Bobcat freshman center Frankie Long was voted to the all-Iowa Alliance Conference North Division first team — the only freshman to earn top honors in the brief two years of the league.

Long, a 6-foot-1 center, averaged just 4.0 points per game in conference play, but was second in rebounding and first in blocked shots. Long pulled down an average of 8.1 rebounds per game and blocked 2.9 shots per conference contest.

For a Marshalltown team that won six games for the first time since 2014-15, the name of the Bobcats’ game was defense.

MHS ranked 13th among 40 teams in Class 5A this season by allowing just 43.41 points per game, and Long’s presence in the paint played a pivotal role in that. The Bobcats blocked 5.8 shots per game in Alliance North action, protecting the rim from all would-be attackers.

Marshalltown’s other four starters all earned honorable mention from the conference coaches. Junior forward Ellie Hughes and sophomore guards Kinsley Bowie, Millie Heitmann and Sydney Kapayou were selected for their roles in helping the Bobcats.

Hughes led MHS in scoring 4.7 points per game in conference play, and she was second in the team in rebounding (6.2). Bowie put up 4.3 points per game, Kapayou averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, and Heitmann had 3.5 points a 4.5 boards per game.

Kapayou’s honorable mention selection was the second in as many seasons.

All-Iowa Alliance Conference North Division Girls Basketball Teams

(* denotes unanimous selection)

FIRST TEAM

Karsyn Pankonen, jr., G, Ames

*LJ Maehl, so., F, Fort Dodge

Frankie Long, fr., C, Marshalltown

*Reggi Spotts, sr., G, Mason City

Grace Berding, sr., F, Mason City

Machaela Trask, jr., G, Mason City

*Jaelah Stanford, sr., G, Waterloo East

SECOND TEAM

Anisa Percival, jr., F, Ames

Victoria Williams, fr., G, Ames

Haley Prakashan, sr., G, Ames

Mackenzie McIlrath, sr., G, Fort Dodge

Kelsey McDonough, sr., F, Mason City

Siyanna Cody, so., G, Waterloo East

Graysyn Downing, so., G, Waterloo East

HONORABLE MENTION

AMES — Abbey McGuire, sr., C.

FORT DODGE — Brooklyn Pommer, jr. F; Dakota Pommer, so., G; Ashlyn Willis, jr., G

MARSHALLTOWN — Kinsley Bowie, so., G; Sydney Kapayou, so., G; Millie Heitmann, so., G; Ellie Hughes, jr., F.

MASON CITY — Jaelyn Falls, sr., F.

WATERLOO EAST — Miah Norman, sr., G/F; Ja’Miah Ceaser, jr., G/F.

Final Conference Standings

Mason City, 8-0

Ames, 6-2

Waterloo East, 4-4

Fort Dodge, 2-6

Marshalltown, 0-8