With 24 seconds remaining in a tie game, Wilson junior Isis Dojan stepped to the free throw line.
On her first free throws of the game, Dojan calmly made both, giving the Bulldogs a two-point lead. She returned to the line just seconds later, hitting another free throw to extend Wilson’s lead to three with seven seconds to play.
“I just needed to take my time on the foul line and put the shots up lightly,” Dojan said. “I was just trying to calm down and take a couple extra dribbles and get myself set up for the shots.”
The trio of free throws proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs hung on for a 48-45 win over Gov. Mifflin on Monday night in a Berks Girls Basketball League Division I matchup at Shillington.
“I knew she was going to make those,” Wilson coach Chris Gallo said of Dojan. “I was happy for her.”
The two teams were tied 43-43 with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs took a two-point lead with under four minutes to play before Bulldogs senior Keira Levengood tied it at 45-45 with less than three minutes remaining.
Levengood’s 2-pointer was the last made field goal of the game, as both sides played tight defense. Wilson made four trips to the line in the game’s final minute, going 3-for-5, including Dojan’s free throws.
Gov. Mifflin (6-2, 11-6) scored just two points in the final four minutes of play and none in the final three minutes. Despite several opportunities in the closing minutes, the Mustangs were unable to tie it or take the lead.
The Bulldogs (6-2 Berks I, 11-4) trailed 40-35 after three quarters, but began the fourth with an 8-0 run. Wilson outscored Gov. Mifflin 13-5 over the final eight minutes.
“We were contesting all night, (but) you got to go get the rebounds,” Gallo said. “You got to get all the loose balls, and I thought we did a much better job of that in the fourth quarter.”
Dojan led the Bulldogs with five points in the fourth quarter. She finished with a team-high 13.
“She went after the ball tonight,” Gallo said. “She did great.”
Gov. Mifflin led 22-18 at halftime. Mustangs senior Elisa Fiore had 10 points in the first half on her way to a game-high 15.
The win moves the Bulldogs into a tie for second in Berks I with the Mustangs, behind Berks Catholic (7-0).
The victory is Wilson’s first over Gov. Mifflin since Jan. 6, 2020. The Mustangs had won their last five games against the Bulldogs, including a 54-46 win in December.
“They’re our rivals, so this was a really important game for us,” Dojan said. “We were very excited to win this game.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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