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Scott DeJong

‘We couldn’t buy a basket’: Long shooting drought dooms Jaguars’ title hopes

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The Waukee girls' basketball players were well aware of Ankeny Centennial's ability to come back from a double-digit deficit. The top-ranked Warriors weren't about to let it happen again. Waukee built a 28-18 halftime lead, then used a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 50-29 victory over No. 5 Centennial in the Class 5A semifinals on … [Read more...] about ‘We couldn’t buy a basket’: Long shooting drought dooms Jaguars’ title hopes

MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer

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March Madness is off to a roaring start at Wells Fargo Arena. Jackie Pippett scored the winning basket at the buzzer to give the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team a 47-45 victory over No. 4 Southeast Polk in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday. "I really didn't even think I was going to get the ball," said Pippett. "But I did, and … [Read more...] about MARCH MADNESS BEGINS: Jaguars erase 14-point deficit, top Rams at buzzer

Pippett’s buzzer-beater caps Jaguars’ amazing rally to beat S.E. Polk

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Holy comeback. For the second straight game, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team pulled off an amazing rally. Jackie Pippett scored the winning basket as time expired and the fifth-ranked Jaguars overcame a 14-point deficit to beat No. 4 Southeast Polk, 47-45, in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Monday at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Pippett’s buzzer-beater caps Jaguars’ amazing rally to beat S.E. Polk

‘We just hung in there’: Jaguars overcome 18-point deficit, earn trip to state

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Scott DeJong has had some amazing wins in his legendary coaching career. Tuesday's victory over Des Moines Roosevelt would have to be near the top of his list. The fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team erased an 18-point deficit to beat No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt, 44-42, in a Class 5A regional final at Centennial. The Jaguars advanced … [Read more...] about ‘We just hung in there’: Jaguars overcome 18-point deficit, earn trip to state

Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final

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Scott DeJong knows that his Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team isn't always going to shoot the lights out. But when the fifth-ranked Jaguars defend like they did on Saturday night, it really doesn't matter. Centennial allowed just two points in the first 13 minutes of the game, built a 36-9 halftime lead and then cruised to a 52-32 victory over … [Read more...] about Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final

Centennial girls close out regular season with 76-35 victory at Mason City

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Because of COVID-19 issues, it hasn't been a perfect season for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. But that didn't stop the fifth-ranked Jaguars from completing a perfect run through their CIML Iowa Conference schedule. Centennial raced out to a 40-12 halftime lead and cruised to a 76-35 victory at Mason City on Thursday. The Jaguars, who … [Read more...] about Centennial girls close out regular season with 76-35 victory at Mason City

‘We gutted it out’: Jaguars use big 4th quarter to knock off No. 9 Dowling

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Averi Porter had not attempted a shot all night for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. When she finally took one, it turned out to be the biggest shot of the game. Porter drilled a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 8 seconds left and the fifth-ranked Jaguars went on to post a 48-40 victory at No. 9 Dowling Catholic in a non-conference … [Read more...] about ‘We gutted it out’: Jaguars use big 4th quarter to knock off No. 9 Dowling

Jaguars celebrate Senior Night by claiming outright Iowa Conference crown

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The four seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had a lot of reasons to celebrate on Friday night. Not only was it Senior Night, but the fifth-ranked Jaguars wrapped up the outright CIML Iowa Conference title with a 57-50 victory over visiting Ames. "It feels really good," said senior forward Bella Robben. "Our team has worked really … [Read more...] about Jaguars celebrate Senior Night by claiming outright Iowa Conference crown

No. 2 Waukee overcomes star’s absence, Porter’s hot shooting to defeat Jaguars

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What appeared to be a break for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team turned out to be a mirage. When the fifth-ranked Jaguars showed up for Tuesday's showdown against No. 2 Waukee, they discovered that the visiting Warriors would be without their best player--senior guard Katie Dinnebier. Dinnebier, a Drake recruit, was forced to sit out after … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee overcomes star’s absence, Porter’s hot shooting to defeat Jaguars

Jaguars hold off Ankeny’s upset bid, clinch share of Iowa Conference title

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team was in position on Friday to knock off crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial for the first time ever. But a pair of 3-point shots, one in the third quarter that would have put the Hawkettes ahead and another in the fourth that would have tied the game, bounced off the rim. Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial then pulled away in … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Ankeny’s upset bid, clinch share of Iowa Conference title

Strom, Centennial girls rout Bobcats again, raise their record to 9-1

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Lizzie Strom and the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team are on a roll. Strom scored 14 points and had two blocks off the bench to help the fifth-ranked Jaguars to a 71-8 victory over visiting Marshalltown on Friday. The senior forward has averaged 14 points in her last three games. "She knows where the rim is," Centennial coach Scott DeJong said … [Read more...] about Strom, Centennial girls rout Bobcats again, raise their record to 9-1

Four Centennial players outscore Hoover by themselves in 94-10 victory

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Last month, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team rolled to a 98-13 victory at Marshalltown for the most lopsided win in school history. On Tuesday, the sixth-ranked Jaguars nearly matched that 85-point winning margin. Centennial jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter, built a 58-3 halftime lead and cruised to a 94-10 win at Des Moines … [Read more...] about Four Centennial players outscore Hoover by themselves in 94-10 victory

Centennial girls overcome poor outside shooting to defeat Mason City

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Now is the time to beat the Mason City girls' basketball team. The Mohawks are likely going to be considerably better next season. Sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial overcame some poor outside shooting to beat visiting Mason City, 64-50, in a CIML Iowa Conference game on Saturday. The Jaguars won despite making just 4-of-19 attempts from 3-point … [Read more...] about Centennial girls overcome poor outside shooting to defeat Mason City

Centennial girls rout Dodgers for 2nd time, improve to 5-0 in conference

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A fast start ignited the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 65-24 victory over visiting Fort Dodge on Tuesday. The fourth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 23-4 lead in the first quarter and held a 37-11 advantage at halftime. They extended the margin to 35 points in the third quarter, putting the running clock into effect. "I thought we played … [Read more...] about Centennial girls rout Dodgers for 2nd time, improve to 5-0 in conference

Jaguars can’t solve Valley’s box-and-one defense, suffer their first loss

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The 13th-ranked Valley girls' basketball team was coming off a pair of 23-point losses to No. 2 Johnston and No. 5 Southeast Polk earlier this week. The Tigers didn't want to lose to another top-five opponent. With two freshmen playing key roles, Valley erased a 32-27 deficit in the second half and pulled away for a 61-47 victory on Saturday over … [Read more...] about Jaguars can’t solve Valley’s box-and-one defense, suffer their first loss

‘We had different people step up’: Jaguars hold off Ankeny’s strong effort

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A strong effort by the Ankeny girls' basketball team wasn't enough to produce a victory on Tuesday night. Its crosstown rival was just a little bit better. Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial pulled away in the second half to defeat the visiting Hawkettes, 57-41, in a CIML Iowa Conference game. The Jaguars improved to 15-0 all-time against Ankeny, but this … [Read more...] about ‘We had different people step up’: Jaguars hold off Ankeny’s strong effort