Audrey Shindelar, Stewartville
Shindelar, finally a senior, was our All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year last season. The athletic 5-foot-11 guard earned it after averaging 22 points (52% on 2-pointers, 35% on 3’s), 3 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals per game. Shindelar isn’t only a talented player, she is also a clutch one, hitting big shots at the biggest moments. Shindelar has already committed to Division I South Dakota State.
About one third into last season, Klug became arguably the most dangerous shooter around. She was draining them from all distances, including being lethal from 3-point land. A lean 6-footer with excellent ball skills, she finished her year averaging 21 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.5 steals per game.
Caledonia’s Aubrie Klug (3) shoots the ball during the Section 1, Class 2A girls basketball championship against Dover-Eyota on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Caledonia won 63-53.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Dyer might have more upside than anyone on this list. Just a sophomore, she plays like she’s a senior with her strength, agility and crafty ways. Dyer made a huge jump from her eighth grade to freshman year and the 5-11 forward averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game for an excellent and balanced Mayo team. She’s also a top-notch defender who runs the floor well.
Mayo freshman Maggie Dyer is pictured Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at Mayo High School in Rochester.
Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin file photo
Mills has been making a heavy impact on the Mayo team since her seventh-grade season. Now a sophomore, she is one of the top guards in the state. Last year the smooth and swift point guard averaged 16.6 points, 4 steals and 4 assists per game, and did it through some injuries. She and Maggie Dyer give Mayo one of the best sophomore combinations in Minnesota.
Mayo’s Amelia Mills (2) rushes past John Marshall’s Esme Rizzo (11) and Jacey Nelson (22) during a Big Nine Conference girls basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at Mayo High School in Rochester.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Ohm can do it all and do it in the clutch as she proved last year in the Section 1, Class 3A title game with Stewartville (ultimately a Byron loss). Ohm averaged 18.4 points last season, hitting 36% of her 3-point attempts. A smooth, 5-foot-11 senior, she also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game. With high-scoring Kendra Harvey having graduated, look for all of Ohm’s numbers to go up. She played this past summer on arguably the top AAU girls basketball team in the state.
Byron’s Madison Ohm (4) holds the ball from Stewartville’s Katherine Jones (1) during the Section 1, Class 3A girls basketball championship on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Stewartville won 68-64.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
At 6-foot-1 and with guard skills, Rath is one of the more intriguing players in the area. The senior has already verbally committed to play at Division I University of St. Thomas next year. Rath has great upside, with an ability to bring the ball up the court, rebound and hit shots from all distances. Look for her to become more offensive minded this season. She averaged 13 points on 52% 2-point shooting and 40% 3-point shooting last year. She also averaged 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game.
Stewartville’s Jayci Rath (13) looks for a pass during a Hiawatha Valley League girls basketball game against Lourdes on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Stewartville High School in Stewartville.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Jensyn Storhoff, Lanesboro
A senior point guard, Storhoff can do it all as her numbers suggest. She averaged 20.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 steals per game last year. She scores at all three levels and can defend. There is likely not a more talented player in the Southeast Conference.
Hust, a 6-foot senior, is a multi-year starter for Lourdes and one of the more athletic and do-it-all players around. She was named honorable mention All-State last year after averaging 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 steals, shooting 77% from the free-throw line and being a fast and rugged defender.
Lourdes’ Lauren Hust (11) looks for a pass during a Hiawatha Valley League girls basketball game against Stewartville on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Stewartville High School in Stewartville. Lourdes won 63-52.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Aaliyah Williams, Lourdes
Williams is one of the elite ball handlers in the state. Look for her to become more of a scorer this season after she averaged 12 points per game on 35% 3-point shooting last season. The junior is strong, fast and an excellent facilitator on offense.
Lourdes’ Aaliyah Williams (30) dribbles the ball during a girls basketball Section 1, Class 2A quarterfinal against Lake City on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Banks ranks with anyone in the area when it comes to long-range shooting. She shot 35% on 3-pointers last year, some of them from way out. Banks averaged 12 points per game on an excellent and balanced team. Look for her to get to the basket a bit more this season.
Mayo’s Mia Banks (1) dribbles the ball during a Big Nine Conference girls basketball game against Century on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at Mayo High School in Rochester.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Alyvia Engler, Plainview-Elgin-Millville
A senior guard with speed, Engler put up great numbers last year: 20.4 points per game, 46% on 2-pointers, 4.2 steals per game. Engler has an excellent first step which allows her to get into the lane.
Plainview-Elgin-Millville’s Alyvia Engler (21) shoots the ball during a non-conference girls basketball game against Pine Island on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at Pine Island Public School.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin file photo
Maycie Mierau, Lewiston-Altura
Mierau was a bit of a revelation a year ago when she averaged 18.7 points, 3 assists, 2.2 steals and had 10 games of 20 points or more. Mierau is a junior guard who gets things done on both ends of the court.
Pat has been a Post Bulletin sports reporter since 1994. He covers Rochester John Marshall football, as well as a variety of other southeastern Minnesota football teams. Among my other southeastern Minnesota high school beats are girls basketball, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, high school and American Legion baseball, volleyball, University of Minnesota sports (on occasion) and the Timberwolves (on occasion). Readers can reach Pat at 507-285-7723 or pruff@postbulletin.com.