—Submitted Photo the fort dodge basketball team puts up the LJ sign after senior LJ Maehl broke the career record for points on Tuesday at Des Moines East. Maehl is center with basketball.

DES MOINES — LJ Maehl placed her name atop the Fort Dodge career scoring charts here Tuesday night, leading the Dodger girls to a 56-11 victory over Des Moines East.

Behind a 25-point effort, Maehl surpassed Molly Nelson, who had held the top spot since her graduation in 1998. Nelson finished her all-state FDSH career with 1,172 points and was the lone member of the 1,000-point club before Maehl joined her earlier this year.

Maehl broke the record with a bucket with 6:01 to play in the third quarter. Play was stopped and Maehl was presented with the game ball by the head official, as she also finished with 12 rebounds and five steals.

“It feels great,” Maehl said. “It’s a goal I have had in mind since my freshman year. I always kept it in the back of my mind and just took things one game at a time, but it has always been something there I have been shooting for.”

She has now scored 1,178 in her Dodger career and is ranked second on the career rebounding list.

“I didn’t know (how many points) I had at halftime, but Coach let me know,” Maehl said. “I tried a couple of times to get it (before hitting the breaking shot). It felt confident, spin move and I knew right away that it was going to be it.”

Maehl recalled all the “early mornings, late nights, traveling across the country and 2-on-2 with my family in the driveway” for helping her achieve the mark.

“This was honestly such a surreal moment,” she said. “I was so thankful to get to do it in front of a lot of the people I love most and who helped me to get here as well, My coaches and teammates have been the greatest of support, but without my parents, I really could not have achieved this milestone.”

It was all Maehl and Fort Dodge (4-8 overall) early and often, as the Northwest Missouri State commit scored 18 in the opening half. They led 22-1 after the first eight minutes and held a 38-4 lead at the break.

Grace Nichols recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points with 12 rebounds, as Malay Hollins scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. Ellie Doster, Charlotte Breeser, Bella Lee and Emma Lloyd each scored twice, as Linnie Pratt added one.

Doster also had three assists.

“I’m fortunate to have coached both (Lainey and LJ) Maehl,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “LJ has worked hard every second I have had her and I am so very proud of what she has done. Breaking Molly Nelson’s record is a great achievement with Molly being such a great Dodger. I’m sure Molly has to be proud of LJ, and it was a great night for her and her family.”

Fort Dodge returns to Des Moines on Friday to take on Hoover.