A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team ended its season with a loss to Waterloo West in the Class 5A quarterfinals. On Monday at Wells Fargo Arena, the Jaguars returned the favor. Sixth-seeded Centennial got 20 points from senior guard Makenna Clark and defeated No. 3 Waterloo West, 60-51, on the opening day of the state … [Read more...] about SWEET REVENGE: Jaguars oust No. 3 Waterloo West, will play Johnston next
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Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Makenna Clark, Centennial girls’ hoops
Senior guard Makenna Clark scored six points and grabbed six rebounds to help the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 35-32 victory over No. 11 Linn-Mar (Marion) in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. The Jaguars earned a third consecutive trip to the state tournament for the first time in school history. Clark is … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Makenna Clark, Centennial girls’ hoops
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
In recent years, the Central Iowa Metropolitan League has dominated the girls' Class 5A state basketball tournament. Waukee cruised to the title in 2021, winning its three games at Wells Fargo Arena by an average of 24 points. Then, last year, Johnston reached the championship game for the third straight year and won its second crown in that span in … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
Jaguars topple Iowa City West, will play No. 8 Cedar Falls for state tourney berth
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball players were prepared for a battle on Friday night. The 10th-ranked Jaguars survived their postseason opener, posting a 57-52 win over visiting Iowa City West in a Class 4A substate semifinal. "I thought we adjusted really well after the first quarter to the physicality of the game," said Centennial coach Bob … [Read more...] about Jaguars topple Iowa City West, will play No. 8 Cedar Falls for state tourney berth
‘My hat’s off to Ames’: Little Cyclones end Ankeny’s season with huge 2nd half
The first half of Friday's game at Ames could not have gone much better for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. Unfortunately, the second half could not have gone any worse. After building a 39-26 halftime lead, the Hawks were outscored in the final two periods, 46-12, and dropped a 72-51 decision in a Class 4A substate semifinal. They finished an … [Read more...] about ‘My hat’s off to Ames’: Little Cyclones end Ankeny’s season with huge 2nd half
IT’S A THREEPEAT!: Centennial girls hold off Linn-Mar, earn another trip to state
The seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team got one last chance to play on their home court Tuesday night. They didn't want it to be their final game. Kennedy White scored 11 points, Averi Porter dished out six assists and Makenna Clark made a pair of 3-point goals to help the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 35-32 victory over No. 11 Linn-Mar … [Read more...] about IT’S A THREEPEAT!: Centennial girls hold off Linn-Mar, earn another trip to state
Hawkettes’ valiant effort falls short in regional final at No. 5 Davenport North
Ankeny's dream of qualifying for the girls' state basketball tournament will have to wait at least another year. The 12th-ranked Hawkettes led for much of the game before falling at No. 5 Davenport North, 65-61, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. The Wildcats (21-2) advanced to next week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena, while Ankeny finished … [Read more...] about Hawkettes’ valiant effort falls short in regional final at No. 5 Davenport North
‘It’s what we needed’: Aguirre scores 27, leads Hawks to lopsided substate win
With an 8-14 record, the Ankeny boys' basketball team didn't win enough games to earn a first-round bye in postseason play. That was just fine with junior Lio Aguirre. Aguirre poured in 27 points to lead the Hawks to a 76-52 victory over visiting Ottumwa in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Monday. The Bulldogs, who had won their previous two games … [Read more...] about ‘It’s what we needed’: Aguirre scores 27, leads Hawks to lopsided substate win
Hawk wrestlers place 10th, Jaguars finish 12th in Class 3A state tournament
It was a rollercoaster Saturday for the Ankeny wrestling team during the consolation finals of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Hawks went 3-7 on the day and finished in 10th place overall with 89.5 points. Still, they had six placewinners for the first time under coach Jack Wignall. "It was a really fun tournament," said … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers place 10th, Jaguars finish 12th in Class 3A state tournament
‘We found a way to win’: Ankeny girls advance with late rally against Wolves
Saturday's game against visiting Waukee Northwest put a lot of stress on Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly. "I think I lost a year of my life because of that game," McAnelly said. In the end, though, the 12th-ranked Hawkettes held off Northwest for a 56-54 victory in a Class 5A regional semifinal. They defeated the Wolves for the third time … [Read more...] about ‘We found a way to win’: Ankeny girls advance with late rally against Wolves
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Savannah Gage, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Sophomore guard Savannah Gage scored 22 points to lead the 12th-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 56-54 victory over visiting Waukee Northwest in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. She had 17 of her points in the first half. Gage has helped the Hawkettes to a 12-10 record. She is averaging 16.3 points per game and leads the team with 29 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Savannah Gage, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Jaguars rout Urbandale again, will host Linn-Mar for trip to 5A state tournament
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has never qualified for the state tournament in three consecutive seasons. The sixth-ranked Jaguars moved a step closer toward doing just that with a 60-19 victory over visiting Urbandale in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. They raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, built a 43-4 advantage at … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Urbandale again, will host Linn-Mar for trip to 5A state tournament
Ankeny wrestlers fall to 10th, Jaguars drop to 12th after semifinal losses
It was a rough Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. Crosstown rival Ankeny fared considerably better in the Class 3A state tournament, especially in the consolation rounds. The Hawks went 6-3 on the back sides of the brackets and are now in 10th place with 81.5 points. Six of Ankeny's nine state qualifiers earned … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers fall to 10th, Jaguars drop to 12th after semifinal losses
‘It was a tough road loss’: Jaguars fall to Johnston in final game of regular season
The eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team closed out the regular season on Friday with a 53-46 loss at Johnston. The Dragons pulled away from a tie in the last 4 minutes to earn their third straight win. They avenged an earlier 63-60 loss at Centennial in double overtime. Johnston finished 7-9 in the CIML Conference and improved to … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough road loss’: Jaguars fall to Johnston in final game of regular season
‘That was awesome’: Cale Vandermark, Lucas Bruhl punch tickets to semifinals
Ankeny Centennial freshman Cale Vandermark was getting tired during his quarterfinal match at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Thursday. His opponent, though, was beginning to fade as well under the bright lights at Wells Fargo Arena. The sixth-seeded Vandermark got a takedown in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, then got … [Read more...] about ‘That was awesome’: Cale Vandermark, Lucas Bruhl punch tickets to semifinals
MOVING ON: Ankeny’s Hansen, Anderson advance to semifinals for first time
In each of the last two seasons, Ankeny wrestlers Ben Hansen and Jace Anderson couldn't advance past the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament. On Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena, the duo smashed through that hurdle in impressive fashion. The third-seeded Hansen posted a 6-2 decision over No. 6 Trevor Oberbroeckling of Southeast Polk in a … [Read more...] about MOVING ON: Ankeny’s Hansen, Anderson advance to semifinals for first time
Hinrichs avenges district loss, moves on to quarterfinals along with 3 other Hawks
A huge win by senior Will Hinrichs helped put the Ankeny wrestling team into early contention for a top-five finish in the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The ninth-seeded Hinrichs posted a 7-4 decision over No. 8 Joshua Hemsted of Carlisle in a second-round match at 220 pounds on Wednesday night. He avenged a 5-4 loss in the … [Read more...] about Hinrichs avenges district loss, moves on to quarterfinals along with 3 other Hawks
Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers into Thursday’s quarterfinals, sit in 7th place
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team sits in seventh place with 36 points after Wednesday's opening session of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The Jaguars qualified a school-record 12 wrestlers for the tournament and advanced four of them into Thursday night's quarterfinals. They are sixth-seeded Cale Vandermark at 106 … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers into Thursday’s quarterfinals, sit in 7th place
‘They really have grown’: Ankeny bowling teams place 7th at state qualifying meet
The Ankeny bowling teams closed out their season this week with seventh-place finishes in a Class 3A state qualifying meet at Wayward Social in Marshalltown. The Hawks competed in a district meet on Tuesday and posted a total of 2,579. That's an average of 172 for the 15 bakers games. Ankeny bowled a 203 in its sixth bakers game. The Hawks had their … [Read more...] about ‘They really have grown’: Ankeny bowling teams place 7th at state qualifying meet
Hawks keep Henderson in check, close out regular season with win over Hoover
Ankeny point guard Carson Johnson was looking forward to Tuesday's matchup against visiting Des Moines Hoover and Montana recruit Chase Henderson. Henderson entered the non-conference game with 42 3-point goals and was averaging nearly 21 points a contest. "He's a good player," Johnson said. "We knew we had to help a lot on him and just try to take … [Read more...] about Hawks keep Henderson in check, close out regular season with win over Hoover