—Messenger file photo: Fort Dodge's LJ Maehl puts up a shot at Marshalltown this past season.

Fort Dodge’s LJ Maehl added one more honor to her basketball resume, as the senior was one of three unanimous selections to the all-Iowa Alliance Conference North first team for 2025-26.

Maehl’s teammate, freshman Brooklyn Gilliland, was the only other Dodger selected. She was placed on the third squad.

Marshalltown’s Frankie Long and Victoria Williams from Ames were the other unanimous choices. Mason City’s Gracyn Braun and Anna Latham, Natalya Deardroff of Ames, and Ka’Jhira Mhoon from Waterloo East completed the first team.

Maehl ended her FDSH career as the school’s 5-on-5 scoring champ, as well as the program’s five-player rebounding queen. She ranked first in IAC North contests in points and field goal attempts, second in made field goals and defensive rebounds, third in 3-point field goal attempts, fourth in rebounds and made free throws, and fifth in free throw attempts.

“LJ was not only an incredible athlete, but a great kid,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “Her name will stand the test of time in the history books of Fort Dodge girls basketball, and people will remember her for years to come because of how much she gave to Dodger athletics.”

Maehl will continue basketball career at Northwest Missouri State — an NCAA Div. II program that is part of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Gilliland produced 156 total points, 93 rebounds, 48 steals, 28 assists and six blocks in her first season with the Dodgers. She will be the leading returning scorer next year, with Maehl graduating as the lone Fort Dodge senior.

“Brooklyn really had a solid freshman season for us,” Messerly said. “We asked her to handle the point at times, along with defending one of the top players on the opposing team.

“I’m excited to see her growth over the next three years.”

ALL-IOWA ALLIANCE CONFERENCE NORTH DIVISION

First Team

*LJ Maehl, Fort Dodge, sr.; *Frankie Long, Marshalltown, jr.; *Victoria Williams, Ames, jr.; Gracyn Braun, Mason City, sr.; Natalya Deardorff, Ames, sr.; Anna Latham, Mason City, jr.; Ka’Jhira Mhoon, Waterloo East, jr.

*Denotes unanimous selection

Second Team

Graysyn Downing, Waterloo East, sr.; Brogan Evans, Mason City, sr.; Parker Bivins, Ames, fr.; Siyanna Cody, Waterloo East, sr.; Millie Heitmann, Marshalltown, sr.; Amairra Johnson, Marshalltown, sr.; Kaelin Knipp, Waterloo East, sr.

Third Team

Brooklyn Gilliland, Fort Dodge, fr.; Lyza Britten, Ames, fr.; Sophia Hatcher, Ames, sr.; Kinsley Bowie, Marshalltown, sr.; Jorja Janssen, Marshalltown, sr.; Leah Dykstra, Mason City, soph.; Magalli Gonzalez, Mason City, soph.; Alayna Henderson, Waterloo East, jr.