Isis Dojan has become the center of attention at Wilson

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

There aren’t many players like Isis Dojan these days. Even the 6-footers often want to be guards.

Dojan is willing to camp out on the low block, take the punishment from defenders and wait for the entry pass. It’s hard work. It can be painful work.

“I get black and blue marks on my arms sometimes,” Dojan said. “I play with my heart. So when people are being aggressive to me I try to be aggressive back.”

Wilson has made Dojan its centerpiece. Girls basketball coach Chris Gallo recognized he has a rare commodity, a capable 6-2 center, and wants to take advantage.

Instead of chucking up quick 3-pointers or breaking down defenders off the dribble, Wilson usually tries to feed the ball inside. What was once commonplace is now an old-school strategy.

Dojan has worked hard on her inside game at the behest of her coaches.

“The one thing she has is she’s really athletic,” Gallo said. “She actually has a really nice 15-footer. I’m not letting her settle for that.

“She thinks I’m not letting her shoot it. That’s not the case. I want her to develop that post game and then when she comes up to the elbow be ready to shoot the shot.”

Dojan has rare versatility for her size. She can score on a fast break. She can defend smaller players. She has a nice touch. That’s why she shoots 72.4% at the foul line.

If she can add a polished post game, she can become a special player. A Division I player.

Dojan is aiming for that goal. The junior is averaging 12.8 points, which ranks eighth in the league. She has scored at least eight points in every game. 

Warwick dedicated much of its defensive attention to Dojan when the teams met in a holiday tournament at Lititz last week. The Warriors held the center to a hard-fought 10 points.

“Isis was going to score,” said Warwick coach Danny Cieniewicz, a center himself when he played at Schuylkill Valley. “She’s a good player and they play well off her. She has the traditional post-up game but yet she can still score in transition and she can move well. She’s tough to defend because she can beat you multiple ways.”

Dojan started playing basketball in third grade and it has become a year-round pursuit. She said she has played AAU the past five summers, most recently with East Coast Prep in Easton.

The junior dropped soccer and turned her attention to her best sport.

“I got really into basketball,” Dojan said. “I just kind of stuck with it and figured out I was pretty good. So I focused on it.”

Wilson (4-2) has won three in a row since a loss to Gov. Mifflin on Dec. 16. The Bulldogs have Exeter, Muhlenberg and Boyertown on the schedule this week. They have a chance to string together a few more wins before facing defending champ Berks Catholic on Jan. 10.

This is an experienced team with four seniors around Dojan. Keira Levengood, a 5-10 forward who averages 10 points, and Gia Borelli are three-year starters.

Gallo said most opponents try to defend Wilson by putting pressure on the guards. They want to keep the ball away from the post. Playing inside-out can help create space on the perimeter. Amiyah Nguyen has made seven 3-pointers. Borelli, one of the league’s top outside shooters, has five 3s.

“It’s the buy-in,” Gallo said. “It’s the other girls understanding roles. If I’m a shooter, my best chance to get a shot is to get Isis going inside. Then they’re going to collapse on her and we have some stuff we do off of it.”

Gallo said he doesn’t like the 3-point centric style many teams play today. The good news is he has the personnel to play differently.

That’s partly because of Dojan, who has become a consistent threat.

“She’s had a really good past couple of weeks,” Gallo said. “It’s tough because as you can see, teams are going to double and triple down on her. But she’s getting there.”