Basketball Season 2016-2017

The 2016-2017 Knights basketball season was one of the most fluid in recently memory. The team started with a lot of solid athletes and potential, but the season is long and this year’s team saw more roster changes compared to other seasons. As a result, the team ended with a 10-12 overall record, but that only tells part of the story. By the end of the season, the Knights were much more competitive than their record represented, and that resulted in a great first round playoff win and some post-season honors for some of the players.

Reflecting on the season, Head Coach Dustin Sperling said “We dealt with probably the most moving pieces we ever have. We had a lot of kids in and out during the season and it was hard to build consistency. But different players stepped up in different games and that was fun to watch.” A lot of players were able to contribute this season, which paid dividends toward the end of the season. More players got good minutes in the middle of the season, which allowed different combinations of players to work together.
   
According to the coaching staff, how the team improved on fundamentals visibly improved throughout the season. According to Sperling, the team was always open to learning in practice, and this dedication allowed the Knights to beat a really solid Clarke Osceola team in the first round of the District playoffs.

Junior Ammari Johnson led the team in most offensive stats for the second year in a row. His 17.0 points per game was a slight improvement from last year’s number, but his name is now all over the Woodward Academy record book. He is now the career leader in five scoring categories. Armman Johnson and Jay’Quise Norton also got some post-season honors when they received honorable mention within the conference.

Ammari Johnson’s 2016-2017 basketball campaign was always going to be a race into the Woodward Academy record books. He led the team in scoring a year ago and looked to do the same this season as the only returning varsity starter from that year’s squad. With the season now over, Ammari’s legacy has been cemented as one of the best basketball players the Knights has ever produced. He currently owns school career records in total points, field goal attempts, field goal percentage, as well as 3-point attempts and 3-pointers made. Beyond that, he ranks second in free throw percentage and rebounds.
   
Basketball is not Ammari’s only sport. Earlier this year, he earned All-District football honors as a wide receiver, and has already transitioned to track & field. He was a state qualifier a year ago in the high jump, and in the second meet of this season, broke the school record with a 6’4” jump.

Winter Sports Posters 2016-2017 // Basketball and Powerlifting

The winter sports posters for the 2016-2017 season are out and both can be picked up on campus. Basketball is currently entering the post season and have looked solid throughout the year. The poster shows the team in action with a retro font feel and muted color scheme.

The powerlifters are just getting their competition season rolling. They performed well at the Des Moines Metro Classic in January where 9 lifters qualified for Nationals. Their next events are in Nebraska in February, and a home meet in March, with the end of the season happening at the USAPL High School National Championships at the end of March. This year, Nationals will be held in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

We have produced sports posters for each one of our teams since the 2008-2009 basketball season and often get asked how they get made. Each one is different and unique and is produced and printed on campus. For these two posters, individual pictures were taken of each athlete and composited together for the final poster. For the most recent updates, follow our Facebook page to get updates throughout the season and be sure to get a poster for your office next time you're on campus. After the break, you can view full images of each poster.

Knights Basketball 2015-2016

Every season starts the same: teaching the offensive and defensive fundamentals that the coaches want to see, and then letting the players respond to the coaching. The goal is that by the middle part of the season, things start to register with the players and the team peaks at the end to make a run in the post season.

Head coach Dustin Sperling was really proud of this team. “They had a good work ethic, and that made the coaching effective every practice. At the beginning of the year, it wasn’t possible to play man [defense], zone is generally the safer route. But the last two weeks of the year, we were switching back and forth and everything was sinking in.”

Sperling was fortunate to have two returning players from last year’s State team, and he placed a lot of expectations on them. Delonquay Richardson and Marcus Riley were the pulse of the team. As co-captains, they had a lot already invested in the team and knew they would be called upon to led the other athletes. “I think I was the hardest on Marcus all season. He responded and would always fix it and be a leader on the team. Delonquay naturally has a strong work ethic, but he was perhaps the most selfless person on the team. He never concerned himself with points and other stats. He wanted to play defense, set screens, and get rebounds all game.” And that is exactly what he did, leading the conference in rebounds with 11.1 RPG. Other statistical highlights include Marcus’ 103 assists, 2nd in the conference. Sophomore Ammari Johnson led the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game.
   
The Knight’s season came to a close in the second round of the district playoffs. After an impressive win against Ogden in the first round, the Knights had to travel to Des Moines Christian’s home court, where they were defeated. Sperling’s lasting image of this team is not the wins and losses, but rather how they grew. “More than anything else, this team’s character grew just as much as their basketball  knowledge.”

The Sixth Man on the Court

Woodward Academy's student body section is big and loud, and they certainly make an impact on the basketball court every game. With chants like K-N-I-G-H-T-S and D-Fence!, the cheering section is the sixth man on the floor, often propelling the Knights to better play and being a distraction for our opponents.

From a student's perspective, attending basketball games is an escape from the routine. It is time away from campus that offers a sense of normalcy. For most regular season games, a handful of students from each dorm get to attend, which often adds up to about 40-50 students. During this week's first round district playoff game, over 200 students and staff attended the game, outnumbering the other team's cheering section 20 to 1. And they made a significant impact on the outcome!

From a staff's perspective, it is fun to watch the students. They love to be loud and cheer for the players that they know, walk the halls of school with, and in some cases share a dorm with. Our student body makes their presence felt in the best way possible. Every season, we get letters from parents and members of the community of the opposing team, and every letter touches on our sportsmanship and school pride. Here is an example from a couple weeks ago from a parent from the opposing team:

As a parent and also an educator, I want to commend your players and your entire cheering section on their fantastic performance last night. 

Your student section was amazing. They were "loud and proud" and cheering for their team. They used positive cheers and never did I hear a negative comment or cheer. 

The young men on your team exhibited great sportsmanship and restraint, even when they may have felt a call was not a good call. My son commented when he got home that they exhibited the best sportsmanship of all the teams he has played this year. 

I just wanted to share a positive with you and your staff! Thank you for all you do to work with these young men!

As a basketball team and athletic program, we practice and compete to win. But this is an example of winning in life and that is what it means to be a Woodward Academy Knight.

Winter Sports Posters 2015-2016 // Basketball and Powerlifting

Both of the winter sports posters for the 2015-2016 seasons are out and can be picked up on campus. The basketball team is entering the post-season with a first round game against CMB, while the powerlifting team is preparing for the USAPL High School National Championships at the end of March. The posters are composite images with each athlete taking individual picture, which were later assembled for the final product. Both teams are looking to have a strong end to the season and we will provide updates on our Facebook page. So "like" us and stay in tuned with Knights athletics. 

We Own the Knight: A High School Basketball Documentary Film // Video

When the Knights basketball team qualified for the Iowa High School Athletic Association State basketball tournament, the state media took note. We Own the Knight is a short documentary film that follows the Woodward Academy basketball team in the week leading up to playing at Wells Fargo Arena and the positive media attention that they generated. It was the first time that any residential treatment facility has qualified for state and the Knights quickly became the "feel good" story of the tournament (as you'll see in the film). It is written and directed by Eric Smidt and we hope to share it with more people this year.

Thanks to WHOTV Channel 13, KCCI Channel 8, LocalABC 5, The Des Moines Register, and Iowa Public Radio for covering the Knights this season.

All the News Reports from State Basketball (March 9, 2015) // Video

On March 9, 2015, the Woodward Academy Knights played in the Iowa High School Boys State Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history. For many Des Moines news outlets, the Knights were the "feel good" story of the tournament and they paid a lot of attention to them. In case you didn't have a chance to see them all (and how could you being they were on at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 on 4 separate stations), we have them all here so you're in luck.

Des Moines Register / Iowa Public Radio (March 9, 2015)

In preparation for the start of the Iowa high school boys state tournament, a couple media outlets ran stories on the Woodward Academy Knights basketball team and their unprecedented entrance into the tourney. The Des Moines Register ran a cover story on the Knights with senior guard Preston Brittain on the cover. You can read the article by clicking here or we have posted the entire story after the break. Also, Iowa Public Radio ran a feature story that aired Monday morning. You can listen to that story here. Go Knights!

WOODWARD, Ia. – Woodward Academy's biggest upset has been keeping its team together.

The residential center for delinquent boys is experiencing unprecedented success in high school basketball this season, with players brought together by the happenstance of assigned treatment and a love of sports.

Behavioral programs and basketball playoffs have joined in harmony.

KCCI Channel 8 Story // Behind the Scenes // Video

Mark Tauscheck of the Des Moines news channel, KCCI Channel 8, visited campus on Monday to do a story on the Woodward Academy basketball team that aired on the 6 o'clock news. You can see the news segment in the embedded video along with some behind the scenes shots of the interview. Head coach Dustin Sperling along with players Ivan Johnson and Preston Brittain were interviewed for the segment. Since the news story aired on Monday in Iowa, we have received word that it has also played in other states including Texas, Pennsylvania, and Alabama.

Knights Basketball is State Bound // Video

The Woodward Academy Knights are headed to the Iowa High School Boys Basketball State Tournament for the first time in school history after defeating the Panorama Panthers in the Substate final on Saturday night. The game was tied at halftime but as the third quarter came to a conclusion, the Knights were down 11. Head coach Dustin Sperling preached defense at halftime and the Woodward Academy team dominated the 4th quarter by outscoring Panorama 21-0. You can check out the final moments of the game in the embedded video. Warning: it may give you goosebumps.

In the video, you'll also see the entire team, student body, and staff members reciting the Knights Creed at the end of the game. This has become a tradition all season long and shows the dedication that both staff and students have in being a Woodward Academy Knight.

The Knights are 1 of 8 remaining teams in 2A and play Monday, March 9 at Wells Fargo Arena in the first round of the state tournament.

A Historic Day for Woodward Academy Athletics

This past Saturday (February 28) was the most historic athletic weekend in Woodward Academy history where 3 separate events were taking place across the United States and where Woodward Academy students were performing at the highest level. In Des Moines, the Knights basketball team was playing in a Substate final to qualify for the State tournament for the first time in school history. The Knights of Iron powerlifting team was competing in Nebraska in a meet as they continue to prepare for the USAPL High School National Championships, and a WA alum was long jumping in Boston, MA at the USATF Indoor National Championships.

The specifics to each event are absolutely amazing and you can read more about each one after the break. If you just want the details, Cal Lane (WA alum) finished in the top 10 in the long jump event, the powerlifting team won the competition and Julius Walker continued to break his own American Record by squatting 625 pounds in this meet, and the basketball team made a historic comeback to qualify for the state tournament.

Basketball District Champions // Video

On Tuesday night, the Knights basketball team (15-7) was crowned District Champion when they beat Roland-Story (16-7) on a neutral site 61-58. The Knights got off to a slow start in the first half and were down 16 at one point. But second half adjustments allowed the Knights to go on a 19-1 run in the third quarter that erased the deficit. The momentum changing highlight came when Ivan Johnson dunked for an "and one" three point play. He finished the game with 24 points and has been for the Knights all season along with Dontre English, who finished the game with 16 points. Perhaps the biggest bucket of the game came when Preston Brittain (who finished with 15 points) hit a three pointer to tie the game with 16.7 seconds left in the game.

The team now moves onto Substate this Saturday where they will play Panorama (18-4) and an opportunity to qualify for State. This is the furthest that any Woodward Academy team has advanced in the post season since the varsity basketball program began in 2008. You can read a Des Moines Register article on the game here and check out a video below.

Most Combined Points in Iowa High School History // Video

Very rarely do we report on a loss, but the Woodward Academy vs. Earlham game on January 30 set a record for the most combined points scored in a high school game in Iowa history and we thought it was worth noting. The game went into 4 overtimes and accumulated 247 points. The previous record of 245 points was set in 1999 in a 7 overtime game. The Knights were 11-5 going into the game and had already secured a #1 ranking in the upcoming district tournament. The Earlham Cardinals are also a playoff bound team and came into the contest with a 13-2 record.

Earlham led most of the game but the Knights were never out of it. In the final moments of regulation, the Knights pressed more than usual and rattled the Cardinals into turning the ball over and allowed the overtime periods to begin (which is where the video highlights start). A lot of times, over time periods can be sucked up with conservative play, but both teams went on the offensive and it made for a great atmosphere (even though the Knights ended up on the losing side in the 125-121 contest). Woodward Academy was led by Ivan Johnson (#1) who scored 37 points and Dontre English (#3) with 31 points. That amazing tandem has been outstanding lately and scored 66 combined points just a week ago when the Knights defeated a highly regarded Des Moines Christian team.

Home court advantage is something that is often talked about in athletics. If you have a chance to attend a Knights basketball game, you'll be able to see one of the most supportive student bodies in the state. In addition to watching the Knights on the court, check out all of the Knights in the stands as well when you watch the video. Finally, you can see some pictures of the game if you visit our Knight Pics website.

Basketball Poster 2014-2015

Here is the official poster for the 2014-2015 Knights basketball team. Led by senior Ivan Johnson and junior Anthony Allen, the Knights are off to a great start this season and are a lot of fun to watch. Their balanced team and upbeat style has given opponents a lot of challenges and they plan to continue that trend into the second half of the season. If you didn't have a chance to see the video of the Knights beating a ranked and highly regarded 3A opponent during non-conference play, you can check that out by clicking here.

The image is a composite of individual pictures put together to form the team. If you're on campus, pick up a copy of the poster and attend a game if you get a chance. We'll have more on the team as the season progresses.

Knights Basketball Victory // Video

December basketball does reflect with certainty where a team will end up at the end of the season, but key match ups can be used to assess where a team is right now compared against good competition. That happened on Monday night when the Knights (ranked 21st in 2A) hosted Bondurant-Farrar (ranked 9th in 3A in the latest power rankings) in what turned out to be a great contest.

In a back and forth game, the Knights found themselves down 8 at one point in the 4th quarter but rallied a comeback to eventually win the game. The upset was great, but not surprising considering how the Knights have performed this season. The video shows the intense final minute of the game and the pride that WA students show at every home game. You can check out some images from the game as well on our Knight Pics website. The Knights are off to a great and entertaining season so far and we'll have more updates as we move into the new year.

Basketball Poster 2013 - 2014

The 2013-2014 Iowa high school basketball season is fully underway at this point and we thought it would be a good idea to show off the team in the official Woodward Academy basketball poster. The Knights are led by first time head coach Dustin Sperling this season and have a lot of really talented players. The poster has a simple composite layout that has been digitally signed by all of the players. If you're on campus, grab a poster for your office and follow the Knights all season. You can check out a play by play of some of the games on Press Box Radio by clicking here.

Basketball Honors 2013 // Video

The Iowa high school basketball season recently concluded and post-season honors have been announced. Woodward Academy guard, Gerante Rankin, was named 2nd Team All-Conference for his contributions on the hard court. He led the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game for a total of 379 points this season. That places him 3rd all-time for a single season in Woodward Academy history. He also put up impressive marks in steals (64) and assists (73), both leaders this season on the team. He is the latest addition to the growing athletic wall of fame located in the main education building. The wall showcases the accomplishments of WA students and includes representation from nearly every sport.

After the break, check out a recap of the season with a short highlight video.

Basketball Poster 2012-2013

After a very successful fall sports season, the winter sports are in full swing at Woodward Academy and across the state. Pictured is the official 2012-2013 Woodward Academy basketball poster. To view individual pictures of the players from the photo session, go to our Knight Pics website by clicking here.  Next time you're on campus, grab a poster for your office and set aside a night to cheer for WA.  Go Knights!

Basketball Honors 2012

It was recently released that Dallas Jackson (senior) earned 1st Team All-Conference honors this year in a phenomenal season for the Knights.  Beyond being the clear leader on the team and only returning starter, he ranked amongst the best forwards in class 2A.  He led the state in rebounding with 12.3 RPG and averaged 17 points per game as he led the Knights to a 3rd place regular season finish in the West Central Activities Conference.

Dallas currently stands as the Woodward Academy career leader in Total Points, Field Goals Made, FG Attempts, FG %, Free Throws Made, FT Attempts, Rebounds, and Steals.  According to head coach Trent Fleshner, many of those stats will stand for a very long time, most notably his rebounds.

Next year, Dallas plans to play basketball at the college level and is being recruited by a number of Iowa schools.

Basketball Update

Led by senior Dallas Jackson, the Woodward Academy Knights have fought to an 8-6 regular season record.  After starting the year slow, the Knights went on a 6 game winning streak and last night played the undefeated Ogden Bulldogs.  

Currently, Jackson is in the top 5 across the entire state in rebounding and leads all of Class 2A with 12.2 per game.  The Knights have increasingly improved throughout the season with the season ending in February.

To view more pictures of the Knights basketball team along with images across campus, visit our Knight Pics website by going to http://wwacademy.smugmug.com/