The Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, IA) varsity basketball team will play a home non-conference game against Ankeny (IA) on Friday, January 31 at 7:45 p.m.
Dowling Catholic vs Ankeny Game Info:
What: Iowa High School Basketball
Who: Dowling Catholic (IA) vs Ankeny (IA)
When: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here
Game preview: Dowling Catholic vs Ankeny
The Ankeny and Dowling Catholic boys’ basketball teams are set for an exciting non-conference matchup in two upcoming games, with the first scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, at 7:45 p.m. in West Des Moines, and the second taking place on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, in Ankeny. Both teams are eager to show off their skills, with intriguing stats and head-to-head comparisons paving the way for an intense showdown.
Team Overview: Ankeny
Ankeny has had a balanced season thus far, posting a .500 win percentage with an overall record of 8-8. The team has been consistent in conference play, sitting at 3-3. In addition, they have an interesting breakdown with a solid home record of 3-5, while their away performance stands at 4-2. Despite a modest overall win record, Ankeny has a scoring average of 58.1 points per game, driven by strong performances in the first three quarters, especially in Q3 (19.5 points).
Team Overview: Dowling Catholic
Dowling Catholic, on the other hand, has shown a more dominant performance this season, boasting an 8-3 overall record. With an impressive .727 win percentage, the team has had strong showings both at home (5-1) and away (2-2), along with an undefeated neutral-site record of 1-0. Their season has been marked by consistency, with a solid 4-1 record in conference play. Dowling’s offense averages 58.0 points per game, with their strength lying in the final quarter, where they average 21.0 points, making them formidable in closing games.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Ankeny and Dowling Catholic both have several common opponents, making their records against these teams an insightful indicator of their performance. Ankeny has faced seven common opponents, achieving a 3-4 record, while Dowling Catholic holds a stronger 5-3 record against the same teams.
A key match to note in the common opponent history is Ankeny’s 76-65 victory over Valley on December 3, 2024, compared to Dowling’s narrow 54-53 win over Valley on December 13, 2024. This demonstrates the potential for close and exciting games between the two teams, with both clubs showing they can rise to the occasion.
Scoring Averages: A Tale of Two Offenses
While both teams have similar overall scoring averages (Ankeny at 58.1 points per game and Dowling Catholic at 58.0), their scoring distributions differ. Ankeny tends to score consistently throughout the game, with their highest-scoring quarter being Q3 at 19.5 points per game, followed by Q2 with 18.5 points. Meanwhile, Dowling Catholic’s scoring is more heavily skewed towards the fourth quarter, where they average 21.0 points.
What to Expect
This matchup promises to be an exciting one, as both teams look to assert themselves in a competitive non-conference setting. Ankeny will be looking to capitalize on their balanced scoring and solid defense, while Dowling Catholic aims to continue their trend of closing strong in the fourth quarter. With both teams having had their ups and downs this season, the outcome of this game could be crucial for their momentum heading into the later part of the season.
In addition, the two teams will meet again in just under two weeks, where the rivalry will continue and provide more opportunities for both squads to prove themselves. Keep an eye on how each team approaches the game, especially with Dowling Catholic’s tendency to finish strong in the final minutes, while Ankeny will need to maintain consistency throughout all four quarters to secure a victory.
This game will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated of the season as Ankeny and Dowling Catholic go head-to-head in a battle for local basketball supremacy.