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Scott DeJong

Centennial girls make 9 3-pointers, roll to victory over Marshalltown

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When the Marshalltown girls' basketball team opened Tuesday's game at Ankeny Centennial in a 1-3-1 zone defense, it created some scoring opportunities for the Jaguars' Meg Burns. Burns, a junior guard, made 5-of-9 attempts from 3-point range and scored 15 points to help the 12th-ranked Jaguars to a 70-19 victory in a CIML crossover game. "We haven't … [Read more...] about Centennial girls make 9 3-pointers, roll to victory over Marshalltown

Jaguars rally past No. 2 Johnston, earn smoothies from DeJong

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The Johnston girls' basketball team had a chance on Friday to move closer to the CIML Central Conference championship. After leading most of the way, however, the visiting Dragons couldn't put Ankeny Centennial away. The 12th-ranked Jaguars rallied in the final 2 minutes for a 50-48 victory, handing No. 2 Johnston its first conference loss. Meg Burns … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally past No. 2 Johnston, earn smoothies from DeJong

Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory

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During the preseason, Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong pointed out the strength of the six teams in the CIML Central Conference. "Legitimately, you could finish fifth or sixth in our conference and be a strong state tournament contender," DeJong said. On Friday, Urbandale showed that DeJong knew what he was talking about. The … [Read more...] about Urbandale girls hold off Centennial to earn first conference victory

Jaguars hit the boards, shut down Clark and roll to 62-40 victory

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If there was one play that summed up the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team's victory over visiting Dowling Catholic on Tuesday, it came in the final minute of the game. The 10th-ranked Jaguars were already ahead by 20 points when senior Rachel Schon stepped to the free-throw line for a bonus opportunity. Her first attempt bounced off the back of … [Read more...] about Jaguars hit the boards, shut down Clark and roll to 62-40 victory

Cold-shooting Centennial girls tumble to Little Cyclones

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On most nights, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team relies on a stingy defense to give the 10th-ranked Jaguars an opportunity to defeat nearly any opponent. However, if Centennial's shots aren't falling, then the Jaguars' defensive effort can only take them so far. Coach Scott DeJong's team shot just 28 percent from the field (12-of-43) and … [Read more...] about Cold-shooting Centennial girls tumble to Little Cyclones

Jaguars hungry for more after beating Roosevelt at Wells Fargo Arena

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Cleao Murray was a sixth grader back in 2016 when the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team captured the Class 5A state championship. "It's always been a dream of mine to make it to state and to play here at Wells Fargo Arena," Murray said. On Tuesday, Murray got a chance to play on the state tournament court for the first time. The freshman guard … [Read more...] about Jaguars hungry for more after beating Roosevelt at Wells Fargo Arena

Jaguars overcome slow start, pull away from Ankeny in 2nd half

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Ankeny Centennial's Rachel Schon has yet to lose a game to Ankeny during her high school basketball career. She'd like to keep it that way. Schon scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half as the 10th-ranked Jaguars pulled away on Friday for a 49-27 victory at No. 13 Ankeny. The Jaguars improved to 11-0 all-time in the series. "It's so fun … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome slow start, pull away from Ankeny in 2nd half

Young takes over in 2nd half, leads No. 4 Valley girls past Jaguars

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At times on Tuesday, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team forced Valley star Zoe Young into a turnover or a missed shot. Whenever the Jaguars threatened to take the lead, however, the Maryland recruit came up with a huge play for the fourth-ranked Tigers. Young scored 19 of her 29 points in the second half to lead Valley to a 63-50 victory at … [Read more...] about Young takes over in 2nd half, leads No. 4 Valley girls past Jaguars

Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies

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Ten different players scored for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team in an 84-24 victory at Des Moines Hoover on Friday. Unfortunately, junior guard Meg Burns wasn't one of them. Burns sat on the bench in street clothes as she continues to battle a lingering foot injury that she suffered in July. "Her foot's just been bad, and it needs to … [Read more...] about Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies

No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss

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A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. Or, maybe, it was just a fast start by Southeast Polk. The top-ranked Rams jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the first quarter and led all the way en route to a 51-44 victory at No. 10 Centennial. The Jaguars dropped to 2-1 on the season. "They came out on fire--they … [Read more...] about No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss

Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln

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If the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team misses a shot, there's a good chance that the Jaguars will grab an offensive rebound. That proved to be the case on Saturday afternoon at Des Moines Lincoln, where 10th-ranked Centennial won the battle of the boards, 43-12, and rolled to a 75-20 victory over the Railsplitters. "We were really strong on … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln

Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

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It took only 15 seconds for Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns to make her first 3-point goal of the season. The junior guard swished a shot from the top of the key on the game's opening possession and went on to score 12 points, all of them in the first half, to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in their season opener on … [Read more...] about Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a slew of injuries to post a 19-4 record. Centennial coach Scott DeJong is hoping to have better luck this season, but the Jaguars have already been bitten by the injury bug. Junior guard Meg Burns, one of the team's top returning players, has been sidelined since July due to a foot … [Read more...] about Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Valley in regional final

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This wasn't the same Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team that was riding a 10-game winning streak. It certainly wasn't the same Valley squad that had lost six consecutive games earlier this season. The 12th-ranked Tigers used a 25-point fourth quarter to post a 58-44 victory in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at No. 5 Centennial. The game was … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Valley in regional final

Valley’s Young, Dowling’s Clark to provide huge tests for Jaguars, Hawkettes

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In order to reach the state tournament, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball teams will both have to figure out a way to slow down one of the nation's top players. The fifth-ranked Jaguars (19-3) will host No. 12 Valley (12-10) in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. It will be a matchup of the last two state champions--Centennial … [Read more...] about Valley’s Young, Dowling’s Clark to provide huge tests for Jaguars, Hawkettes

Centennial girls fight off pesky Urbandale squad, will host Valley next

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Survive and advance. That's what it's all about for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team at this time of the year. The fifth-ranked Jaguars fought off a pesky Urbandale squad to post a 52-39 victory in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday at Centennial. The win was the 10th in a row for Centennial (19-3), but it didn't come … [Read more...] about Centennial girls fight off pesky Urbandale squad, will host Valley next

Hawkettes celebrate tournament victory by doing the Hokey Pokey

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Apparently, there is a second girls' basketball coach in Ankeny who likes to celebrate big victories by doing the Hokey Pokey. Scott DeJong started the tradition during his long run at Ankeny High School, where he guided the Hawkettes to six state championships. He then continued the ritual when he moved across town to Ankeny Centennial, where he led the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes celebrate tournament victory by doing the Hokey Pokey