Hortonville senior selected as top player in state

The basketball honors keep rolling in for Kamy Peppler.

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association named the Hortonville High School senior Miss Basketball, an award given to the state’s top girls’ basketball player.

“I was really surprised when I heard the news,” Peppler said March 12 after receiving the award at the WIAA State Girls’ Basketball Tournament at Resch Center in Green Bay. “It’s a great honor especially being among such a talented class.”

Other finalists for the award are Emily LaChapell of Appleton East, Jordan Meulemans of De Pere, Lily Krahn of Prairie du Chien and Mahra Wieman of Reedsburg.

Being named Ms. Basketball wasn’t on Peppler’s mind while leading the Polar Bears to a 24-2 record and a Fox Valley Association championship. She averaged 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game.

“My focus was on doing whatever my team needed me to do to be able to succeed,” the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit said.

She said she looked up to a few former Ms. Basketball winners, including Lexi Donarski of Aquinas, who now plays at Iowa State and was recently named the Big 12 Conference’s defensive player of the year.

“I was able to play against Lexi at AAU practices and learn from her,” Peppler said. “It’s an honor to be named Ms. Basketball, but I would not be in this position today without my teammates, my coaches, and my family and a huge thanks to them for helping me become the player I am today.”

Hortonville coach Celeste Ratka said she knew while watching how Peppler competed and practiced as a freshman that she would get everything out of her ability.

“I have never seen a player so determined and work so hard every single day,” Ratka said. “She practices like she is trying to make the team and that never changed as she experienced different levels of success. No one has prepared harder than Kamy Peppler.”

Peppler spent four seasons on Ratka’s varsity teams.

“She is a special kind of superstar that empowers others and shows them the greatness that they have inside of them,” she said. “It’s obvious that she has talent on the court, but what makes her elite is how she treats others. She has a humility that makes her down to earth and approachable to all of her teammates.”

Peppler finished her career with more than 1,200 points, nearly 500 assists and over 300 steals. The Polar Bears posted an 85-20 record and made two state tournament appearances.