The coaches from the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams were hoping to be placed in different substate brackets, which would create the possibility of both squads advancing to the state tournament. They got their wish. The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced its Class 4A assignments on Friday. Ankeny has been placed in … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks placed in different substate brackets by IHSAA
Bob Fontana
Jaguars avenge their only loss, move closer to Central Conference crown
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team moved a step closer toward the CIML Central Conference title by avenging its only loss of the season. The fourth-ranked Jaguars closed out Friday's game on a 32-10 run to defeat visiting Dowling Catholic, 63-48. It was Centennial's ninth straight win since suffering a 68-55 loss at Dowling on Jan. 3. "We lost … [Read more...] about Jaguars avenge their only loss, move closer to Central Conference crown
Jaguars take down No. 1 Waukee, give Fontana his 400th career victory
Bob Fontana's 400th career coaching victory is one that he'll never forget. The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team led almost the entire way and posted a 78-70 victory at No. 1 Waukee on Tuesday, allowing Fontana to reach the milestone. Afterwards, Fontana told his team outside the locker room that he'd rather have a state tournament … [Read more...] about Jaguars take down No. 1 Waukee, give Fontana his 400th career victory
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cade Macke, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball
Senior guard Cade Macke has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 14-1 record. He is averaging 1.8 points per game. Macke is shooting 33.3 percent from 3-point range (5-of-15). He has scored a season-high five points on three different occasions. "The thing that stands out about Cade is that he is always there for his … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cade Macke, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball
McAleer’s career night helps Centennial boys pull away from Little Cyclones
A 29-3 run that spanned both halves allowed the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to post a 50-29 victory over visiting Ames on Friday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars trailed, 16-11, before scoring the last 10 points of the first half. They then outscored Ames in the third quarter, 16-3, to build a 37-19 advantage. "It was a slow-paced game the first … [Read more...] about McAleer’s career night helps Centennial boys pull away from Little Cyclones
Jaguars avoid letdown, convert 30-of-33 free throws in win over North
Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana was hoping that his team could avoid a letdown after Monday's huge victory over Ankeny. He should not have been worried. The sixth-ranked Jaguars returned to the court on Tuesday and defeated visiting Des Moines North, 85-74, in a non-conference game. They improved to 12-1 on the season, while … [Read more...] about Jaguars avoid letdown, convert 30-of-33 free throws in win over North
DOUBLE TROUBLE: McCullough, Johnson lead Jaguars past Ankeny boys
A dynamic duo emerged for the Ankeny boys' basketball team on Monday. Ankeny Centennial's twin towers were just a little bit better. Post players Cody McCullough and Micah Johnson combined for 46 points and 33 rebounds against Ankeny's undersized squad to lead the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 69-61 victory at Centennial. The No. 9 Hawks had won the last … [Read more...] about DOUBLE TROUBLE: McCullough, Johnson lead Jaguars past Ankeny boys
Centennial boys top Ankeny, take sole possession of Central Conference lead
The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team moved into sole possession of first place in the CIML Central Conference with a 69-61 victory over No. 9 Ankeny on Monday at Centennial. Centennial entered the game tied atop the league standings with Ankeny and No. 10 Dowling Catholic. But the Jaguars received some help from Ames, which posted a … [Read more...] about Centennial boys top Ankeny, take sole possession of Central Conference lead
Jaguars gear up for Monday’s showdown after pulling away to beat Urbandale
It would have been easy for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to overlook its opponent on Saturday. With a huge showdown against crosstown rival Ankeny looming on Monday, the fifth-ranked Jaguars broke away from a 25-25 halftime tie to post a 70-60 victory at Urbandale. It wasn't pretty, but Centennial improved to 4-1 in the CIML Central … [Read more...] about Jaguars gear up for Monday’s showdown after pulling away to beat Urbandale
Jaguars roll past Johnston behind Crews’ fast start, rebounding advantage
For the first 8 minutes of Tuesday's game against visiting Johnston, Jaron Crews was clearly in the zone. The junior point guard poured in 18 points in the first quarter and went on to finish with 23 as the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team cruised to a 78-55 victory over the Dragons. "I was just letting the game come to me," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Johnston behind Crews’ fast start, rebounding advantage
Centennial boys roll past Bobcats behind McCullough’s 5th double-double
The struggling Marshalltown boys' basketball team needed to find a way to solve its scoring woes. A visit from fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial on Tuesday was not the answer. The Jaguars turned in a dominant defensive performance to post a 67-34 victory. They improved to 8-1 on the season. Marshalltown (3-6) has scored 35 or fewer points in five of … [Read more...] about Centennial boys roll past Bobcats behind McCullough’s 5th double-double
Van Meter, Kester lead Jaguars to most lopsided victory in school history
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needed to rebound from Friday's loss at Dowling Catholic. A non-conference matchup against visiting Sioux City North provided an opportunity to do just that. The second-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter, built a 56-9 advantage at halftime and rolled to an 84-28 victory on Saturday. … [Read more...] about Van Meter, Kester lead Jaguars to most lopsided victory in school history
‘They were more physical than us’: Dowling boys hand Jaguars their first loss
The showdown for first place in the CIML Central Conference boys' basketball race was decided in the first 8 minutes of the game. Ninth-ranked Dowling Catholic jumped out to a 19-5 lead over No. 2 Ankeny Centennial and cruised to a 68-55 victory on Friday, handing the visiting Jaguars their first loss of the season. "You can't get down 14 points at the … [Read more...] about ‘They were more physical than us’: Dowling boys hand Jaguars their first loss
‘He just keeps getting better and better’: Crews leads Jaguars to 6-0 start
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
Centennial boys overcome offensive woes to beat Roosevelt, stay unbeaten
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
Unbeaten Jaguars shut down Johnston for impressive 57-40 road victory
Friday's game at Johnston was expected to be the biggest test of the season thus far for the unbeaten Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars passed it with flying colors. Centennial used a 24-point third quarter to pull away for a 57-40 victory in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams. The Dragons were held to just 26 percent … [Read more...] about Unbeaten Jaguars shut down Johnston for impressive 57-40 road victory
Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley
Jaron Crews and the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team showed a glimpse of their potential on Tuesday night. Crews poured in a career-high 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 7 seconds left, as the Jaguars remained unbeaten with a 59-51 victory at Valley. "It's a good win, but we're just taking it one game at a time," said … [Read more...] about Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karter Kester, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball
Senior post player Karter Kester is a member of the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. He has helped the Jaguars to a 3-0 record. Kester is averaging 2.0 points and 0.5 rebounds per game. “Karter has brought energy and enthusiasm to our team. He brings it every day in practice and in games," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. "He is a great … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karter Kester, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball
Balanced Jaguars roll to 72-46 victory over rebuilding Hoover squad
Friday's matchup between the Ankeny Centennial and Des Moines Hoover boys' basketball teams was only the third meeting between the two schools in the last six seasons. This one went much better for the Jaguars than the previous two. Centennial got double-figure scoring from four different players and rolled to a 72-46 victory over the visiting Huskies. … [Read more...] about Balanced Jaguars roll to 72-46 victory over rebuilding Hoover squad
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 73
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. The Fontana brothers, head boys' basketball coach Bob and assistant football and wrestling coach Mike of Ankeny Centennial, were the guests along with former teacher and Ankeny girls' track coach Dennis Adamson, who discusses his project that … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 73