Hope Brown, Bethlehem Press’s Female Athlete of the year from Bethlehem Catholic, was always part of a bigger picture, but her part in that picture was big as well.

Brown was the go-getter on the basketball court, offensively and defensively, a team captain for cross country, and a team player for track.

“She stayed active her senior year, even though she was going through a lot personally,” said Becahi track and field coach Fred Rice. “She was always part of something, and she always pushed herself to get better.”

Brown organized the cross country preseason team bonding event and ran to stay active until basketball season. Despite basketball being her main sport, she gave cross country her undivided attention and finished in the top 50-percent at the East Penn Conference Cross Country Championships this year.

Once basketball season was in full swing, so was Brown. She was a consistent double-digit scorer, and midseason, she scored her 1,000th point.

Brown was also a captain for the Hawks, one that Becahi coach Jose Medina says epitomized what their program is all about.

Brown, a forward, was tough on the court and resilient off the court.

“She just played with passion, energy, and maximum effort,” Medina said.

Brown was the communicator, often seen giving direction, calling for the ball, regrouping on the bench, and leading team prayer.

“She always spoke, and led prayer a lot,” said Medina. “She did that a lot. That was huge, especially for our younger kids to see.

“And when you think about tough, Hope set the tone, playing through bumps and bruises. She was relentless.”

Wherever the ball was, that’s where Brown was.

“I like to play every possession like that and be the first to the ball,” Brown said in an interview earlier this year.

When she scored her 1,000th point, it was during a home game against Liberty.

“I was so happy because she was going through a lot behind the scenes, and one thing I loved was that she never let it affect her on the floor,” Medina said.

When an offer from Holy Cross fell through, Medina and his staff joined forces to find a place where Brown could continue her basketball career.

“We called around, got the word out, and got her recruited to Army,” said Medina.

Brown is currently training as an Army recruit, and was unfortunately available for comment for this story.

“Hope is a great kid who’s been through a lot, but you go through things, and that will strengthen you,” Medina said.

Last year, Brown was an integral part of the Hawks’ state championship team. This year, the Hawks got to the state tournament again, not with a championship this time, but with an advancement to the second round of playoffs.

Throughout the season, Medina saw Brown become exactly what he was looking for from his players.

“It’s one thing to coach from the sideline, but part of that relationship, that trust, it’s ownership, and that helps in a game, whether it’s with adjustments or being quick to own up to it,” he said.