Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Scott DeJong

Jaguars jump out to 15-0 lead, roll to season-opening win at Fort Dodge

by

The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team appears to have a lot of depth. The seventh-ranked Jaguars also have the ability to get up and down the court. Centennial got its transition game going on Friday and rolled to a 69-23 victory at Fort Dodge in its season opener. "We turned the ball over a little too much, but we saw some glimpses of what … [Read more...] about Jaguars jump out to 15-0 lead, roll to season-opening win at Fort Dodge

DeJong: Centennial girls ‘have a chance to have a really exciting season’

by

All the ingredients for a winning basketball team appear to be on the Ankeny Centennial girls' roster. Head coach Scott DeJong just has to put all the pieces together. "We made a lot of progress since the first day of practice," said DeJong, whose team is seventh in the Class 5A preseason rankings. "There is much more team building to do with the loss … [Read more...] about DeJong: Centennial girls ‘have a chance to have a really exciting season’

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ basketball team

by

Last week, Ankeny Fanatic unveiled its all-time Ankeny boys' basketball team. Now, it's the girls' turn. Ankeny has a rich tradition in girls' basketball, boasting more than 40 all-state players dating back to 1940. The community has won a total of 10 state championships. The history of Ankeny girls' basketball can be broken down into three distinct … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ basketball team

Burns named to all-conference 1st team; Runchey, Pitz earn 2nd-team honors

by

Ankeny Centennial standout Meg Burns has been unanimously selected to the CIML Central Conference first team by a vote of the league's girls' basketball coaches. She led the Jaguars to a 13-10 record this season. Burns, a senior guard, averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game and shot 48.4 percent from 3-point range, making 61-of-126 attempts. The … [Read more...] about Burns named to all-conference 1st team; Runchey, Pitz earn 2nd-team honors

‘I couldn’t be more prouder of our kids’: Jaguars fall short in regional final

by

As the players on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team slowly trickled out of the locker room on Tuesday, the parents and fans of the Jaguars applauded for each of the girls. For Meg Burns and a few of her teammates, it marked the final time that they would wear the school's blue-and-silver uniforms. The 11th-ranked Jaguars closed out the … [Read more...] about ‘I couldn’t be more prouder of our kids’: Jaguars fall short in regional final

No. 5 Cedar Falls girls pull away in 2nd half to end Centennial’s season

by

The 11th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team ended its season on Tuesday with a 51-41 loss at No. 5 Cedar Falls in a Class 5A regional final. The Tigers overcame a 17-16 halftime deficit to raise their record to 19-4. They will advance to next week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for … [Read more...] about No. 5 Cedar Falls girls pull away in 2nd half to end Centennial’s season

‘We don’t have a lot to lose’: Jaguars look to top No. 5 Cedar Falls for state berth

by

Playing on the road against a higher-ranked opponent isn't going to rattle the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The 11th-ranked Jaguars have been in this situation before. Centennial will travel to Cedar Falls on Tuesday for a Class 5A regional final against the No. 5 Tigers. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. The Jaguars will try to duplicate what they … [Read more...] about ‘We don’t have a lot to lose’: Jaguars look to top No. 5 Cedar Falls for state berth

Jaguars shut down Indianola, advance to regional final at No. 5 Cedar Falls

by

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

Jaguars avenge loss to No. 9 Urbandale, tie J-Hawks for 3rd place in conference

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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