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Scott DeJong

Burns leads the way at both ends as Centennial girls roll past Hawkettes

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Centennial girls rebound from loss with thumping of Huskies

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team pitched a shutout during the first quarter of Friday's game against visiting Des Moines Hoover. The eighth-ranked Jaguars raced out to a 23-0 lead at the end of the opening period. They built a 41-6 advantage at halftime and then cruised to a 76-15 victory over the Huskies. Centennial coach Scott DeJong … [Read more...] about Centennial girls rebound from loss with thumping of Huskies

Centennial girls’ late rally falls short in loss to No. 6 S.E. Polk

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During last year's state tournament, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit before losing to Southeast Polk in overtime in the Class 5A quarterfinals. The Jaguars tried to pull off a similar comeback against their CIML rival on Tuesday, but this time the deficit was too large. Sixth-ranked Southeast Polk built a … [Read more...] about Centennial girls’ late rally falls short in loss to No. 6 S.E. Polk

Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history

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Don't expect the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to win every game by 70 points. For one day, though, that's exactly what the seventh-ranked Jaguars did. Centennial built a 57-7 halftime lead and then coasted to an 84-14 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in its season opener on Saturday afternoon. It was the Jaguars' most lopsided win … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history

Young Jaguars will need to get key contributions from several players

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For much of the last three seasons, Kenna Sauer and Rachel Schon were the faces of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball program. The duo led the Jaguars to a 51-18 record during that stretch, but have now taken their talents to the collegiate level. Sauer is playing volleyball at Missouri, while Schon is averaging 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game … [Read more...] about Young Jaguars will need to get key contributions from several players

McGraw, S.E. Polk girls outlast Jaguars in overtime thriller

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The final shot of Rachel Schon's high school basketball career won't define her legacy. But the spirit and determination that Schon and her Ankeny Centennial teammates showed during Monday's Class 5A quarterfinal against third-ranked Southeast Polk most certainly will. The No. 10 Jaguars battled back from an early 13-point deficit to force overtime … [Read more...] about McGraw, S.E. Polk girls outlast Jaguars in overtime thriller

After pulling off one upset, Jaguars will try for another against S.E. Polk

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When the girls' state basketball tournament tips off on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena, 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial won't be mentioned as one of the favorites to capture the Class 5A title. But that's just fine with the Jaguars. Centennial pulled off one upset in order to reach the state tournament, and now it will try for another one. The Jaguars … [Read more...] about After pulling off one upset, Jaguars will try for another against S.E. Polk

WELL DONE: Jaguars topple Pleasant Valley, earn trip to state tournament

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Wells Fargo Arena sits only about 10 miles away from the city of Ankeny. To earn a chance to play there, however, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had to make its longest road trip ever. The 10th-ranked Jaguars traveled to Pleasant Valley on Tuesday for a Class 5A regional final against the No. 7 Spartans, who entered the game with a 21-0 … [Read more...] about WELL DONE: Jaguars topple Pleasant Valley, earn trip to state tournament