Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond junior Hunter Horn reacts to his team’s Class 1A state quarterfinal win in Des Moines. Horn was named a first team all-state selection by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

Individual accolades are nice, but for the St. Edmond junior duo of Hunter Horn and Jakob Koopman, they view themselves as small pieces to a much bigger picture.

Both Horn and Koopman, along with Manson Northwest Webster’s Logan Moline and Algona’s Ben Helmers, were named all-state in boys basketball by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association on Monday.

Horn landed on the Class 1A first team and Koopman the third squad for the Gaels, who advanced to the state semifinals. Moline was a third-team selection in 2A, and Helmers made the second team in 3A.

Along with joining the 1,000-point club for his career, Horn scored 609 points this past season, which ranked seventh in all of 1A. He averaged 24.4 points per contest, adding almost 10 rebounds with 43 assists, 34 steals and 22 blocks all while shooting 60 percent from the field.

“It’s been a goal of mine for a long time (to be named all-state) and it feels great to be able to show the hard work paid off,” Horn said. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of all my coaches and teammates.

“We have some unfinished business for next year. That’s the overall end-goal: to make it back to the state tournament and compete for that championship.”

Horn will head into his senior season with the St. Edmond career scoring record within striking distance. He currently has 1,106 points in 50 games, just 434 from passing Andrew Gibb.

Koopman racked up 278 points this season with 206 rebounds, 65 assists, 58 steals and 16 blocks, shooting 60 percent from the field and 73 percent at the free throw line. He led the Gaels with 18 points in a quarterfinal win at state over Woodbine, just 11 days after suffering a serious leg injury in the substate final.

“Being named all-state is a great honor,” Koopman said. “I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and teammates — especially Hunter. He commands so much attention from other teams, (which) gives me and my teammates a lot more open looks.”

St. Edmond won 20 games for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign, finishing in a tie for second in the North Central Conference. Horn and Koopman were both all-league picks, with Horn also earning all-substate team honors.

Moline, who has signed with Buena Vista University to continue his career, became Manson Northwest Webster’s career scoring leader this past season. He averaged 20.8 points with 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and almost two steals per game, helping the Cougars tie a program record with 19 victories and reach a substate final for the first time since the MNW consolidation nearly 35 years ago.

“(Being named all-state) shows the time and hard work I’ve spent playing and trying to get better at the game,” Moline said. “I couldn’t have done it without my family, friends, teammates and coaches who have helped me along the way.

“I hope the younger generation of kids see what I’ve done and strive to achieve great things, too.”

A three-year starter for Manson Northwest Webster, Moline finished his career with 1,421 points to go along with 549 rebounds, 199 assists, 135 steals and 48 blocked shots.

Helmers was a repeat all-state selection, scoring 26.4 points per game with 83 rebounds, 62 steals, 43 assists and 13 blocks for the Bulldogs.

“I’m very honored to be selected again,” Helmers said. “I wouldn’t have been able to get to this point without the support of my teammates and fans, and the coaching staff pushing me and helping me get better this year and throughout my whole career at Algona.”

Helmers, a three-year starter and four-time letterwinner for Algona, scored 1,509 points with 370 rebounds, 184 steals, 147 assists and 53 blocks.

Jamison Poe, a senior who attended school in Fort Dodge before moving to Ames, was named to the 4A second team after helping the Little Cyclones reach the state tournament. Bode Goodman, the grandson of former FDSH head coach and all-stater Tom Goodman and nephew of ex-Dodger star Jay Goodman, landed on the first team in 4A for his efforts at Waukee Northwest this season. The Wolves were the state runner-up.

Valley’s Trevin Jirak was named Mr. Iowa Basketball after leading the Tigers to a third consecutive 4A state title. Jirak is headed to the University of Northern Iowa to continue his basketball career.