Basketball Hall of Fame

Paula Buscher was a three-sport star during her prep career at Peoria Richwoods High School, excelling in volleyball, basketball and softball.  A two-time all-conference performer in basketball, Buscher was captain of the 1981 Knights squad that finished second in the IHSA Class AA state tournament, and she also earned all-conference softball honors while earning the distinction of Richwoods Senior Athlete of the Year in 1981.  Buscher began her collegiate playing career at Illinois Central College, where she played both baskteball and softball for Hall of Fame coach Lorene Ramsey.  A member of ICC's 1982 NJCAA national championship softball team, Buscher also helped the Cougars women's basketball team to a pair of top-five NJCAA national tournament finishes in 1982 (fifth) and 1983 (third).  She was captain of the 1983 squad, earning all-tourney honors at both the Region IV and national tournaments.  Buscher continued her collegiate career at Missouri State University, where she also played both basketball and softball.  The basketball team's leader in assists during both her seasons at Missouri State, Buscher finished with 264 career assists.  She also led the Bears in steals (41) and free-throw percentage (.818) during the 1983-84 campaign.  A first-team All-Gateway Conference shortstop and a member of the NFCA All-Midwest Region second team in 1986, Buscher led the Bears wtih 25 RBI during her senior season on the diamond.  As a junior in 1984, Buscher led the Bears with 42 hits, eight doubles, six triples and three home runs.  She went on to become a college head coach at Bradley and SIU-Edwardsville.