Last December, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team suffered through a five-game losing streak and limped into the holiday break with a pedestrian 5-5 record. With everyone back from that squad, the Jaguars are in a much better position 12 months later. Fourth-ranked Centennial raised its overall mark to 6-2 by defeating No. 5 Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great win’: Surging Centennial girls win top-5 showdown vs. C.R. Prairie
Jaeden Pratt
‘I was kind of shocked by it’: Pratt scores career-high 30 in Jaguars’ rout at Valley
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Jaeden Pratt is playing with a lot of confidence, and it helps when she’s got the perfect team around her. It was just a pair of free throws to begin Friday night’s contest that broke open the floodgates to a career-high 30-point outing for the Illinois State commit and a dominant 73-42 road win for the Ankeny Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘I was kind of shocked by it’: Pratt scores career-high 30 in Jaguars’ rout at Valley
‘We left it out there’: Jaguars’ rally falls short in 56-52 loss at No. 2 Dowling
Don't be surprised if the two CIML Conference rivals who met on Tuesday at Dowling Catholic collide again in March at the girls' state basketball tournament. The second-ranked Maroons and No. 5 Ankeny Centennial both look primed to make deep postseason runs. "They're No. 2 for a reason, that's for sure," Centennial coach Scott DeJong said following his … [Read more...] about ‘We left it out there’: Jaguars’ rally falls short in 56-52 loss at No. 2 Dowling
Jaguars shut down Pleasant Valley in opener, give DeJong his 700th career win
The 700th career victory for Ankeny Centennial's Scott DeJong followed a familiar script. The legendary girls' basketball coach reached the milestone on Saturday when the third-ranked Jaguars opened their season by winning a defensive battle against No. 5 Pleasant Valley, 39-26, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. "It was two good teams … [Read more...] about Jaguars shut down Pleasant Valley in opener, give DeJong his 700th career win
‘I’m super proud of our team’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 hole, fall in 5 sets to Waukee NW
Jaeden Pratt and her Ankeny Centennial volleyball teammates left everything on the court. The second-ranked Jaguars just came up a little bit short. Centennial rallied from a two-set deficit before dropping a 25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 23-25, 18-16 decision to No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in … [Read more...] about ‘I’m super proud of our team’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 hole, fall in 5 sets to Waukee NW
Jaguars sweep Cedar Falls behind Miller’s 24 kills, earn 3rd straight trip to semifinals
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is headed back to the Class 5A semifinals for the third consecutive year. The second-ranked Jaguars posted a 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 victory over No. 7 Cedar Falls in the quarterfinals of the state tournament on Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It feels incredible," said Centennial outside hitter Delaney Miller, … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Cedar Falls behind Miller’s 24 kills, earn 3rd straight trip to semifinals
‘It’s one of the best feelings ever’: No. 2 Jaguars are headed back to Coralville
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) By no means is the Ankeny Centennial volleyball program charting unfamiliar territory. But that doesn’t mean the feeling of winning a region championship and punching its ticket back to the Class 5A state tournament isn’t still one of the greatest feelings on the planet. “Honestly, it’s one of the best feelings ever,” … [Read more...] about ‘It’s one of the best feelings ever’: No. 2 Jaguars are headed back to Coralville
Jaguars sweep Johnston, get help from Ankeny to clinch outright conference title
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It may not have been as pretty as the Jaguars were hoping for, but even “sloppy” play for Class 5A’s top-ranked volleyball team can still result in three-set sweeps. Ankeny Centennial’s quest for the CIML Conference title continued on its home court Tuesday as the Jaguars improved their perfect league record to 7-0 on the … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Johnston, get help from Ankeny to clinch outright conference title
‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown
Some familiar opponents stood between the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team and the championship of the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday. The top-ranked Jaguars proved to be up for the challenge. After dispatching No. 5 Indianola in the semifinals, Centennial posted a 25-17, 25-21 win over No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the title match. The Jaguars (23-3) … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown
‘That’s a huge win for us’: Jaguars topple Ankeny to move closer to conference title
It took awhile for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to hit its stride on Thursday night. But once the Jaguars did, they were nearly unstoppable. Top-ranked Centennial rallied from a one-set deficit to post a 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 victory at No. 3 Ankeny in a CIML Conference showdown. The Jaguars shook off some rust to defeat their crosstown … [Read more...] about ‘That’s a huge win for us’: Jaguars topple Ankeny to move closer to conference title
‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year
There was no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. After rallying for a dramatic victory on Tuesday over defending Class 5A state champion Waukee Northwest, the second-ranked Jaguars traveled to Iowa City High on Saturday and won the Little Hawk Invitational for the fourth consecutive year. Centennial swept all four of its opponents in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jaeden Pratt, Centennial girls’ track
Ankeny Centennial junior Jaeden Pratt is the defending Class 4A state champion in the long jump. She placed sixth in the event with a jump of 16 feet 1/4 inch at the Hawkette Invitational on Thursday, helping the Jaguars to a third-place finish in the eight-team field. Pratt is a multi-sport athlete who has earned all-state honors in both basketball and … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jaeden Pratt, Centennial girls’ track
More all-state girls’ basketball honors for Centennial duo, Ankeny’s Williams
The Ankeny Centennial duo of Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt has received all-state girls' basketball honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association along with Ankeny standout Jayla Williams. Crawford, a junior guard, was named to the Class 5A first team. She also earned first-team honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Crawford led the … [Read more...] about More all-state girls’ basketball honors for Centennial duo, Ankeny’s Williams
‘We were real, real close’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in Class 5A quarterfinals
Waukee girls' basketball coach Dani Franklin-Printy breathed a sigh of relief on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. It's never easy to beat a good team three times, and that's what the fourth-ranked Warriors discovered in the Class 5A quarterfinals against CIML Conference rival Ankeny Centennial. The No. 5 Jaguars overcame a 10-point deficit in the second … [Read more...] about ‘We were real, real close’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in Class 5A quarterfinals
‘Our kids really stepped up’: Jaguars roll past S.C. East, earn another trip to state
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is headed back to Wells Fargo Arena. The fifth-ranked Jaguars advanced to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year by defeating No. 10 Sioux City East, 53-25, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. This time, coach Scott DeJong's squad didn't have to sweat out a close game in the … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids really stepped up’: Jaguars roll past S.C. East, earn another trip to state
‘It was a great game’: Jaguars take No. 1 Johnston down to wire before falling
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has significantly closed the gap on the state's top-ranked squad. The No. 5 Jaguars battled visiting Johnston down to the wire on Friday before dropping a 64-59 decision. The Dragons had won the first meeting, 64-37, on Dec. 12. "It was a great game," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. "Our team has really … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great game’: Jaguars take No. 1 Johnston down to wire before falling
‘We finished it out strong’: Centennial girls hold off Wolves’ rally for road victory
It's never easy to win on the road. The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team built a 17-point lead and then held off a furious rally by No. 12 Waukee Northwest to escape with a 52-45 road victory on Tuesday. The Wolves, who never led, closed the gap to 44-42 in the fourth quarter before Centennial ended the game with an 8-3 … [Read more...] about ‘We finished it out strong’: Centennial girls hold off Wolves’ rally for road victory
‘We had a real matchup problem’: No. 1 Johnston hands Jaguars 3rd straight loss
The search for more offensive production continues for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars shot just 31.8 percent (14-of-44) and dropped a 64-37 decision at No. 1 Johnston on Tuesday, suffering a third straight loss for only the third time in program history. They have averaged just 31.7 points over the last three games, … [Read more...] about ‘We had a real matchup problem’: No. 1 Johnston hands Jaguars 3rd straight loss
‘This was a huge win’: Late rally allows Jaguars to knock off No. 2 Pleasant Valley
This wasn't just another November victory for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars scored the final nine points of the game and rallied to beat No. 2 Pleasant Valley, 44-40, on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. The contest was part of the 19th Rivalry Saturday held on the campus of Kirkwood Community College. "To go to a … [Read more...] about ‘This was a huge win’: Late rally allows Jaguars to knock off No. 2 Pleasant Valley
Centennial standouts Miller, Pratt earn spots on Class 5A all-tournament team
Ankeny Centennial juniors Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt have been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team at the state volleyball tournament in Coralville. Pratt earned a spot on the squad for the second straight year. The duo led Centennial to a second consecutive appearance in the Class 5A semifinals. The Jaguars finished the season with a 31-7 … [Read more...] about Centennial standouts Miller, Pratt earn spots on Class 5A all-tournament team