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Brandt Carlson

Ankeny boys get much-needed road win before taking trip to Sioux City

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Just three nights after being held to 29 points, the Ankeny boys' basketball team erupted for a season-high offensive output in a 74-65 victory on Friday at Dowling Catholic. The Hawks pulled away in the second half to improve their records to 2-3 in the CIML Conference and 3-4 overall. Dowling, which had won two of its last three games after being blown … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys get much-needed road win before taking trip to Sioux City

‘It was a rough night’: Ankeny boys score just 29 points in loss to No. 1 Wolves

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It's time for the Ankeny boys' basketball team to regroup. After losing to Indianola on Monday, the Hawks suffered another defeat on their home court Tuesday, dropping a 60-29 decision to top-ranked Waukee Northwest in a CIML Conference game. While the Wolves shot 55.3 percent from the field (26-of-47), Ankeny struggled mightily to score all night. The … [Read more...] about ‘It was a rough night’: Ankeny boys score just 29 points in loss to No. 1 Wolves

Ex-Ankeny player Drea leads No. 7 Indianola to 62-55 victory over Hawks

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A former teammate earned some revenge against the Ankeny boys' basketball squad on Monday. Brayden Drea, who started all 20 games for the Hawks as a sophomore two years ago, scored 21 points to lead visiting Indianola to a 62-55 victory in a non-conference game. The Indians, who are tied for seventh in the Class 4A rankings with three other teams, avenged … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny player Drea leads No. 7 Indianola to 62-55 victory over Hawks

Ankeny boys pull away in 2nd half, hand defending champions their 1st loss

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The Harrison Barnes Gym at Ames' new high school could become a tough place to play for opposing basketball teams. That wasn't the case on Friday for the Ankeny boys' squad. The visiting Hawks pulled away in the second half for a 64-50 victory over Ames in a non-conference game. The defending Class 4A state champion Little Cyclones (2-1) suffered their … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys pull away in 2nd half, hand defending champions their 1st loss

‘We needed that for the team mojo’: Akers, Hawks pull away from S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team got a much-needed win on Tuesday. The Hawks pulled away in the second half to defeat visiting Southeast Polk, 57-40, for their first victory of the season. They improved to 1-2 in the CIML Conference, while the Rams' records dropped to 0-2 in the league and 0-3 overall. "Anytime you start the season and you get your … [Read more...] about ‘We needed that for the team mojo’: Akers, Hawks pull away from S.E. Polk

‘We just couldn’t get the lid off the rim’: Hawks struggle late in loss to Johnston

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Brandt Carlson isn't too concerned about his team's 0-2 start. The Ankeny boys' basketball coach knows that the Hawks will continue to improve. "We're getting better in some ways, but it's just not showing up in the win column," said Carlson. "But I like our team." The Hawks dropped a 61-45 decision to visiting Johnston in a CIML Conference game on … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t get the lid off the rim’: Hawks struggle late in loss to Johnston

‘It was just a tough matchup’: Waukee tops Ankeny boys in Biliew’s return

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Omaha Biliew's celebrated return to the Iowa high school basketball scene came at the expense of the Ankeny boys' squad. The Hawks opened their season on Tuesday with a 75-51 loss at Waukee, the preseason No. 1 team in Class 4A. Biliew, who helped the Warriors to a state title as a sophomore before spending last season at a Missouri prep school, is … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a tough matchup’: Waukee tops Ankeny boys in Biliew’s return

Despite loss of key players, Ankeny boys ‘believe in the tradition of our program’

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The depth on the Ankeny boys' basketball team has taken a severe hit before the season has even tipped off. The Hawks have lost four varsity-level competitors in JJ Kohl, Alex Aguirre, Karson Wehde and Joel Mpore to either injury or early college enrollment, according to Ankeny coach Brandt Carlson. "Although not ideal, I believe in the tradition of … [Read more...] about Despite loss of key players, Ankeny boys ‘believe in the tradition of our program’

Ankeny senior Wehde suffers broken leg, will miss entire boys’ basketball season

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team will be missing one of its top players this winter. Senior wing Karson Wehde has suffered a season-ending injury before the Hawks even started practicing. "On Thursday night at open gym I broke the tibia and fibula in my leg," said Wehde. "I had surgery Friday morning, and I'll be out for the whole season." Wehde … [Read more...] about Ankeny senior Wehde suffers broken leg, will miss entire boys’ basketball season

‘That won us the game’: Johnston’s free throws end Ankeny boys’ season at 19-5

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Ankeny's JJ Kohl grabbed the rebound in the lane and put the ball back in the hoop as time expired. It was a meaningless basket in the grand scheme of things, because it didn't prevent third-seeded Johnston from advancing to the Class 4A semifinals of the boys' state basketball tournament. But it showed what the sixth-seeded Hawks are all … [Read more...] about ‘That won us the game’: Johnston’s free throws end Ankeny boys’ season at 19-5

THE END OF THE ROAD: Hawks fall to Johnston in Class 4A quarterfinals

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Steven Kramer scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and third-seeded Johnston rallied to beat sixth-seeded Ankeny, 55-53, in the Class 4A quarterfinals of the boys' state basketball tournament on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Kramer made a 3-point goal with 5 minutes 15 seconds left to put his team ahead for good, 45-44, in a seesaw affair … [Read more...] about THE END OF THE ROAD: Hawks fall to Johnston in Class 4A quarterfinals

‘It was a grind’: Ankeny boys top Warriors, will play Johnston in 4A quarterfinals

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A year ago, the Waukee boys' basketball team ended Ankeny's bid for a second consecutive Class 4A state title with a 74-54 victory in a substate final. On Tuesday at Dallas Center-Grimes, the ninth-ranked Hawks returned the favor. Ankeny pulled away in the third quarter and then held on to beat the defending state champion Warriors, 62-57, in a … [Read more...] about ‘It was a grind’: Ankeny boys top Warriors, will play Johnston in 4A quarterfinals

‘We’re excited to move on’: Hawks get off to fast start, roll past Sioux City West

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There were several upsets on Friday night in the semifinal round of the boys' Class 4A substate basketball tournaments. Ninth-ranked Ankeny refused to be one of the victims. The Hawks jumped out to a 24-7 lead in the first quarter and went on to defeat visiting Sioux City West, 83-48, in a Substate 1 matchup. "You've really got to establish who you … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited to move on’: Hawks get off to fast start, roll past Sioux City West

Johnson returns to lineup, Kohl shines as Hawks top North to end regular season

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team wanted to keep its momentum going heading into postseason play. The ninth-ranked Hawks accomplished their goal with a 70-50 victory over visiting Des Moines North in a non-conference game on Friday. "I think tonight's win was very important for our team heading into the playoffs," said junior post player JJ Kohl. "It's … [Read more...] about Johnson returns to lineup, Kohl shines as Hawks top North to end regular season

‘I think we adjusted well’: AHS boys use bigger lineup without Johnson, top Rams

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The absence of its starting point guard didn't seem to bother the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The ninth-ranked Hawks placed four players in double figures and defeated visiting Southeast Polk, 68-55, in a non-conference game on Tuesday. Ankeny played without sophomore Carson Johnson, who injured his knee during Friday's overtime victory against … [Read more...] about ‘I think we adjusted well’: AHS boys use bigger lineup without Johnson, top Rams

‘I know I can hit that shot’: Aguirre’s OT buzzer-beater lifts Ankeny past Jaguars

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Ankeny's Lio Aguirre hadn't make a basket all night. He couldn't have picked a better time to sink his only shot. Aguirre made a jumper at the buzzer to give the sixth-ranked Hawks an 81-79 overtime victory against visiting Ankeny Centennial on Friday. The sophomore forward had missed a shot in the waning seconds of Tuesday's game at Des Moines Hoover, … [Read more...] about ‘I know I can hit that shot’: Aguirre’s OT buzzer-beater lifts Ankeny past Jaguars

‘It was the craziest deal’: Hoover stuns Hawks on Imani’s OT buzzer-beater

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An unlikely hero emerged for the Des Moines Hoover boys' basketball team on Tuesday. Senior Justin Imani, a 5-foot 7 guard, scored the winning basket at the buzzer to give the host Huskies a 53-51 overtime victory against sixth-ranked Ankeny in a non-conference game. The Hawks (14-4) lost to an unranked opponent for the first time. Their other losses … [Read more...] about ‘It was the craziest deal’: Hoover stuns Hawks on Imani’s OT buzzer-beater

‘We’re moving in the right direction’: AHS boys rout Mason City, improve to 14-3

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When the Ankeny boys' basketball team posted a 70-56 win at Mason City on Jan. 7, the Hawks didn't pull away until the fourth quarter. Friday's rematch between the two squads at Ankeny was decided well before then. The sixth-ranked Hawks held a 37-21 lead at halftime, then outscored Mason City in the third quarter, 24-10, to build a 61-31 advantage. … [Read more...] about ‘We’re moving in the right direction’: AHS boys rout Mason City, improve to 14-3