Ankeny Fanatic

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Brandt Carlson

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

‘I knew we could get this one’: Hawks stun No. 3 Valley with late 10-0 run

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The Valley boys' basketball team had a chance to clinch at least a tie for the CIML Conference title on Friday. But visiting Ankeny had a lot to play for, too. The Hawks scored the final 10 points of the game over the last 3 minutes 53 seconds to post a 76-72 victory over third-ranked Valley, knocking off the defending Class 4A state champions and … [Read more...] about ‘I knew we could get this one’: Hawks stun No. 3 Valley with late 10-0 run

‘There’s not a lot of time to waste’: Hawks roll past Urbandale for 3rd straight win

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A huge second quarter lifted the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 76-39 win at Urbandale on Tuesday. The Hawks outscored Urbandale in the second period, 30-7, to build a 46-18 halftime lead. They then cruised to their third consecutive victory--all of them in the last five days. "We shot the ball well again, so that was two nights in a row," said … [Read more...] about ‘There’s not a lot of time to waste’: Hawks roll past Urbandale for 3rd straight win

‘We need these wins’: Aguirre brothers lead Ankeny boys to sweep over Dragons

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There was no letdown for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. Three days after posting an emotional win over their crosstown rival, the Hawks made another statement on Monday with a 71-59 victory over visiting Johnston, which was coming off a 66-45 triumph against CIML Conference leader Waukee. "It was nice to see that because it's always hard for young … [Read more...] about ‘We need these wins’: Aguirre brothers lead Ankeny boys to sweep over Dragons

Johnson outduels Winkel in shootout, leads Ankeny boys past No. 8 Centennial

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Two of the state's best boys' basketball players put on a dazzling display Friday at the Ankeny gym. Only one of them walked away with a victory. Ankeny's Carson Johnson poured in 38 points to offset a career-high 37 from Ankeny Centennial's Luke Winkel and the Hawks avenged an earlier loss with a 76-63 win. "It's always a great rivalry," said … [Read more...] about Johnson outduels Winkel in shootout, leads Ankeny boys past No. 8 Centennial

Without injured Johnson, Ankeny boys suffer 67-48 loss to defending champs

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Tuesday's game against third-ranked Valley was already going to be a challenge for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. It became even tougher when Carson Johnson, the leading scorer in Class 4A, was unable to play. Johnson sat out with a hand injury that he suffered during Friday's loss to Waukee Northwest, and the host Hawks went on to drop a 67-48 … [Read more...] about Without injured Johnson, Ankeny boys suffer 67-48 loss to defending champs

Ankeny boys lose star guard Johnson to hand injury during loss to Waukee NW

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Some losses are more costly than others. The Ankeny boys' basketball team is hoping that Friday's defeat to visiting Waukee Northwest won't be too damaging in the grand scheme of things. However, an injury to star point guard Carson Johnson could be even more detrimental than the 62-49 loss. Johnson, the leading scorer in Class 4A with an average of … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys lose star guard Johnson to hand injury during loss to Waukee NW

Ankeny boys hold off Dowling Catholic, move into 3rd place in CIML Conference

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Every win matters right now for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The ninth-ranked Hawks, who are fighting for a top seed in a Class 4A substate tournament, took another step toward reaching that goal with a 66-60 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic on Tuesday. They completed a sweep of the season series against the Maroons, who dropped the first … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys hold off Dowling Catholic, move into 3rd place in CIML Conference

Hawks overcome Goodman’s 30 points, sweep season series against S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 76-61 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Friday. The game was tied with less than 3 minutes left in the third period before the seventh-ranked Hawks took control down the stretch. They improved to 6-3 in the CIML Conference and 9-4 overall, while Southeast Polk's records … [Read more...] about Hawks overcome Goodman’s 30 points, sweep season series against S.E. Polk

‘It was a frustrating evening’: Ankeny boys get in foul trouble, tumble at DC-Grimes

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Tuesday's non-conference game at Dallas Center-Grimes is one that the Ankeny boys' basketball team might want to forget. The seventh-ranked Hawks fell behind at halftime, 44-32, and went on to drop an 84-68 decision to the Mustangs. It was the most points allowed by Ankeny this season. "It was just tough for us to get any momentum going," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘It was a frustrating evening’: Ankeny boys get in foul trouble, tumble at DC-Grimes

No. 5 Waukee holds off Hawks’ late rally to remain unbeaten in CIML Conference

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A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The seventh-ranked Hawks fell behind No. 5 Waukee, 19-5, in the first quarter of Thursday's game at Ankeny. Ankeny eventually closed the gap to three points in the final seconds before the Warriors held on for a 68-63 victory. "It was all about the start," said Ankeny coach Brandt … [Read more...] about No. 5 Waukee holds off Hawks’ late rally to remain unbeaten in CIML Conference

Johnson pours in 29 points, leads Hawks past Bettendorf in MVC-CIML Showdown

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Ankeny's Carson Johnson just continues to scorch the nets. The senior point guard poured in 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting to lead the ninth-ranked Hawks to a 78-53 victory over Bettendorf in the ServPro MVC-CIML Showdown on Saturday at Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids. He went 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Johnson leads Class 4A in scoring with … [Read more...] about Johnson pours in 29 points, leads Hawks past Bettendorf in MVC-CIML Showdown