Buss Reaches 1,000 Point Milestone Following Victory Against Appleton North

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Many variables align for the relative success of this year’s girls’ basketball team.  Out of 20 games, the team has only suffered one loss – and even then by only one point.  Within the Fox Valley Association, they tie Hortonville for the top ranking.

And now, two of its players have reached the coveted milestone of 1,000 career points – player #1 (junior) Allie Ziebell, and now player #23 (senior) Sammie Buss.  They are only the third and fourth players in Neenah history to reach this amount.

“It’s just an accomplishment that’s really nice, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates behind me and passing it to me, and being behind my back every single time,” Buss said.

Neither team prevailed during the first half of Friday’s 67-58 win against Appleton North’s Lightning, which nearly ended in a tie.

Buss mentions, “the game was pretty tough.  Appleton North played us really hard, but we did pull through.”

She also said the changes to the team’s strategy during the second half.  “Just our movement, our stops on defense overall; I think that’s what got us up in the first place,” she said.

The last time the team won a state championship was 1978, with a 15-1 record (93.75% win).  Not only does the team have a better average this year, but Ziebell and Buss are also the first players to reach the milestone since then.