Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge sophomore LJ Maehl shoots this past season inside the Dodger gym.

LJ Maehl of Fort Dodge was recognized as a unanimous all-Iowa Alliance North Division selection in girls basketball recently, with four Dodger teammates joining her on the honor squad.

Senior Mackenzie McIlrath made the second team, while Brooklyn Pommer, Ashlyn Wills and Dakota Pommer were all honorable mention choices. FDSH finished 9-12 overall and fourth in the division.

Maehl, a sophomore who made the second team last winter, ranked second in the league in scoring, rebounding and blocks this past winter. She averaged 16 points and 8.2 rebounds a night.

Maehl’s 65 offensive rebounds tied for the most among all Northern Division players, and was second in the entire IAC. She was also second in the league in scoring.

“LJ had a really solid year for us,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “She carried us in a lot of games. Only being a sophomore, she is a special player who has it all.

“I’m excited to have her for two more seasons as she continues to improve.”

McIlrath was third in the league in assists, fourth in steals and seventh in scoring. The senior finished with 184 points, 101 boards, 66 steals, 57 assists and 23 made 3-pointers in her final prep season.

“Mackenzie was a three-year varsity player for us who we had to move back to the point after a (season-ending) injury to (junior) Meah (McCaleb),” Messerly said. “I thought she deserved to be all-conference because she really did a lot of the little things for us to have success.

“We are going to miss her next season.”

Brooklyn Pommer ranked fourth in the division in rebounds and sixth in steals. The junior had 112 points with 140 rebounds, 61 steals, 29 assists and 19 blocks.

“Brooklyn was another player who did everything for us,” Messerly said. “She was always on the glass and played a lot of minutes. We would put her up against bigger players (defensively) almost every night, and she always stepped up to the challenge.”

Dakota Pommer finished eighth in assists and ninth in rebounds. The sophomore had 125 points, 95 rebounds, 43 steals, 38 assists, 15 made 3-pointers and 11 blocks.

“Dakota had a nice all-around year,” Messerly said. “She improved a lot from her freshman season and has a bright future for us.”

Wills, a junior, had 38 points, 48 rebounds, 32 assists and 23 steals.

“Much like her sister, Haley, Ashlyn just loves to defend,” Messerly said. “We would alwyas put her on the best player from the opposing team and she got the job done.”

McCaleb was averaging 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 steals when she suffered her injury, which sidelined her for the final nine games of the season.