The group, which took the place of The Associated Press in naming all-state players several years ago, released various division honors on consecutive days this week. Division 4 came out Monday, Division 3 on Tuesday, Division 2 on Wednesday and Division 1 is slated for today.

Eagle was joined by senior Aubrey Johnson of Negaunee in Division 2 and junior Kara Roberts of Baraga in Division 4. Johnson and Roberts earned honorable mention status in their respective divisions.

There are a dozen Upper Peninsula players and a coach who earned all-state honors, the vast majority in the smallest schools grouping, Division 4.

In Division 3, there are just two honorees with senior Jackie Kiilunen of Calumet of the Second Team joining Eagle. In Division 2, Gladstone senior Lillie Johnson on the First Team joins Negaunee’s Aubrey Johnson.

Negaunee’s Aubrey Johnson, right, after making a steal converts it into a fast-break opportunity and a layup for two points in the first half of a high school girls basketball game played against Gladstone at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Feb. 27. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

But in Division 4, Ewen-Trout Creek’s Jacky Besonen was named all-state Coach of the Year, while her freshman daughter Bree Besonen made the First Team and was runner-up in the voting for D-4 Player of the Year.

Joining Bree Besonen on the First Team from the U.P. are E-TC junior teammate Irelynd McGeshick, senior Jillian Fraser of St. Ignace, Norway junior Lauren Adams and Lake Linden-Hubbell senior Emily Jokela.

Second Team in D-4 includes another Jacky Besonen daughter, E-TC junior Emma Besonen, and St. Ignace senior Addison Cullen, while Roberts made honorable mention.

Just last week, Eagle was named to the All-U.P. Dream Team by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association at its annual basketball meeting held at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

All-staters Adams, Aubrey Johnson, Lillie Johnson and Bree Besonen joined Eagle on that most elite of All-U.P. squads.

Ishpeming's Jenessa Eagle takes a shot in the fourth quarter during a high school girls basketball game played against Houghton at the Hematites’ gym in Ishpeming on Feb. 27. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Eagle was the No. 2 player as a sophomore on Ishpeming’s state championship team of a year ago, but has become the Hematites’ leading player after the graduation of all-stater Jenna Maki.

With Ishpeming moving up from Division 4 to Division 3, the Hematites finished a solid 18-6, only losing twice each to 22-1 Negaunee, D-2 quarterfinalist Gladstone and D-3 quarterfinalist Calumet.

Among Ishpeming’s most impressive wins were a 32-pointer over Division 2 Escanaba along with victories over quality D-4 squad Munising and Westwood twice.

Now listed with 1,258 points in three years on the varsity unit, Eagle averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.0 steals and 4.0 deflections per game this season, making 37.5% from the floor and 79.3% on free throws.

Not only was she runner-up to Maki for All-U.P. Division 4 Player of the Year in 2024, but this year she was named to the Mid-Peninsula Conference First Team.

“Jenessa has proven she is one of the top guards in the state and the Upper Peninsula,” her coach Ryan Reichel said. “She helped lead our team to an 18-6 record after graduating seven seniors from a state title run and being the only returning starter for more than half the year.”

Aubrey Johnson led Negaunee to a 22-0 start that only ended with a 50-47 upset by Gladstone in the Division 2 district tournament championship game. Even though the Braves would go on to the state quarterfinal game, it was still an upset as the Miners had prevailed in double-digit victories twice over Gladstone during the regular season.

Johnson was a key producer both for this team and the 2024 Negaunee squad that was 26-2 and went all the way to the D-2 state semifinals before bowing out to Detroit Edison.

This year, Johnson averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, 3.4 steals, 3.1 rebounds and 4.3 deflections on a team that wasn’t particularly prolific on offense — the Miners broke 60 points just four times and never hit 70 despite their sterling record, instead holding opponents 13 times to 30 points or less, including a pair of foes that only scored in the teens.

She scored 30 and 18 points in a pair of games vs. Division 3 quarterfinalist Calumet and 20 points against 17-6 and Division 3 Lower Peninsula powerhouse Ludington.

In fact, Johnson was named MVP of the Irontown Holiday Bash when Negaunee defeated Ludington and eventual D-4 state finalist E-TC.

She was also West PAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, along with M-PC First Team and its Defensive Player of the Year.

“Aubrey has been our leader all year,” Miners head coach Mike O’Donnell said. “She is the true definition of ‘two-way player’ and gets it done on both ends of the floor every night.

“She really worked hard this offseason on her offensive game and that showed as she scored more than five points per game above her average (of) last year.”

Baraga’s Roberts was voted onto the All-U.P. Division 4 First Team for the 16-7 Vikings as she averaged 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game, making 36% from the field.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.