![“It depends on what the purpose of the homework is. And it shouldn't just be to make somebody do something, but to show [something]. Have they shown mastery of that point?” Bing said. “Is it something that, in terms of the learning process, connects to whatever learning outcomes. [It’s] kind of shifting the point of the homework from what students sometimes think of it as, instead of what it actually is.” Created by Sylvia Bartlett using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hw.png)
Class 4A substate brackets were posted Monday, Feb. 17 and the Ankeny Hawks boys basketball team was able to secure a number 2 seed in the 4A substate bracket 8 with two games remaining in the regular season. The 10-9 Hawks are set to finish the regular season against 7-11 Urbandale on Tuesday, Feb. 18 and the No. 4 ranked Waukee Northwest Wolves on Thursday, Feb. 20.
The Hawks have had some notable games this season, with wins over ranked Linn-Mar, Johnston, and Dowling Catholic. They have also had two very close games with current No. 3 Valley, the number one seed in substate eight.
First matchup
The Hawks will play the winner of the DCG (Dallas Center-Grimes) Mustangs and the Fort Dodge Dodgers on Friday, February 28 at Ankeny High School. DCG is 15-5 on the season and is 11-0 in the Little Hawkeye conference this year. The Mustangs have two games left at Council Bluffs Lincoln and at home against Ballard. The Dodgers are 4-16 on the year and have one game remaining at Perry High School against the Perry Bluejays.
Ankeny could face a familiar foe in DCG, as the Hawks were able to pull off a 50-48 win over the Mustangs. Junior Rio Aguirre was a large contributor with 24 points for the Hawks during the January 21 matchup. Senior Kyle Cason played well for the Mustangs with 20 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double in the loss.
Players to watch
Junior Rio Aguirre has been huge for the Hawks this season. Aguirre is averaging a CIML high of 19.7 points per game and has had multiple 30-point performances this season. Aside from scoring, his 5.1 assists per game rank second in the conference. Aguirre will look to help the Hawks advance through their substrate bracket to get back to the state tournament.
For DCG, Kyle Cason has been their best scorer, with 21.9 points per game. The 6’ 2” senior also leads the team in rebounds with 7.7 per game. Tate Perrin has also been playing well for the Mustangs this season, averaging 10.6 points and three assists per game.
The Dodgers also have some strong players in senior Cade Westerhoff and senior Carter Woodruff. Westerhoff leads the team in points with 13.7 per game while Woodruff adds 8.8. Westerhoff grabs an average of 7.3 rebounds while Woodruff leads the team with 3.3 assists.
Also for the Hawks, expect junior Drew Sorensen to have an impact. Sorensen is averaging 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Looking Ahead
On the other side of 4A Substate 8, there are three possible matchups for the Hawks. No. 3 Valley will take on the winner of Lewis Central and Southeast Polk. The Hawks have already faced Valley twice this season and have taken two losses. The first matchup was a 76-65 loss for the Hawks, and the second game came down to the wire with Valley pulling off a 64-60 win in the Hawk’s Nest.
Southeast Polk is another CIML member and has also faced the Hawks twice thus far. Ankeny pulled off the first win at Southeast Polk 74-68, but fell at home 74-36. The Rams are sitting in eighth place of the CIML with one game remaining at Ankeny Centennial.
Lewis Central has had a solid season so far with a 12-7 record while going 9-1 in the Hawkeye Ten conference. They are led by freshman Carter Thielen, who averages just over 14 points per game along with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Wrap Up
The Hawks will have to wait to see who they will face in the substate semifinal matchup but will look to survive and advance in some tight matchups to reach Wells Fargo again.