This was the Ankeny girls' basketball team that was eighth in Class 5A in the preseason rankings and moved up to sixth after a 4-0 start. The now-No. 15 Hawkettes overcame an early nine-point deficit to beat No. 8 Waukee, 57-45, in a CIML Conference game on Tuesday at Ankeny. It was the second straight win for coach Nate Tobey's squad following a … [Read more...] about ‘They were having fun out there’: Ankeny girls avenge earlier loss to No. 8 Waukee
Jayla Williams
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Jayla Williams, Ankeny junior
The standout guard scores a game-high 22 points to lead the Hawkettes to a 57-45 victory over No. 8 Waukee for their biggest win of the season. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Jayla Williams, Ankeny junior
‘It felt so relieving’: Smith’s late 3-pointers seal Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny girls
The shots weren't falling on Tuesday night for Tillie Smith. But her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad told her to keep shooting, and the advice paid off. The senior guard made just 2-of-9 shots from the field and went 2-of-8 from behind the arc, but she connected on a pair of 3-point goals in the final 3 minutes as the … [Read more...] about ‘It felt so relieving’: Smith’s late 3-pointers seal Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny girls
After trailing by 18 points, Hawkettes’ furious rally falls just short at S.E. Polk
A dramatic rally by the Ankeny girls' basketball team came up just short on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes nearly overcame an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter before No. 14 Southeast Polk held on for a 61-55 victory in a CIML Conference matchup. The Rams improved to 2-2 in the league and 3-3 overall, while Ankeny's records … [Read more...] about After trailing by 18 points, Hawkettes’ furious rally falls just short at S.E. Polk
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 286
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America and Revive Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the start of the girls' basketball season with coach Scott DeJong and senior Tillie Smith of Ankeny Centennial along with coach Nate Tobey, senior Savannah Gage and junior Jayla Williams of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 286
Hawkettes place 5th in 4×800, scratch out of 2 other finals at stormy Relays
Perhaps no team was affected more by the storm delay on Saturday afternoon at the Drake Relays than the Ankeny girls' track squad. When the meet resumed a few hours later, the Hawkettes made the difficult decision to scratch out of two events. "We decided to scratch the 4x100 relay and Drew (Beason) in the 1,500 because of the weather, long delay, and … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 5th in 4×800, scratch out of 2 other finals at stormy Relays
Ankeny girls win 5 events, edge Dragons by 5 points to defend Hawkette title
It was a banner night for the Ankeny girls' track team. The Hawkettes celebrated their Senior Night by winning the Hawkette Invitational on Thursday for the second year in a row. They finished with 122 points, five more than Johnston. Ankeny Centennial also had a good meet. The Jaguars placed third in the eight-team field with 103 points. Ankeny had … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls win 5 events, edge Dragons by 5 points to defend Hawkette title
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 just found our groove’: Gage’s late heroics lift Ankeny girls past Wolves
Savannah Gage and the Ankeny girls' basketball team have found their mojo. Gage scored 11 consecutive points over the final 2 minutes 55 seconds and the ninth-ranked Hawkettes held off No. 10 Waukee Northwest, 50-45, in a CIML Conference game on Friday at Ankeny. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Ankeny, which had shot just 20.7 percent … [Read more...] about ‘We just found our groove’: Gage’s late heroics lift Ankeny girls past Wolves
Gage returns to lineup, helps Williams, Hawkettes to historic win at S.E. Polk
Perhaps nobody was more excited to have Savannah Gage back on the court than her Ankeny girls' basketball teammate Jayla Williams. Williams poured in a career-high 32 points, Gage chipped in 10 in her first start of the season, and the eighth-ranked Hawkettes posted a 62-56 victory at No. 11 Southeast Polk on Tuesday for their first win over the Rams … [Read more...] about Gage returns to lineup, helps Williams, Hawkettes to historic win at S.E. Polk
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Sophomore guard Jayla Williams has helped the 13th-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 2-0 start. Williams scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the Hawkettes' 60-55 overtime victory against No. 6 Cedar Falls on Tuesday at Ankeny. She is averaging 22.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Hawkettes settle for 2nd in DMR, trail Waukee NW by 1 point in 4A team race
Ankeny's Zoe Shadravan couldn't watch the final section of the girls' Class 4A distance medley relay on Friday at Drake Stadium. The defending champion Hawkettes had just won the second section in a time of 4:05.63, but they had to await the results of the fastest heat to determine their final placing. Shadravan and teammates Lillian Smith, Sophie … [Read more...] about Hawkettes settle for 2nd in DMR, trail Waukee NW by 1 point in 4A team race
Ankeny girls capture 4×800 relay title, take Class 4A lead with 27 points
Alli Macke could hardly walk after anchoring Ankeny's 4x800 relay team to a Class 4A state title on Thursday at Drake Stadium. "It really takes a toll on my body, but it's totally worth it to be standing here as state champs with my best friends," said Macke. The sophomore teamed up with Sophie Loeffler, Reagan Prendergast and Drew Beason to win the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls capture 4×800 relay title, take Class 4A lead with 27 points
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
‘Jenna put us on her back’: Pitz again leads Hawkettes past rival Centennial
Ankeny senior Jenna Pitz struggled through one of the worst shooting nights of her basketball career on Dec. 20, going 1-for-13 from the field in the Hawkettes' 59-52 loss to Ankeny Centennial. She wasn't going to let it happen again. Pitz scored 16 of her 17 points in the second half to lead 13th-ranked Ankeny to a 48-43 victory at No. 6 Centennial on … [Read more...] about ‘Jenna put us on her back’: Pitz again leads Hawkettes past rival Centennial
‘We were ready to play from the jump!’: Ankeny girls romp past Indianola
A year ago, the Ankeny girls' basketball team trailed by nine points at halftime and went on to suffer a 54-47 loss at Indianola. The Hawkettes were determined to get off to a better start in Monday's rematch. Tenth-ranked Ankeny jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the non-conference game and cruised to a 76-41 victory over visiting Indianola, the No. 10 … [Read more...] about ‘We were ready to play from the jump!’: Ankeny girls romp past Indianola
‘We got very stagnant’: Cold-shooting Ankeny girls tumble to No. 8 S.E. Polk
With the final seconds of the first half ticking off the clock on Tuesday night, Southeast Polk guard Alyssa Bartlett hurried the ball up the court during a CIML Conference girls' basketball game at Ankeny. Bartlett dribbled behind her back to avoid an Ankeny defender, then launched a 3-point shot from half-court that swished through the net as time … [Read more...] about ‘We got very stagnant’: Cold-shooting Ankeny girls tumble to No. 8 S.E. Polk