Teamwork and Toughness Lead Hocking Women’s Basketball to Record-Breaking Year

It was a season to remember for Hocking College’s Women’s Basketball team, closing the year with a program-best 20-9 record and a 12-2 finish in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play.

Head Coach Andrew Brown, named OCCAC Coach of the Year, said the success of this year’s team came down to one thing—chemistry.

“I think the biggest reason we were successful is the closeness and unity of the team,” Brown said. “Everyone recognized each other's strengths and allowed each other to be good at what they were good at.”

While the win column is the most obvious sign of progress, Brown said the team’s real growth happened behind the scenes, starting from the very first practice.

“Our biggest growth from day one was recognizing our identity and allowing our strengths to lead us to victory,” he explained. “We didn’t spend time worrying about the things we couldn’t control.”

That mindset paid off, leading the Hawks to the best season in program history, a milestone that means a lot to Brown and his players.

“Personally, I’m very proud of what this group accomplished,” Brown said. “They didn’t have an organized preseason and were without direction for the first month and a half of school. As for the program, I believe this can be a major building block toward having consistent winning seasons.”

The season was also highlighted by individual honors. Sophomore Trinity Bellard earned Second Team All-Conference recognition for her leadership and grit.

“Trinity brought great energy and toughness to our team,” Brown said. “She played through a lot of pain this season, and it was pretty remarkable she was able to finish the year.”

Emily Blevins was named the OCCAC Defensive Player of the Year, thanks to her relentless effort on the court.

“Her intelligence and willingness to really compete set her apart,” Brown said. “She’s a bulldog.”

While Brown is proud of the personal recognition he received as Coach of the Year, he was quick to redirect the spotlight back to his team.

“It’s a reflection of the success of our team and the sacrifices everyone made,” he said. “I’m thankful for it, but I would gladly trade it if it meant Lilly Weaver being named All-Conference. She deserved it and was overlooked in my opinion.”

One game in particular stood out to Brown as the turning point of the season, an early December home matchup against Owens Community College.

“We held them 35 points below their average,” Brown recalled. “That’s when I knew we were going to be really tough the rest of the season.”

Throughout the year, Brown emphasized three key values: teamwork, appreciation, and defense.

“We had very different personalities, but everyone respected each other and we were unselfish,” he said. “That’s what made this team special.”

Looking ahead to next season, Brown is focused on building on this year’s success without falling into the trap of comparisons.

“The way we build is to help everyone get the maximum out of their own ability and continue to grow a culture of respect and toughness,” he said. “I encourage our returning players to come back better than they were this year and to step up as sophomore leaders. For the new players, it’s about being willing to learn, being part of a team, and finding ways to make their individual talents fit into the bigger picture.”

With a look at the future, this season's accomplishments, including the highest win total in program history, the best conference record, and multiple conference honors, will serve as both a benchmark and an inspiration for what's to come. Go Hawks!