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Dru McAnelly

Hawkettes respond to adversity, surge past Fort Dodge with strong finish

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If the Ankeny girls' basketball team is going to win the CIML Iowa Conference title, the Hawkettes can't afford to lose the games they are expected to win. Tuesday's contest against visiting Fort Dodge was one of those games. The Dodgers put up a good fight before ninth-ranked Ankeny pulled away in the second half for a 63-38 victory. The Hawkettes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes respond to adversity, surge past Fort Dodge with strong finish

ALONE AT THE TOP: Ankeny girls top Wolves, take sole possession of 1st place

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team hadn't defeated an opponent from Waukee since the 2012-13 season. That streak is now over. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes closed the game with a 13-6 run to defeat No. 10 Waukee Northwest, 44-41, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on Friday at Ankeny. "That was a big one," said Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly. … [Read more...] about ALONE AT THE TOP: Ankeny girls top Wolves, take sole possession of 1st place

Hawkettes romp past Lincoln for most lopsided victory ever under McAnelly

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It's been a season of milestones thus far for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. On Dec. 7, the Hawkettes defeated then-No. 6 Valley to knock off their highest-ranked opponent under coach Dru McAnelly. Then, on Friday, Ankeny rolled to an 87-29 victory over Marshalltown. The 58-point margin matched the team's largest ever under McAnelly. Following a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes romp past Lincoln for most lopsided victory ever under McAnelly

‘It was too big of a difference’: Slow start dooms Hawkettes in loss at Indianola

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team was coming off one of the best shooting displays in school history. The Hawkettes were unable to duplicate that performance on Monday. Ankeny shot just 34.6 percent from the field (18-of-52) and suffered a 54-47 loss at Indianola, the No. 5 team in Class 4A. The non-conference defeat snapped a four-game winning streak … [Read more...] about ‘It was too big of a difference’: Slow start dooms Hawkettes in loss at Indianola

Hawkettes scorch the nets, make 13 treys in blowout victory over Marshalltown

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There were a lot of open shots for the Ankeny girls' basketball team during Friday's game against visiting Marshalltown. The Hawkettes didn't miss many of them. Ankeny jumped out to a 34-7 lead in the first quarter, extended the advantage to 66-16 at halftime and cruised to an 87-29 victory over the Bobcats. It was the fourth straight win for the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes scorch the nets, make 13 treys in blowout victory over Marshalltown

A STATEMENT WIN: Hawkettes knock off top-10 foe for first time under McAnelly

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A year ago, the Ankeny girls' basketball team posted the first winning season since the split into two high schools. On Tuesday, the Hawkettes' program took another huge step forward. Ankeny closed out the game with a 13-5 run to post a 51-43 victory over visiting Valley, the No. 6 team in Class 5A. It was the Hawkettes' first win over a top-10 … [Read more...] about A STATEMENT WIN: Hawkettes knock off top-10 foe for first time under McAnelly

Hawkettes pick up the pace, force 33 turnovers in lopsided win at Ames

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The Ames girls' basketball team lost its first three games by an average margin of 65 points. A matchup against visiting Ankeny on Friday wasn't the breather that the Little Cyclones needed. The Hawkettes had 25 steals while forcing 33 turnovers and rolled to a 65-12 victory in their CIML Iowa Conference opener. They used a full-court press to turn the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pick up the pace, force 33 turnovers in lopsided win at Ames

FILLING IT UP: Senior’s 3-pointer sparks late run, lifts Hawkettes past North

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Jadyn Filling didn't hesitate when she had an open look at the basket. The senior guard drained a huge 3-point goal with 3 minutes 32 seconds left, sparking a late 11-2 run that lifted the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 44-40 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Monday. "I was struggling with confidence coming into this game, but I really feel … [Read more...] about FILLING IT UP: Senior’s 3-pointer sparks late run, lifts Hawkettes past North

Valiant effort falls short as S.E. Polk’s late run foils upset bid by Hawkettes

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A few days ago, Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly said he thought he could have a pretty good basketball team by mid-January. If Tuesday's season opener against fifth-ranked Southeast Polk was any indication, it's not going to take that long. Ankeny battled the visiting Rams on even terms for much of the game before Southeast Polk pulled away … [Read more...] about Valiant effort falls short as S.E. Polk’s late run foils upset bid by Hawkettes

Hawkettes could experience growing pains, but McAnelly sees some potential

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It might take awhile for the Ankeny girls' basketball team to reach its potential. The Hawkettes return only two starters from a squad that posted a 10-7 record last year for the program's first winning season since the split into two high schools. "We are extremely young with only two seniors, and both of them have not played very many varsity minutes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes could experience growing pains, but McAnelly sees some potential

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Erin McKenna, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior Erin McKenna helped the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 10-7 record this season. McKenna played in nine of the 17 games, scoring a total of 16 points. She went 7-of-14 from the field. McKenna also contributed four rebounds, two assists and three steals. "Erin was the ultimate team player!" said Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly. "She was willing … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Erin McKenna, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘Our girls battled all the way’: Hawkettes finish season with loss to No. 1 Waukee

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It's going to take a girls' basketball team with a lot of firepower to knock off top-ranked Waukee. Ankeny took its best shot on Tuesday in a Class 5A regional final. The Hawkettes just didn't have enough weapons to pull off the upset. Abby Johnson scored a career-high 23 points, but she was the only Ankeny player in double figures as the host Warriors … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls battled all the way’: Hawkettes finish season with loss to No. 1 Waukee

Hawkettes top Ames girls for 3rd time, earn rematch against No. 1 Waukee

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A regional final matchup against top-ranked Waukee isn't going to intimidate the Ankeny girls' basketball team. If the Hawkettes play like they did on Saturday night, they might even pull off a huge upset. "Coming off this game, I think we played really well," Ankeny guard Jenna Pitz said after the Hawkettes' 73-37 victory over visiting Ames in a Class … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Ames girls for 3rd time, earn rematch against No. 1 Waukee

Hawkettes top Ames in potential preview of Class 5A regional semifinal

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The Ankeny and Ames girls' basketball teams were both missing a key player for Friday's regular-season finale at Ankeny. Only one of them could be back next Saturday, when the two squads will likely face off again in a Class 5A regional semifinal. Forwards Calyssa Wright of Ankeny and Ashley Iiams of Ames both sat out with concussions as the Hawkettes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Ames in potential preview of Class 5A regional semifinal

Hawkettes snap four-game losing skid with largest win ever under McAnelly

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A car accident over the weekend left Ankeny girls' basketball player Calyssa Wright with a concussion. Fortunately for the Hawkettes, they didn't need her on Tuesday. Ankeny built a 53-10 halftime lead and cruised to a 79-21 victory over visiting Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. The Hawkettes (8-6) played for the first time in a week after … [Read more...] about Hawkettes snap four-game losing skid with largest win ever under McAnelly

Hawkettes tumble to Roosevelt for 4th loss to rated opponent in 6 days

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A matchup against a struggling opponent might be just what the Ankeny girls' basketball team needs right now. The 13th-ranked Hawkettes will travel to Marshalltown on Friday for a CIML Iowa Conference game against the Bobcats, who fell to 1-14 on the season with a 66-13 loss to No. 1 Johnston on Tuesday. Ankeny will be looking to end a four-game losing … [Read more...] about Hawkettes tumble to Roosevelt for 4th loss to rated opponent in 6 days

Christmann enjoys career night, but Valley gets the win on buzzer-beater

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When the Ankeny girls' basketball team needed a spark on Monday night, senior guard Rachael Christmann provided it. Christmann made five 3-point goals in the fourth quarter as the 13th-ranked Hawkettes overcame a 12-point deficit in a CIML non-conference game at No. 10 Valley. Her last 3-pointer from well behind the arc tied the score at 45-45 with 15 … [Read more...] about Christmann enjoys career night, but Valley gets the win on buzzer-beater

Jaguars hold off Ankeny’s upset bid, clinch share of Iowa Conference title

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team was in position on Friday to knock off crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial for the first time ever. But a pair of 3-point shots, one in the third quarter that would have put the Hawkettes ahead and another in the fourth that would have tied the game, bounced off the rim. Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial then pulled away in … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Ankeny’s upset bid, clinch share of Iowa Conference title