PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – The buzzer sounds, and the crowd claps their hands as the Shawnee State Bears close out another strong performance. Teammates exchange high-fives, the student section is filled and the scoreboard reflects the program’s continued success.
But hours before tipoff, long before the lights and noise of game night, senior captain Myoshi Ellis is already awake.
Her day usually starts early. She grabs breakfast, heads to a workout with a few teammates, then returns home just long enough to shower and prepare for the next practice. After that, it’s class. Homework. Film. Practice. Dinner. More homework, then sleep, just to repeat it all again the next day.
“The mental load can be a lot,” Ellis said. “I try to stay organized so I don’t fall behind in classes. I also make sure I take time to relax and talk to my teammates. That really helps.”
From the outside, fans see the polished performances and team celebrations. What they don’t see are the quiet sacrifices. The missed social events, the long nights studying after practice and the constant pressure to perform publicly while still meeting academic expectations.
Ellis transferred to Shawnee State as a junior, stepping into a new environment and new system. Adjusting wasn’t just about basketball. It meant building trust, finding her place and eventually stepping into leadership.
“When I first came to Shawnee, I wanted to become the best I possibly could,” Ellis said. “By my senior year, I wanted to grow as a leader and teach the younger players who come into the program.”
For Ellis, wearing the Bears jersey represents something deeper than competition. “When I represent SSU, it feels like more than a team,” she said. “It feels like I’m playing for a family. I’m part of something bigger than just basketball.”
Senior Lauren Hawthorne understands that feeling. She also transferred. This time from a NCAA Division II school and had to navigate a new campus, new teammates and new expectations.
“When I first committed to SSU, I wanted to become someone people could trust,” Hawthorne said. “I wanted to play my best, help the team succeed and become part of SSU history.”
Adapting to a new environment while performing at a high level is not easy. There is pressure to fit in, pressure to prove that you belong.
Behind the scenes, practices are demanding. Conditioning drills push players’ limits. Film sessions force them to confront mistakes and learn from them. Every detail matters.
“A lot of people don’t get to see how hard we work every day,” Hawthorne said. “We run a lot, and there is a lot of thinking and learning involved. It’s not just about playing games.”
Assistant coach Marnae Holland sees that growth daily. “This year’s group feels different in the best way,” Holland said. “We’re returning a solid core that understands our culture, and the new players have brought great energy and depth.”
According to Holland, maturity and accountability separates this team from others. Success isn’t accidental; it is built through trust.
“These players genuinely enjoy playing together,” Holland explained. “That shows in how they communicate and compete every day.”
Still, resilience often grows in loss.
For Ellis, last season’s championship loss to Rio Grande remains one of the most difficult moments of her career. Walking off the court that night forced her to reflect, not just as a player, but as a leader.
“It taught me that not every game is going to go the way you planned it,” Ellis said. “Sometimes big losses can be good. It showed us what we needed to work on to be better the next year.”
Hawthorne’s role has evolved over time as well. As a senior, she’s had to hold teammates accountable in ways she once relied on others to do for her.
“My role has been to step up and be tougher on my teammates for the better of the team,” she said. “Leadership means holding yourself accountable and helping others do the same.”
As graduation approaches, both seniors are beginning to reflect on what this chapter has meant.
“I’ll miss the friendships the most,” Hawthorne said. “Game days, competing and succeeding with my friends, and just the social life of being part of such a great team.”
Ellis said the program has shaped her far beyond basketball.
“It has made me a resilient and hard-working person,” she said. “It made me realize that with hard work and discipline, you can get anything you work hard for.”
On game nights, the crowd sees confident athletes competing under bright lights. What they don’t see are the early mornings, the academic stress, the self-doubt or the courage it takes to start over in a new place and grow into a leader.
For the Shawnee State Bears, success isn’t just measured by the scoreboard. It is measured in resilience, trust and the quiet determination that happens long before the final buzzer sounds.
