Ankeny Fanatic

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Nate Tobey

‘We have work to do’: Hawkettes look to regroup after falling to No. 4 DC-Grimes

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With only five games left in the regular season, the Ankeny girls' basketball team discovered that it might not be ready for postseason play. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes never led in Monday's non-conference game and dropped a 65-57 decision to visiting Dallas Center-Grimes, the No. 4 team in Class 4A. "They're good, and we made them look pretty good at … [Read more...] about ‘We have work to do’: Hawkettes look to regroup after falling to No. 4 DC-Grimes

Hawkettes make 11-of-25 3-point shots, cruise to 69-46 victory at Clear Lake

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After having Friday's game against top-ranked Johnston postponed due to the weather, the Ankeny girls' basketball team turned its attention toward another opponent. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes traveled to Clear Lake on Saturday for a non-conference game and rolled to a 69-46 victory over the Lions. "They're a pretty good team and will contend for a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes make 11-of-25 3-point shots, cruise to 69-46 victory at Clear Lake

‘She was all over the court’: Williams scores 27, leads Hawkettes past Waukee

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As the sixth-leading scorer in Class 5A, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams is among the most productive offensive players in Iowa girls' basketball. But it's everything else that the Creighton recruit does on the court that makes her one of the state's best all-around players in the Class of 2026. Williams showed off all of her skills on Tuesday while … [Read more...] about ‘She was all over the court’: Williams scores 27, leads Hawkettes past Waukee

‘It was a really big win’: Hawkettes bounce back to beat Valley in top-five matchup

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny girls' basketball team needed a big bounce-back victory coming off its rivalry loss against Ankeny Centennial. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes went back to the drawing board, corrected some of the mistakes from Tuesday's loss, and it resulted in a 50-40 road win in a top-five matchup against No. 4 Valley on … [Read more...] about ‘It was a really big win’: Hawkettes bounce back to beat Valley in top-five matchup

Balanced Jaguars overcome Williams’ career-high 33 points to knock off Ankeny

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has dominated the all-time series against its crosstown rival. The Jaguars entered Tuesday's game at Ankeny with a 22-3 advantage in the history of the rivalry, but the third-ranked Hawkettes were clearly the favorite after posting a 55-39 win at Centennial on Dec. 5. After getting off to a slow start, … [Read more...] about Balanced Jaguars overcome Williams’ career-high 33 points to knock off Ankeny

‘They have so much talent’: Hot-shooting Waukee NW rolls past Hawkettes, 63-39

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Two months ago, Waukee Northwest captured the Class 5A state volleyball title in dominating fashion. Now, the Wolves could be a contender for the girls' state basketball crown as well. Fifth-ranked Northwest extended its winning streak to four games with a 63-39 victory on Friday at No. 3 Ankeny. The Wolves moved into sole possession of third place in … [Read more...] about ‘They have so much talent’: Hot-shooting Waukee NW rolls past Hawkettes, 63-39

Hawkettes romp past Urbandale, move into sole possession of 3rd place in CIML

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team moved into sole possession of third place in the CIML Conference with a 59-45 victory at Urbandale on Tuesday. Bouncing back from Friday's loss to second-ranked Dowling Catholic, the No. 3 Hawkettes built a huge advantage and then coasted to the win. "We extended the lead to 26 (points) in the third quarter, but then … [Read more...] about Hawkettes romp past Urbandale, move into sole possession of 3rd place in CIML

No. 2 Maroons outlast No. 3 Ankeny girls in showdown for 2nd place in CIML race

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Friday's showdown between two of the top three girls' basketball teams in Class 5A turned out to be a game of runs. In the end, second-ranked Dowling Catholic held off No. 3 Ankeny's final rally to post a 64-57 victory on the road. The Hawkettes lost despite shooting 61.1 percent from 3-point range (11-of-18). "We just got down by a little too much to … [Read more...] about No. 2 Maroons outlast No. 3 Ankeny girls in showdown for 2nd place in CIML race

‘I didn’t mean to bank it!’: Kiene’s 3-pointer at buzzer lifts Hawkettes past Cedar Falls

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Ainsley Kiene wasn't supposed to take the final shot for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. But with time running out and the ball in her hands from well beyond the arc, Kiene knew that she had no other choice. The senior guard banked in a 3-point goal from the top of the key as time expired to give the third-ranked Hawkettes a 50-47 victory at No. 8 … [Read more...] about ‘I didn’t mean to bank it!’: Kiene’s 3-pointer at buzzer lifts Hawkettes past Cedar Falls

‘We’re hungry this year’: Hawkettes move up to No. 3 in 5A after defeating S.E. Polk

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The target on their backs is only going to get bigger for the Ankeny girls' basketball players. The Hawkettes moved up one spot to No. 3 in the latest Class 5A rankings after posting a 52-38 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Tuesday. It is the program's highest ranking since the community of Ankeny split into two high schools in 2013. "Every game … [Read more...] about ‘We’re hungry this year’: Hawkettes move up to No. 3 in 5A after defeating S.E. Polk

Williams reaches 1,000-point mark, leads Hawkettes to victory over No. 13 Waukee

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Over the past couple of years, Jayla Williams has been the engine that’s kept the Ankeny girls' basketball team moving. The senior guard and future Creighton Bluejay checked off a major milestone while guiding the fourth-ranked Hawkettes to a 56-48 home win over No. 13 Waukee on Friday night. Williams scored a game-high … [Read more...] about Williams reaches 1,000-point mark, leads Hawkettes to victory over No. 13 Waukee

‘Johnston keeps coming at you’: No. 1 Dragons surge past Ankeny girls, 74-51

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It's not often that a high school basketball team can take some positives away from a 23-point loss. But that was the case on Tuesday for the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' squad, which held a lead midway through the second quarter at No. 1 Johnston before the Dragons rallied for a 74-51 victory. "That was where we expected to be," said Ankeny coach Nate … [Read more...] about ‘Johnston keeps coming at you’: No. 1 Dragons surge past Ankeny girls, 74-51

‘I’m just happy for our girls’: Hawkettes end four-game skid against Centennial

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For just the third time since Ankeny split into two high schools, the Ankeny Hawkettes defeated their crosstown rival in girls' basketball. Sixth-ranked Ankeny stayed a few steps ahead of a young, scrappy Ankeny Centennial team for a 55-39 road victory on Friday night. It snapped a four-game losing streak in the series and … [Read more...] about ‘I’m just happy for our girls’: Hawkettes end four-game skid against Centennial

‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

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At 5-foot-9, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams doesn't look like a typical post player on the basketball court. But with her outstanding athleticism, the Creighton recruit can occasionally take advantage of a smaller defender in the paint. That's exactly what Williams did on Tuesday night, when she scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

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A fast start lifted the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 59-41 victory over visiting Des Moines Christian in a non-conference game on Monday. The Hawkettes (2-0) made five 3-point goals in the first quarter, three of them by Reagan Baldwin in the first 2 minutes 30 seconds, and jumped out to a 22-12 lead. Des Moines Christian (2-1), the … [Read more...] about Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

‘It wasn’t always pretty’: Hawkettes top Ames in turnover-plagued season opener

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Jayla Williams scored 20 points and had eight of her team's 20 steals as the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball squad opened its season on Saturday with a 51-32 victory at Ames. Both teams used a full-court press to turn the non-conference game into a ragged affair. There were 54 combined turnovers and 50 deflections, according to Ankeny coach Nate … [Read more...] about ‘It wasn’t always pretty’: Hawkettes top Ames in turnover-plagued season opener

‘We have more depth than ever before’: Hawkettes enter season with high hopes

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team may not have to rely quite as heavily this winter on all-state guard Jayla Williams. Saturday's season opener at Ames could be an opportunity for Ankeny coach Nate Tobey to show off his deeper bench. The Hawkettes rolled past Ames, 66-28, in last year's opener. Tip-off for the matinee is at 2:30 p.m. "We have more … [Read more...] about ‘We have more depth than ever before’: Hawkettes enter season with high hopes

‘That’s really been the story of our season’: Ankeny’s late rally falls short at No. 3 NW

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team is still looking to get over the hump. The 14th-ranked Hawkettes ended their season on Tuesday with a 43-37 loss at No. 3 Waukee Northwest, which closed out the game with a 9-3 run. Ankeny lost in a Class 5A regional final for the fifth straight year. The last four losses have come by a total of 15 points. "We just … [Read more...] about ‘That’s really been the story of our season’: Ankeny’s late rally falls short at No. 3 NW

Hawkettes earn another shot at Waukee Northwest by rolling past Sioux City East

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) As soon as the light turned green, the Ankeny girls' basketball team slammed its foot down on the gas and the Hawkettes never bothered to look back. Ankeny turned in one of its best games of the season to open up postseason play as the 14th-ranked Hawkettes posted a 66-14 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 5A … [Read more...] about Hawkettes earn another shot at Waukee Northwest by rolling past Sioux City East