their four previous games--all of them to ranked opponents--by an average of 18.5 points. "It was a little shot in the arm, especially with two more games coming up on … [Read more...] about Jaguars get ‘a little shot in the arm’, knock off Hoover to end losing streak

Friday's game against top-ranked Ames was already going to be a huge challenge for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. It became an even more daunting task when one of the Jaguars' top players, sophomore center Reece Robinson, was unable to play. "Reece sprained his toe on Tuesday, and I just wanted to do what was in the best interest of that … [Read more...] about Without injured Robinson, Centennial boys drop 58-38 decision to No. 1 Ames

It's back to the drawing board for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars, who struggled defensively in an 80-58 loss at fourth-ranked Waukee Northwest two weeks ago, played better at that end of the floor in a rematch against the visiting Wolves on Tuesday. But this time, Centennial sputtered offensively. The Jaguars shot just 32.7 … [Read more...] about Jaguars sputter offensively, suffer 2nd straight loss to No. 4 Waukee Northwest

It's no secret where the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needs to make the most progress over the holiday break. It's at the defensive end of the floor. Fourth-ranked Waukee Northwest made 10-of-22 3-point attempts and rolled to an 80-58 victory over the visiting Jaguars on Tuesday. The Wolves moved into sole possession of first place in the … [Read more...] about ‘We have got to shore up our defense’: Jaguars allow 10 3-pointers in loss to NW

Just two nights after giving up 92 points in a loss at Johnston, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team found itself on the better end of a scoring spree. The Jaguars made 13-of-21 3-point attempts and rolled to an 89-47 victory at Mason City in a CIML Iowa Conference game on Thursday. "It was a great road win and a nice bounce-back win," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars rack up 13 3-pointers, 24 assists and 89 points in rout over Mason City

A 92-71 loss at Johnston on Tuesday night left Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana shaking his head. "I've coached a long time," Fontana said. "We had four guys in double figures and a fifth with nine points, we make more free throws than they attempt, we hit 10 3-pointers, and we get beat by 21 (points)." Third-ranked Johnston (4-1), … [Read more...] about No. 3 Johnston boys erupt for 58 points in 2nd half to thwart Jaguars’ upset bid

Evan Bryan made a 3-point goal with 1.6 seconds left to force overtime and the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team went on to post a 72-66 victory at Des Moines Lincoln in a non-conference game on Tuesday. The Jaguars outscored Lincoln, 13-7, in the extra period. "Our kids handled the late-game situations well at the end of regulation and … [Read more...] about Jaguars outlast Lincoln after Bryan’s 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left forces OT

The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball players were anxious to put Tuesday's disappointing season-opening loss to Southeast Polk in the rearview mirror. Maybe the Jaguars were too anxious. After a ragged start, Centennial pulled away for a 79-46 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in its CIML Iowa Conference opener on Friday. "We got off to a little … [Read more...] about Jaguars rebound from season-opening loss, rout Fort Dodge in league opener

Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana has won a lot of big games in his career. Tuesday's season-opening contest against visiting Southeast Polk may have been one of his most disappointing losses. The Jaguars built a 42-27 lead in the second half and still held a nine-point lead after three quarters before Southeast Polk opened the final … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got to learn from it and move on’: Jaguars lose big lead, fall to S.E. Polk

It's going to be a challenge for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to win a third consecutive conference title. The Jaguars posted a 14-5 record a year ago and captured the CIML Iowa Conference crown, but all-state guard Jaron Crews and three other starters have graduated. Ames, which posted a 57-37 victory over Centennial in a Class 4A … [Read more...] about ‘Our seniors need to step up and lead’: Jaguars to lean on trio of returnees