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Another heartbreaking loss to Valley ends Jaguars’ postseason run

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It shouldn't surprise anyone that Friday's Class 4A substate semifinal between the Ankeny Centennial and Valley boys' basketball teams came down to the last possession. Whenever these two CIML Central Conference rivals collide, the game often is decided in the final seconds. On Friday, second-seeded Valley escaped with a 48-46 victory in overtime when … [Read more...] about Another heartbreaking loss to Valley ends Jaguars’ postseason run

Locure scores 36 points, leads North boys to win over Hawks

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If the Des Moines North boys' basketball team continues to play like it did on Friday night, the Polar Bears may have a good chance to cut down the nets in two weeks at Wells Fargo Arena. Tyreke Locure poured in 36 points to lead North to an 87-73 victory over visiting Ankeny in a Class 4A substate semifinal. The Polar Bears (20-3) will play Johnston … [Read more...] about Locure scores 36 points, leads North boys to win over Hawks

A tale of 2 players: Brunkow thrives in starting role, while Schon’s career has ended

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The basketball careers of Jordan Brunkow and Jay Schon have been intertwined for a long time. The duo played together at Ankeny High School in the 2012-13 season before moving across town to Ankeny Centennial, where they helped the Jaguars to a 36-9 record in the first two years of the school's program. Brunkow then moved on to Grand View, where he was … [Read more...] about A tale of 2 players: Brunkow thrives in starting role, while Schon’s career has ended

Oklahoma women top Iowa State on Manning’s Senior Night

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Former Ankeny star Maddie Manning celebrated her Senior Night on Wednesday with a victory over Iowa State. Manning had 12 points, three assists and two steals as the Oklahoma women's basketball team defeated the Cyclones, 80-71, before a sparse crowd at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. The game was played despite a snowstorm that blanketed the Sooner state, … [Read more...] about Oklahoma women top Iowa State on Manning’s Senior Night

Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Valley in regional final

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This wasn't the same Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team that was riding a 10-game winning streak. It certainly wasn't the same Valley squad that had lost six consecutive games earlier this season. The 12th-ranked Tigers used a 25-point fourth quarter to post a 58-44 victory in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at No. 5 Centennial. The game was … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Valley in regional final

McAnelly tells Hawkettes, ‘Don’t you dare put your heads down’ after season-ending loss

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The Dowling Catholic girls' basketball team entered Tuesday's Class 5A regional final against visiting Ankeny as a prohibitive favorite. That didn't make the Hawkettes' season-ending loss any easier to swallow. The third-ranked Maroons got 30 points from sophomore sensation Caitlin Clark and pulled away in the second half for a 68-41 victory to advance … [Read more...] about McAnelly tells Hawkettes, ‘Don’t you dare put your heads down’ after season-ending loss

Olson, Wycoff, McCullough earn all-district honors

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Seniors Chloe Olson and Sydney Wycoff of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 5A West all-district girls' basketball team along with junior Sara McCullough of Ankeny. The all-district teams were selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Olson, a forward, has led the Jaguars to a 19-3 record and a No. 5 ranking in Class 5A. She leads the … [Read more...] about Olson, Wycoff, McCullough earn all-district honors

Valley’s Young, Dowling’s Clark to provide huge tests for Jaguars, Hawkettes

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In order to reach the state tournament, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball teams will both have to figure out a way to slow down one of the nation's top players. The fifth-ranked Jaguars (19-3) will host No. 12 Valley (12-10) in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. It will be a matchup of the last two state champions--Centennial … [Read more...] about Valley’s Young, Dowling’s Clark to provide huge tests for Jaguars, Hawkettes

Ankeny boys edge Little Cyclones in substate thriller

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Overcoming adversity has become a way of life for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The Hawks, who got off to a 1-10 start this season, avenged two of those losses with a 48-46 victory at Ames in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Monday. They rallied from an early 10-point deficit despite playing without sophomore forward Nolan Otten, who tripped at his … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys edge Little Cyclones in substate thriller

Jaguars survive dogfight against Lincoln, advance to substate semifinal

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana was hoping that his players learned a valuable lesson on Friday night. Monday's game against the same opponent showed that the Jaguars possibly didn't get the message. Three days after Centennial let up in the second half of a 66-52 victory over Des Moines Lincoln in its regular-season finale, the … [Read more...] about Jaguars survive dogfight against Lincoln, advance to substate semifinal

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Caleb Rathjen, Ankeny wrestling

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Caleb Rathjen is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The Ankeny freshman placed second at 113 pounds in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Rathjen advanced to the finals before dropping a 10-8 decision to top-ranked Nick Oldham of Valley in a seesaw match. He compiled a 20-2 record … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Caleb Rathjen, Ankeny wrestling

Centennial girls fight off pesky Urbandale squad, will host Valley next

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Survive and advance. That's what it's all about for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team at this time of the year. The fifth-ranked Jaguars fought off a pesky Urbandale squad to post a 52-39 victory in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday at Centennial. The win was the 10th in a row for Centennial (19-3), but it didn't come … [Read more...] about Centennial girls fight off pesky Urbandale squad, will host Valley next

Hawkettes celebrate tournament victory by doing the Hokey Pokey

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Apparently, there is a second girls' basketball coach in Ankeny who likes to celebrate big victories by doing the Hokey Pokey. Scott DeJong started the tradition during his long run at Ankeny High School, where he guided the Hawkettes to six state championships. He then continued the ritual when he moved across town to Ankeny Centennial, where he led the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes celebrate tournament victory by doing the Hokey Pokey

Monroe has no answers for Biscoglia Buzzsaw, earns repeat runner-up finish

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Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe ran into a proverbial buzzsaw on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. You might even call it a Biscoglia Buzzsaw. Waukee's top-ranked Kyle Biscoglia turned in a dominating performance to win his third state wrestling title, posting a 9-2 decision over the sixth-ranked Monroe in the Class 3A championship match at 120 … [Read more...] about Monroe has no answers for Biscoglia Buzzsaw, earns repeat runner-up finish

Valley’s Oldham edges Rathjen in seesaw battle for state title

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On Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Caleb Rathjen was 2 minutes away from winning his first state wrestling title. Now, the Ankeny freshman will have to wait 365 days to get another shot at winning a crown. Valley's top-ranked Nick Oldham rallied in the third period to beat the second-ranked Rathjen, 10-8, in the Class 3A championship match at 113 … [Read more...] about Valley’s Oldham edges Rathjen in seesaw battle for state title

Neils earns 4th-place finish for Jaguars; Anderson takes 7th for Hawks

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Ankeny senior Spencer Anderson closed out his wrestling career in style. Ankeny Centennial sophomore Logan Neils showed that his career is just beginning to blossom. Neils earned a fourth-place finish at 160 pounds in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Anderson finished seventh at 132 with a 9-7 decision over 10th-ranked … [Read more...] about Neils earns 4th-place finish for Jaguars; Anderson takes 7th for Hawks

Hawks ‘run out of gas’ in loss to Dowling Catholic

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In its regular-season finale, the Ankeny boys' basketball team showed just how dangerous the Hawks can be during postseason play. Visiting Dowling Catholic also demonstrated its potential to be a contender for the Class 4A state title. Ankeny made five 3-point goals while jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first half before the Maroons rallied … [Read more...] about Hawks ‘run out of gas’ in loss to Dowling Catholic

Dominating wins send Rathjen, Monroe to Saturday’s finals

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  Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen and Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe share at least one trait in common. They both look comfortable on Iowa's biggest wrestling stage. The duo posted dominating wins on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena to advance to Saturday's championship matches in the Class 3A state tournament. "It feels great. It's an awesome … [Read more...] about Dominating wins send Rathjen, Monroe to Saturday’s finals

Jaguars roll past Lincoln in preview of substate opener

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team didn't want to end the regular season with a four-game losing streak. Mission accomplished. The Jaguars jumped out to a 33-8 halftime lead and cruised to a 66-52 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in a CIML non-conference game on Friday. The win snapped a three-game skid for Centennial, which improved … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Lincoln in preview of substate opener