Ankeny Fanatic

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Brandt Carlson

Hawks contain Jacobson, but Waukee thrives from deep to earn 7th straight win

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Waukee showed on Tuesday why it's one of the state's hottest boys' basketball teams. The seventh-ranked Warriors didn't need a big night from junior post player Evan Jacobson in order to extend their winning streak to seven games. Jacobson was held to seven points in a CIML Conference contest at Ankeny, but Waukee made 11-of-21 3-point shots and had … [Read more...] about Hawks contain Jacobson, but Waukee thrives from deep to earn 7th straight win

No. 2 Valley boys use 12-0 run in 4th quarter to thwart Hawks’ upset bid

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For three and a half quarters, it felt like the Ankeny boys' basketball team had second-ranked Valley on the ropes and on the verge of a major victory. But a 12-0 run and one too many trips to the free-throw line for Valley helped the Tigers escape out of Ankeny with a 64-60 win on Friday. “We played really hard and … [Read more...] about No. 2 Valley boys use 12-0 run in 4th quarter to thwart Hawks’ upset bid

Hawks use big run to rally past Centennial boys, take 13-12 lead in all-time series

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The Ankeny boys' basketball players didn't panic when their crosstown rival surged to a five-point lead in the first half of Tuesday's game at Ankeny Centennial. The Hawks had been in this position before. Ankeny rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to beat the Jaguars a month ago, and the Hawks used a similar rally on Tuesday to pull away for a … [Read more...] about Hawks use big run to rally past Centennial boys, take 13-12 lead in all-time series

Hawks knock off Linn-Mar at CIML/MVC Crossover event, will face Centennial next

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For the second year in a row, the Ankeny boys' basketball team played in the CIML/MVC Crossover event and came away with an impressive victory. The Hawks broke away from a tie in the fourth quarter to defeat Linn-Mar (Marion), 61-55, on Saturday at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids. "It's a good venue and a fun environment," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawks knock off Linn-Mar at CIML/MVC Crossover event, will face Centennial next

‘They’re really good’: Unbeaten Tigers pull away for 67-53 victory over Ankeny boys

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Ankeny boys' basketball coach Brandt Carlson was impressed by what he saw of Cedar Falls while preparing for Thursday's non-conference game. The visiting Tigers were just as impressive in person. "They're really good," Carlson said after his team dropped a 67-53 decision. "They look great on film, and live they were just as good." Anthony Galvin … [Read more...] about ‘They’re really good’: Unbeaten Tigers pull away for 67-53 victory over Ankeny boys

‘We just had some guys make plays’: Hawks outlast S.E. Polk boys in double OT

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There are no easy wins in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. The Ankeny boys' basketball team had to play an extra 8 minutes on Tuesday to earn its second conference victory of the season. The visiting Hawks scored the final six points of the game over the last 20 seconds to outlast Southeast Polk, 74-68, in double overtime. They improved to 2-3 in … [Read more...] about ‘We just had some guys make plays’: Hawks outlast S.E. Polk boys in double OT

Jacobson records double-double, leads Waukee boys to 56-42 victory over Hawks

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) While the Ankeny boys' basketball team struggled to get its shots to consistently fall, an Evan Jacobson-led Waukee squad was able to build up its lead. Ankeny looked to even its record going into Friday night, but shot just 31.5 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3-point range (5-of-30) as the Hawks suffered a … [Read more...] about Jacobson records double-double, leads Waukee boys to 56-42 victory over Hawks

‘That’s a tough formula to win’: Hawks shoot 4-of-19 inside arc, fall to Johnston

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) They might’ve been down, but at no point did the Ankeny boys' basketball players ever feel they were out of it. The Hawks clawed their way back from several deficits during Tuesday's matchup against unbeaten Johnston, but just couldn’t get over the hump as they dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 59-49 home … [Read more...] about ‘That’s a tough formula to win’: Hawks shoot 4-of-19 inside arc, fall to Johnston

‘I just think we executed better’: Aguirre, Hawks rally past Centennial in 2nd half

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team didn't panic when it fell behind at halftime, 28-23, against its visiting archrival on Friday. The Hawks knew there was still plenty of time to make a comeback. Rio Aguirre scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and Ankeny dominated the final 16 minutes of the game to post a 58-48 victory over Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘I just think we executed better’: Aguirre, Hawks rally past Centennial in 2nd half

Aguirre pours in 30 points, but Valley uses late run to seal 76-65 victory in opener

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) There’s nothing like opening up the season with a bang, and the Ankeny boys' basketball team had just that. Powered by a career-high 30-point outing from junior guard Rio Aguirre, the new-look Hawks went out on the road and nearly knocked off two-time reigning Class 4A state champion Valley, but were outlasted in the home … [Read more...] about Aguirre pours in 30 points, but Valley uses late run to seal 76-65 victory in opener

‘We have a competitive group of guys’: Hawks seek to continue winning tradition

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A year ago, then-sophomore Rio Aguirre proved to be a solid third scoring option for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. Now, following the graduation of his brother Lio and all-state guard Carson Johnson, Aguirre will likely become the Hawks' go-to player. "I think Rio understands his role and the importance of having great teammates," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about ‘We have a competitive group of guys’: Hawks seek to continue winning tradition

Cougars contain Johnson with trapping defense, advance to Class 4A title game

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Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' basketball coach Jon McKowen refused to let Ankeny's Carson Johnson beat his team. The strategy proved to be effective. The top-ranked Cougars used a trapping defense to hold Johnson to nine points on 4-of-13 shooting and posted a 63-51 victory in the Class 4A semifinals on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. "We press every … [Read more...] about Cougars contain Johnson with trapping defense, advance to Class 4A title game

‘I was really proud of our fight’: Hawks’ rally falls short against C.R. Kennedy

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team closed out the season on Thursday with a 63-51 loss to top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Class 4A semifinals at Wells Fargo Arena. The loss ended an eight-game winning streak for the Hawks, who finished with an 18-7 record. "I was really proud of our fight. I thought we won the last three quarters ultimately, but … [Read more...] about ‘I was really proud of our fight’: Hawks’ rally falls short against C.R. Kennedy

‘This is just the first one’: Hawks top Dub. Senior, will face No. 1 C.R. Kennedy next

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Carson Johnson still remembers the feeling he had walking off the court two years ago after his Ankeny boys' basketball team lost to Johnston in the Class 4A quarterfinals. "Losing here my sophomore year, it sucked," Johnson said. "We just wanted to get back here and get a win for so long. Seeing all that hard work pay off is just great." Johnson … [Read more...] about ‘This is just the first one’: Hawks top Dub. Senior, will face No. 1 C.R. Kennedy next

Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The crowd was loud and the stakes were high as the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team hosted Iowa City Liberty in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. Liberty had won five of its last six games and was looking to continue that hot streak and move closer to the state tournament, but Carson Johnson and the Hawks had … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

Johnson, Hawks outduel Born, Norwalk to close out regular season at 15-6

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team finally got a defensive stop Monday when the Hawks needed it the most. Norwalk's Redek Born came up short on a 3-point shot at the buzzer and eighth-ranked Ankeny held on for a 66-64 victory over the visiting Warriors in a non-conference game to close out the regular season. Born, who finished with 39 points on 11-of-19 … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks outduel Born, Norwalk to close out regular season at 15-6