Valley's Bussard Repeats As Player Of The Year
January 28, 2019 at 8:22 p.m.
Valley's Bussard Repeats As Player Of The Year
By Aaron [email protected]
She did that and more, and for the second consecutive season is the Times-Union Area Player of the Year.
“Really, I’ve proven myself,” she said. “I definitely still felt a little pressure to deliver and show my improvements from last year, and I think I’ve done a great job of showing that.”
Those improvements included working on her pull-up jumpshot and three-point shot.
People have always known Bussard, a four-year starter and 5-foot-9 guard, could drive to the hole and draw the foul.
Yet, it was her tireless work in the gym that turned her into a multi-threat.
“I don’t think a lot of people would have looked at me as a three-point shooter, and now I definitely consider myself to have a three-point shooting game,” Bussard said.
In addition to improving her outside game, Bussard also stepped up in terms of leadership.
Bussard and Kennedie Brooks are the only seniors on Valley’s squad, and Bussard is the one with the most experience.
“I knew going into (this season) that this team was completely different than any team I’ve played with in the past three years,” Bussard said. “We start juniors, but in reality we’re just really a young team. We have a lot of inexperience.”
That meant Bussard piped up a bit more in games and in practice.
“I focus a lot on being a vocal leader,” she said. “I was excited going into this year, because I knew that leadership role is solely on me and my coaches have done a good job of putting me in positions to lead.”
Despite their inexperience, the Lady Vikings set their usual goals: a winning record, and a conference championship.
For Bussard, who committed to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., there was another challenge: being targeted by defenses.
Several teams have played a box-and-one defense this year, ensuring that one player was on her like glue at all times.
“I never really had that experience going up against that, but I think mentally it tests you because you have a girl that’s worried about not anybody else but you,” Bussard said.
“If you let it get to you, it can affect your game, but for me, I’m mentally strong and I’ve been able to overcome that.”
The added attention on Bussard has allowed her to get her teammates involved in scoring.
While her teammates are getting the ball, Bussard is still racking up points; she averaged nearly 22 points per game, to go with eight rebounds, and nearly four steals and three assists, while averaging 76 percent from the free throw line.
She also shot 44 percent from he field on her way becoming Valley’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,243 points.
Bussard credited some of her success to Valley’s coaching staff.
“My coaches have done a great job of helping me work around those types of things,” she said of the box-and-1s.
Despite losing their first game of the season to Bremen, the Lady Vikings have been exceptional this year.
“This team, we bounce back really fast,” Bussard said. “After our first loss, that one was a little tough for us, but we knew going into it Bremen was a good team.”
The Bremen loss was followed by five straight victories, and back-to-back defeats were followed by a string of seven wins.
“We’re all competitors,” Bussard said. “None of us like to lose. I take losing probably the hardest out of anybody on the team.”
The Lady Vikings were 15-6 in the regular season, including a 7-2 mark in the TRC.
With the regular season in the rear view now, Bussard is focused on the sectional.
“My mindset is to leave my mark,” Bussard said. “This is my last year, so I don’t have a lot of time left.”
Bussard isn’t only focused on herself. She’s focused on her team, which is out to prove it can win a sectional despite all the seniors lost from last year’s squad.
“We can still bring that winning mindset to the table, and we can still compete with these teams,” Bussard said. “We just wanna go out there and play our hardest, and play for each other, and whatever happens, happens.”
She did that and more, and for the second consecutive season is the Times-Union Area Player of the Year.
“Really, I’ve proven myself,” she said. “I definitely still felt a little pressure to deliver and show my improvements from last year, and I think I’ve done a great job of showing that.”
Those improvements included working on her pull-up jumpshot and three-point shot.
People have always known Bussard, a four-year starter and 5-foot-9 guard, could drive to the hole and draw the foul.
Yet, it was her tireless work in the gym that turned her into a multi-threat.
“I don’t think a lot of people would have looked at me as a three-point shooter, and now I definitely consider myself to have a three-point shooting game,” Bussard said.
In addition to improving her outside game, Bussard also stepped up in terms of leadership.
Bussard and Kennedie Brooks are the only seniors on Valley’s squad, and Bussard is the one with the most experience.
“I knew going into (this season) that this team was completely different than any team I’ve played with in the past three years,” Bussard said. “We start juniors, but in reality we’re just really a young team. We have a lot of inexperience.”
That meant Bussard piped up a bit more in games and in practice.
“I focus a lot on being a vocal leader,” she said. “I was excited going into this year, because I knew that leadership role is solely on me and my coaches have done a good job of putting me in positions to lead.”
Despite their inexperience, the Lady Vikings set their usual goals: a winning record, and a conference championship.
For Bussard, who committed to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., there was another challenge: being targeted by defenses.
Several teams have played a box-and-one defense this year, ensuring that one player was on her like glue at all times.
“I never really had that experience going up against that, but I think mentally it tests you because you have a girl that’s worried about not anybody else but you,” Bussard said.
“If you let it get to you, it can affect your game, but for me, I’m mentally strong and I’ve been able to overcome that.”
The added attention on Bussard has allowed her to get her teammates involved in scoring.
While her teammates are getting the ball, Bussard is still racking up points; she averaged nearly 22 points per game, to go with eight rebounds, and nearly four steals and three assists, while averaging 76 percent from the free throw line.
She also shot 44 percent from he field on her way becoming Valley’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,243 points.
Bussard credited some of her success to Valley’s coaching staff.
“My coaches have done a great job of helping me work around those types of things,” she said of the box-and-1s.
Despite losing their first game of the season to Bremen, the Lady Vikings have been exceptional this year.
“This team, we bounce back really fast,” Bussard said. “After our first loss, that one was a little tough for us, but we knew going into it Bremen was a good team.”
The Bremen loss was followed by five straight victories, and back-to-back defeats were followed by a string of seven wins.
“We’re all competitors,” Bussard said. “None of us like to lose. I take losing probably the hardest out of anybody on the team.”
The Lady Vikings were 15-6 in the regular season, including a 7-2 mark in the TRC.
With the regular season in the rear view now, Bussard is focused on the sectional.
“My mindset is to leave my mark,” Bussard said. “This is my last year, so I don’t have a lot of time left.”
Bussard isn’t only focused on herself. She’s focused on her team, which is out to prove it can win a sectional despite all the seniors lost from last year’s squad.
“We can still bring that winning mindset to the table, and we can still compete with these teams,” Bussard said. “We just wanna go out there and play our hardest, and play for each other, and whatever happens, happens.”
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