Ankeny Fanatic

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Brandt Carlson

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

Ankeny boys shake off rust, rally in 2nd half for 70-58 victory over Urbandale

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It took awhile for the Ankeny boys' basketball team to shake off the rust. Following a 17-day layoff, the ninth-ranked Hawks struggled in the first half of Friday's game against visiting Urbandale and trailed at the break, 32-27. "There's no question about it that we were a little rusty," said Ankeny coach Brandt Carlson. "But with young kids like … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys shake off rust, rally in 2nd half for 70-58 victory over Urbandale

Winkel, Jaguars use late run to snap Ankeny boys’ 6-game winning streak

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An unlikely hero emerged for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team on Tuesday. Junior Cabryn Klingner made a 3-point goal to give the Jaguars a 53-51 lead over visiting Ankeny with 3 minutes 20 seconds left to play in a CIML Conference game. It was Klingner's only basket of the night, but it sparked a 14-1 run that allowed Centennial to pull away … [Read more...] about Winkel, Jaguars use late run to snap Ankeny boys’ 6-game winning streak

Soaring Hawks hold off Dowling for 6th straight win after 11 ties, 17 lead changes

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Just call them the Road Warriors. The Ankeny boys' basketball team came up with two big defensive stops down the stretch and held on for a 79-77 victory at Dowling Catholic on Friday, extending its winning streak to six games and earning its fourth road win in CIML Conference play. "We pride ourselves on playing defense," said Ankeny senior Lio … [Read more...] about Soaring Hawks hold off Dowling for 6th straight win after 11 ties, 17 lead changes

‘He really took over’: Johnson pours in career-high 40, leads Hawks past NW

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Ankeny boys' basketball standout Carson Johnson has been playing at a high level this season. On Tuesday at Waukee Northwest, the senior point guard took his game into the stratosphere. Johnson made 8-of-9 shots from 3-point range and poured in a career-high 40 points to lead the Hawks to an 84-76 victory in a CIML Conference game. "He literally … [Read more...] about ‘He really took over’: Johnson pours in career-high 40, leads Hawks past NW

Johnson, Lio Aguirre combine for 47 points in Hawks’ road win over Indianola

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team didn't have much time to prepare for Monday's non-conference game at Indianola. With seniors Carson Johnson and Lio Aguirre leading the way, it really didn't matter. Johnson poured in 24 points and Aguirre added 23 as the Hawks cruised to a 73-48 victory that extended their winning streak to four games. They are now 4-1 … [Read more...] about Johnson, Lio Aguirre combine for 47 points in Hawks’ road win over Indianola