CLAREMONT, NC — Going through life may, at times, be a challenge, but if a person should find at least one close friend it can make it all worthwhile.
Meeting that individual happens in different ways whether it’s through school activities or clubs, social outings and even sports.
In Bunker Hill High graduates Faith Isenhour and Olivia Ellis’ case, it was the latter.
Sports had always been a foundation for the pair beginning as young kids. Ellis and Isenhour competed in different athletics growing up, but the sport that spoke to them the most was basketball.
Although they took their final bow as student-athletes at Bunker Hill following graduation day on May 27, 2022, there is time to reflect on the love that brought them together.
The pairing’s journey originated in different ways, but they would ultimately cross paths for better and for worse.
Isenhour started playing basketball when she was just 4-years old. However, it was not a calling at first as she also competed in optimist and travel softball throughout elementary and even middle school.
She was a 3-time state champion in softball, and she also dabbled in volleyball during her middle school years, but she said that she always loved basketball.
Her desire, in addition to her parents’ encouragement, led Isenhour to take the sport more seriously as she got older.
“My mom played basketball at Bunker Hill [High School] and scored 1,000 points when she attended,” she said. “I always wanted to beat that, however due to COVID-19, I was cut short of games that made me fall just short of that 1,000 point goal.”
As for Ellis, she began playing basketball when she was just 3-years-old, and has been in love with the sport since she first picked up a ball.
“I’ve always been in love with the game,” she said. “From a super young age, it always interested me. As I reached late elementary school/early middle school, the idea of playing in college, at some level, became something I strived for. Of course I loved to watch basketball and still do, but my love ran deeper than just watching live basketball. I would watch “NBA Hardwood Classics” that came on during the off season and at 3 a.m. when everyone else was asleep. I loved watching the difference in competition, and just watching basketball in general.”
Although she’s always been infatuated with the game, she said that this dream was made possible through her family’s support.
“Each of my grandparents travel long distances to watch me compete,” said Ellis. “My mom and dad have never failed to encourage and support my dreams. My dad has been my personal trainer since I was born, and the one who created my shot and inspired my love for the game. For all of them, I am beyond thankful. There is no way I would be where I am without their constant support and love.”
In addition to basketball, Ellis has also competed in other sports over the years including track and field. She qualified for states in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A Regionals with a first-place finish in the pole vault event on May 13. She followed that up with a third-place outing in the 2A State Championships on May 20.
“Being a multisport athlete taught me how to manage my time and also allowed me to create many different and diverse friendships,” she said. “I prefer playing basketball, but I enjoy competing any way possible.”
One of those ‘different’ friendships in particular include Isenhour. This is because this bond began in the most unexpected way with that being as enemies on the court.
The pair found each other competing against one another in youth basketball and travel ball circuits.
“Faith and I met at a very young age playing on opposing basketball teams at Bunker Hill Optimist. Faith and I were never good friends until middle school. We weren’t each other’s favorite people, if you know what I mean,” said Ellis of their relationship. “After a year of playing middle school basketball together, we began to grow closer together. A year later, we became best friends. We always played basketball together, [at] school and AAU. We would hang out at tournaments, ride home from practices and games with each other, and of course hang out outside of basketball.”
Isenhour shared similar sentiments for Ellis as she said their bond became closer in middle school and even more so in high school.
“We have spent countless hours in the gym together. Every day of basketball season we were together either practicing or playing,” she said. “Olivia and I also spent time together outside of basketball where we often liked to go eat sushi together, tan in the summer, and run around the hotels during travel ball season. I consider her as one of my best friends.”
Their time on the court officially ended on Feb. 22, in a road state playoff match-up against North Surry in a losing effort, 61-42. Their season did not pan out the way they had hoped as the Lady Bears finished 10-15 overall and 7-4 in the Western Foothills 3A Conference (third place in the standings).
Whether it was during their time at Bunker Hill or in travel ball circuits like Team Hickory Basketball Club the past few years, Ellis and Isenhour stuck to just having fun no matter what as ‘baller besties.’
Over the course of that time spent together on the court, Isenhour developed into a well-rounded forward who was a 3-time all-conference selection, as well as a 2021-22 North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association All-District 10 third team player. She obtained a season mark of 17.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest.
As for Ellis, she garnered 15.3 points and 2.1 steals per game. She also led the team in 3-point and free-throw percentage as she shot 41 percent from beyond the arc and 81 percent from the foul line. Her strong play from outside aided in her efforts to become a 2-time all-conference starter for the Lady Bears after beginning her career off of the bench.
Due to their prowess, both Isenhour and Ellis were also deemed All-Catawba County players following the 2021-22 season (with Ellis being a 3rd team selection and Isenhour a 1st team selection). Isenhour was also selected as a member of the annual Dick’s Sporting Goods Holiday Classic all-tournament team in Dec. 2021.
In terms of a professional player for whom they pattern their game after in some way, Isenhour said it would be National Basketball Association (NBA) power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks because of his versatility.
“As a junior, I was awarded the [team’s] “Most Versatile” player award,” she said. “My role this senior season was to handle the ball, score inside the paint, block shots, rebound, etc. I had roles all around on each end of the court.”
Ellis said that for her it would be shooting guard Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors.
“I am a shooter just as Klay is,” she said. “He can drive the ball and dish it, but shooting the 3-ball is definitely our number one [objective].”
Ellis and Isenhour took those elements and left it all out on the court night in and night out even though they knew the 2021-22 season would be their final one together.
“This last season Olivia and I both had major roles on our team,” said Isenhour. “We had to really learn to work together and play hard this senior season because our team was extremely different from what we were used to. We had to learn to just enjoy it and not take it too seriously. Olivia and I both had great seasons and we enjoyed sharing the special senior moments together.”
Isenhour also talked about a funny story that she shared with Ellis during their time at Bunker Hill:
“Olivia and I are always laughing when we are together. There is always something one of us is going to crack a joke about,” she said. “Something I will always remember that is embarrassing and funny at the same time is on a game day.
“Sophomore year, Olivia and I were coming back from lunch. We were wearing our team sweats on this day because we had an away game. I started chasing Olivia down the hall and she ran into the bathroom where she slipped and fell. We were both laughing uncontrollably, and Olivia peed in her pants, all down her basketball sweats. We had to dry her pants under the bathroom hand dryer.”
Ellis also discussed what it was like to play with Isenhour these past few years knowing the run was over:
“Our final season definitely didn’t end the way we dreamed of, but we had each other. We learned to have fun in every moment; while still working hard,” she said. “We took extra time to get shots up together and have pregame sushi meals. We spent more time enjoying our last moments rather than getting caught up in a loss.
“Faith and I have many fond memories on and off of the court, but the best memories were easily just playing the sport I love most, with one of my best friends. Small memories like pregame meals or the talks we had while we stretched, are memories that will last a lifetime. Faith and I knew how to hype each other up, even when things weren’t going the way we expected. The thing I’ll miss most is seeing the number 23 and 14 on the court together.”
The duo spent time off of the court developing their friendship, but they also had the assistance of outgoing head coach Lee Swanson on the court the last three seasons. He took over the position prior to the 2019-20 season following the retirement of longtime coach Randy Joines.
Swanson led the Lady Bears to a 43-26 record during his tenure with conference finishes resulting in a second place mark at 11-3, a first place standing during the shortened 2020-21 season at 10-0, as well as a third place finish in his final season at the helm with a 7-4 record.
Swanson’s teams made the 2A state playoffs all three seasons. He resigned from his post on April 1, but he still managed to leave a lasting impact on his players including Isenhour and Ellis.
“I am so thankful that Coach Swanson stepped into my basketball career at Bunker Hill,” said Isenhour. “He believed in me from the start. Coach Swanson and I had a rough relationship at first, we did not always get along the best. However, both of us grew as a person, player, and coach and we learned to look past our differences and mistakes.”
In addition to Swanson, Isenshour talked about the importance of two other coaches in her life:
“My junior year, I was lucky enough to get my middle school coach, Kewun McDaniel, on our Bunker Hill basketball team as an assistant coach,” she said. “He, as well, always believed in me and helped me work through the ups and downs. Kewun was always rooting for me and encouraging me to keep playing hard. Since I was a sophomore at Bunker Hill, I have started every varsity women’s basketball game, which is a great accomplishment for me.
“After my rough freshman year, I was fortunate enough to begin playing on Team Hickory with Coach Jovan Hoover. Jovan had a huge impact on getting my basketball career back on track. He never once gave up on me no matter how frustrated we both would get. I will always hold a special place in my heart for Coach Jovan. He is truly one of a kind. I would consider him as family, and I know that I can always count on him if I ever need anything.”
One of Isenhour’s improvements during that run as a Lady Bear was keeping her attitude in check and her coaches helped do that.
She said that most coaches including Swanson tell players to move on to the next play when a prior outcome isn’t favorable. She said she believed this to be true, and that she learned how to calm herself down and not dwell on the mistakes made.
In terms of Ellis, she said she felt that has grown tremendously as a player and individual.
“Coach Swanson taught me a lot, but one thing that Faith and I really zoomed in on was him telling us to enjoy our senior season,” she said. “No matter the wins or the losses, because we would never get this time back, and I’ve never heard anything so true.”
Ellis said that she became extremely self-motivated and dedicated to accomplishing her goals, and she said that every game held a memory for different reasons.
One memory in particular that stood out for Ellis was the 2020-21 season in which the team finished as Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference champs.
She said she enjoyed that season because of their state playoff run as it made a push to the third round before losing to West Stokes, 67-61, on Feb. 27, 2021. The core of the Lady Bears included Ellis, Isenhour, along with graduates Addie Wray, Cami Bryant, DaLesha Linebarger, in addition to then-freshman center Damireona Burch.
“Being conference and sectional champions was extraordinary; there will never be anything else like the feeling of a packed gym, with bright lights shining on the hardwood floors, and a win for the Bears,” said Ellis.
With their high school careers in the rearview, Ellis and Isenhour are set to embrace the road ahead and take on the next chapter.
Ellis’ path was set in motion on May 12 as she signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her basketball career at the University of South Carolina-Aiken (USC-Aiken).
Before making her final decision, Ellis said she also received offers from Erskine College, Montreat College, Columbia International University and Averett University.
She plans to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering and hopes to transition into sports engineering.
“I plan to create athletic equipment specialized to aid children and adults with special needs,” she said. “This equipment will allow these individuals to participate in sporting events; such as throwing a ball, kicking a ball, shooting a ball, any type of physical activities that they have dreamed of but haven’t been able to do.
“Athletically, I hope to make a lasting impact on young athletes, the same way I did in high school. I hope to become a better all-around basketball player and make millions of memories throughout my 4-year journey.”
Whereas, Isenhour suited up for the last time during the 2021-22 season, putting a bow to her career on the hardwood.
“I am so blessed that God gifted me the athleticism and talent to compete in basketball at a great level. I hope the following girls look up to me as a player and a person,” she said. “Also, playing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was crazy. I could have accomplished more goals if COVID would have not cut my junior season short. However, playing through the pandemic will definitely be something I will never forget.
“I have had well over 10 colleges reach out to me personally, and I am so thankful for each and every one of them for putting their time into me and wanting me to be a part of their teams. However, I have decided to go to college just to focus on my career. I always wanted to be able to do more of [the] things I enjoyed outside of sports and school, and now I am able to do those things. Don’t get me wrong, I miss basketball so much, and I will forever love it more than anything.”
Isenhour said that she plans on beginning the path to her career, getting married and ultimately starting a family. She said that she also hopes to get her future children into sports and teach them to be just as great of a player as she was.
