Ankeny Fanatic

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Bob Fontana

Jaguars sputter offensively, suffer 2nd straight loss to No. 4 Waukee Northwest

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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

‘We have got to shore up our defense’: Jaguars allow 10 3-pointers in loss to NW

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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

Jaguars rack up 13 3-pointers, 24 assists and 89 points in rout over Mason City

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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

No. 3 Johnston boys erupt for 58 points in 2nd half to thwart Jaguars’ upset bid

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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

Jaguars outlast Lincoln after Bryan’s 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left forces OT

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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

Jaguars rebound from season-opening loss, rout Fort Dodge in league opener

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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

‘We’ve got to learn from it and move on’: Jaguars lose big lead, fall to S.E. Polk

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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

‘Our seniors need to step up and lead’: Jaguars to lean on trio of returnees

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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

Crews, Fontana, Phipps to participate in Pizza Ranch All-Star games

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana will get one more opportunity to coach his star point guard. Senior Jaron Crews has been selected to play in the 2021 Pizza Ranch All-Star games sponsored by the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association. He will play for the Southwest Iowa boys' team that will be co-coached by Fontana and Josh Henry of … [Read more...] about Crews, Fontana, Phipps to participate in Pizza Ranch All-Star games

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jackson Snyder, Centennial boys’ basketball

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Junior guard Jackson Snyder is a member of the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. He helped the Jaguars to a 14-5 record this season. Snyder averaged 4.7 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. He shot 35.3 percent from 3-point range (12-of-34). Snyder scored a career-high 20 points in the Jaguars' 72-62 victory at Marshalltown on Dec. 18, going … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jackson Snyder, Centennial boys’ basketball

‘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

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

Jaguars pull away from Urbandale, finish regular season with 13-4 record

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It's a good bet that the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team will be practicing special situations this week as the Jaguars prepare for the start of postseason play. In its regular-season finale on Friday, Centennial twice gave up a 3-point goal at the buzzer in the first half as visiting Urbandale managed to keep the game close, trailing by only … [Read more...] about Jaguars pull away from Urbandale, finish regular season with 13-4 record

‘We came out with some really good energy’: Jaguars romp past Roosevelt

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Less than 48 hours after wrapping up the CIML Iowa Conference title, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team started focusing on postseason play. The eighth-ranked Jaguars will have three non-conference games to get ready for substate action, beginning with Saturday's tilt against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt. Centennial raced out to a 41-17 lead … [Read more...] about ‘We came out with some really good energy’: Jaguars romp past Roosevelt

‘It feels good to be conference champs’: Louis leads Jaguars past Mason City

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team badly needed a victory on Thursday night. Thanks to some prolific shooting from Chris Louis, the eighth-ranked Jaguars easily achieved their goal. Louis scored a career-high 24 points as Centennial rolled to an 84-50 victory at Mason City, allowing the Jaguars to snap a three-game losing skid and clinch the … [Read more...] about ‘It feels good to be conference champs’: Louis leads Jaguars past Mason City

Hot-shooting Dowling boys hand No. 8 Jaguars their third consecutive loss

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team got off to a bad start in Tuesday's non-conference game at Dowling Catholic. The eighth-ranked Jaguars never recovered. Dowling jumped out to an 11-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the first quarter and rolled to an 83-63 victory, handing Centennial its third consecutive loss. The Jaguars (10-4) allowed 83 … [Read more...] about Hot-shooting Dowling boys hand No. 8 Jaguars their third consecutive loss

Lipsey, Little Cyclones capitalize on Crews’ absence to stay in title chase

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A two-game lead in the CIML Iowa Conference gave the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team some margin for error on Friday night. All-state point guard Jaron Crews sat out with an ankle injury as the fourth-ranked Jaguars lost to No. 10 Ames, 56-46, in a top-10 showdown at Centennial. "I could have played tonight, but I just wanted to make sure I was … [Read more...] about Lipsey, Little Cyclones capitalize on Crews’ absence to stay in title chase

No. 2 Waukee boys top Centennial, snap Jaguars’ 20-game home winning streak

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team isn't accustomed to losing on its home court. It took a special squad to end the Jaguars' 20-game home winning streak. Second-ranked Waukee built a 35-24 halftime lead and went on to post a 69-56 victory over No. 4 Centennial in a non-conference game on Tuesday. The Warriors were also the last team to win at … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee boys top Centennial, snap Jaguars’ 20-game home winning streak