The Indianola girls' basketball team entered Saturday's Class 5A regional semifinal at Ankeny Centennial on a five-game winning streak. The Indians had averaged 67.2 points per game during that stretch, but most of those wins came against smaller schools. While amassing a 16-6 record, Indianola had played only a handful of Class 5A opponents. And the … [Read more...] about Jaguars shut down Indianola, advance to regional final at No. 5 Cedar Falls
Scott DeJong
Jaguars avenge loss to No. 9 Urbandale, tie J-Hawks for 3rd place in conference
The formula for success for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team isn't complicated. The 12th-ranked Jaguars simply try to overwhelm their opponents with a stifling defense. No. 9 Urbandale was the latest victim on Friday. Centennial held the visiting J-Hawks to just 14 points over the last three quarters and rolled to a 51-30 victory in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars avenge loss to No. 9 Urbandale, tie J-Hawks for 3rd place in conference
FEEL THE BURNS: Senior guard leads Jaguars past Deets, Mason City
Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns proved again on Tuesday that she's one of the state's best two-way players on the basketball court. The senior guard poured in 22 points while holding Mason City standout Anna Deets to just seven as the visiting Jaguars rolled to a 63-39 victory in a non-conference game. "It was a big night for her," Centennial coach Scott … [Read more...] about FEEL THE BURNS: Senior guard leads Jaguars past Deets, Mason City
‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle
The Ankeny girls' basketball team turned in a spectacular defensive effort on Friday. It wasn't enough to knock off archrival Ankeny Centennial. The 12th-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 43-27 victory at Ankeny. They closed out the game with a 16-2 run. "This is the way it's been down here for the last seven years. It's … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle
Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride
A lot will be at stake on Friday when the two Ankeny boys' basketball teams meet for the second time in less than three weeks. Second-ranked Ankeny Centennial heads across town for a rematch against the Hawks, who will be looking to avenge a 69-61 loss at Centennial on Jan. 20. The Jaguars (7-1, 16-1) can clinch the outright CIML Central Conference title … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride
Jaguars roll past D.M. East, snap losing skid behind Murray’s career night
Breaking out of a recent slump, Cleao Murray scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 66-23 victory over visiting Des Moines East on Tuesday. Murray--who had averaged just seven points per game over the previous six contests--went 8-for-15 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. She also had … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past D.M. East, snap losing skid behind Murray’s career night
Clark’s defense proves to be difference in Dowling’s win over Centennial girls
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team held Dowling Catholic star Caitlin Clark to just two 3-point goals during Friday's game at Centennial. The Iowa recruit found other ways to score, though, and finished with 32 points in leading the second-ranked Maroons to a 56-49 victory. Clark wreaked havoc on defense, turning several steals into layups at … [Read more...] about Clark’s defense proves to be difference in Dowling’s win over Centennial girls
No. 5 Waukee girls start fast, finish strong in win over Centennial
A slow start doomed the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. The 10th-ranked Jaguars fell behind after the first quarter, 25-7, and eventually dropped a 55-33 decision in a non-conference game at No. 5 Waukee. It was their lowest offensive output of the season and their lowest total overall since a 46-27 loss at Johnston last year. "It … [Read more...] about No. 5 Waukee girls start fast, finish strong in win over Centennial
Ames girls top Jaguars after forcing OT on miraculous basket at buzzer
Sometimes, the ball doesn't bounce your way. Or, the questionable call that could have gone either way doesn't go in your favor. The 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team experienced both of those things Friday on the same play--a miraculous basket by Ames' Teagan Lipsey that forced overtime and eventually helped the No. 12 Little … [Read more...] about Ames girls top Jaguars after forcing OT on miraculous basket at buzzer
Centennial girls cruise to 80-23 victory over short-handed Polar Bears
Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns picked up right where she left off on Monday. Burns scored 14 points while playing only the first 6 minutes of the game to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to an 80-23 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Tuesday. She went 5-for-5 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Burns had scored 19 points in a win … [Read more...] about Centennial girls cruise to 80-23 victory over short-handed Polar Bears
Burns leads the way at both ends as Centennial girls roll past Hawkettes
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team sometimes struggles to score. But the Jaguars' defense never seems to take a day off. On Monday, 10th-ranked Centennial excelled at both ends of the floor as the Jaguars cruised to a 57-29 victory over visiting Ankeny. "We had some possessions where we really locked into them well," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about Burns leads the way at both ends as Centennial girls roll past Hawkettes
Without Keahna-Harris, Centennial girls tumble to J-Hawks, Gyamfi sisters
The Urbandale girls' basketball team boasts an imposing front line led by sisters Jada and Maya Gyamfi. Unfortunately for Ankeny Centennial, the Jaguars didn't have their best post player to battle the J-Hawks on Saturday. Alexandria Keahna-Harris suffered a foot injury during Tuesday's overtime loss to second-ranked Johnston. She sat out as the No. 10 … [Read more...] about Without Keahna-Harris, Centennial girls tumble to J-Hawks, Gyamfi sisters
McDermott’s 3-pointers in OT lift No. 3 Dragons past Centennial girls
Even without one of its best players, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team was in position to pull off an upset over visiting Johnston on Tuesday. But the 10th-ranked Jaguars couldn't seal the victory. Johnston's Maya McDermott made back-to-back 3-point goals in overtime to turn a three-point deficit into a three-point lead, and the No. 3 … [Read more...] about McDermott’s 3-pointers in OT lift No. 3 Dragons past Centennial girls
Jaguars score from all over the court en route to 60-27 win at Marshalltown
If opponents try to pack the paint against the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team, the Jaguars have demonstrated an ability to make 3-pointers. When the opponents try to pressure the outside shooters, Centennial can dump the ball inside for some easy baskets. The 10th-ranked Jaguars had success scoring from all over the court on Tuesday en route … [Read more...] about Jaguars score from all over the court en route to 60-27 win at Marshalltown
Burns, Centennial girls set 3-point records in victory at Fort Dodge
On Friday night, Meg Burns and the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team struggled to put the ball in the hoop. The 10th-ranked Jaguars didn't have that same problem on Saturday afternoon. Less than 24 hours after dropping a 59-37 decision at No. 4 Dowling Catholic, Centennial traveled to Fort Dodge for a non-conference game and set a school record … [Read more...] about Burns, Centennial girls set 3-point records in victory at Fort Dodge
Clark’s supporting cast plays key role in Maroons’ win over Centennial girls
It wasn't the 29 points that Dowling Catholic's Caitlin Clark scored on Friday that spelled doom for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. It was the timely 3-point goals from her supporting cast that proved to be the difference. Grace Gaber and Ella McVey each had a trio of 3-pointers and Clark added two more as the fourth-ranked Maroons … [Read more...] about Clark’s supporting cast plays key role in Maroons’ win over Centennial girls
Centennial girls shut down No. 8 Little Cyclones for huge road victory
There are a number of things in the world that you can just count on. The sun will rise every morning. Then it will go down at night. And the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team will continue to play stifling defense. The 13th-ranked Jaguars allowed just 19 points through the first three quarters and posted a 50-32 victory at No. 8 Ames on … [Read more...] about Centennial girls shut down No. 8 Little Cyclones for huge road victory
‘We really wanted to step up our energy’: Jaguars roll past Roosevelt
There was no letdown Tuesday for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The 13th-ranked Jaguars, who let a 12-point lead slip away in the final 6 minutes of Friday's loss at No. 4 Johnston, rolled to a 62-27 victory over No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt on Tuesday at Centennial. "After that loss at Johnston, we really wanted to step up our energy," … [Read more...] about ‘We really wanted to step up our energy’: Jaguars roll past Roosevelt
‘You have to play a full 4 quarters’: Centennial girls let late lead slip away
For more than three quarters Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad outplayed one of the state's best teams. The 13th-ranked Jaguars held a 40-28 lead at No. 4 Johnston with 6 minutes left in the CIML Central Conference opener. But they couldn't close out the victory. The Dragons outscored Centennial the rest of the way, 19-4, and … [Read more...] about ‘You have to play a full 4 quarters’: Centennial girls let late lead slip away
Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had the defending Class 5A state champion on the ropes Tuesday night. But the Jaguars were unable to deliver the knockout blow. Eighth-ranked Centennial jumped out to an early 11-1 lead at No. 12 Valley before the Tigers used runs of 14-2 and 19-5 to rally for a 52-44 victory. "We started off really well, … [Read more...] about Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs