Jan 31, 2019 By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 8 min read

Isabella Mills stomachs the sight of blood as easily as she devours defenses in basketball. So it comes as no surprise the Peters Township senior is committed to Case-Western University to pursue a profession in medicine.

The 18-year-old daughter of Jeff and Kristen Mills became enamored with the health field when she took an anatomy class and participated in a mentoring program offered at the high school. Under the wing of Dr. Stephanie Brown, an OB/GYN physician at St. Clair Hospital, Mills witnessed the birth of babies, both regular delivery and C-Section. She also had the opportunity to view open-heart surgery.

“All the people had to step out but I didn’t have to,” she said of the operating room procedures. “Blood doesn’t bother me. If it did, then there would be an issue. But I love things relating to medicine and I love helping people.”

On the court, Mills certainly loves helping Peters Township win. The 5-foot-11 forward has the Indians poised for a second straight run for a berth in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game. With their 61-46 win against Bethel Park (15-2, 9-2) on Jan. 28, the Indians clinched the Section 2 title and ran their record to 16-0 overall.

Mills ranks No. 2 in scoring and rebounding on the team with averages of 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. Additionally, she averages a team-high 5.7 assists to go along with nearly two steals a game.

A two-time All-Section performer, Mills has improved upon last year’s averages of 12 points and three assists per game. She also managed eight boards a game as the Indians posted a 21-5 record that featured another section banner, the WPIAL championship appearance and a PIAA playoff berth.

“Isabella has been a key ingredient to our success,” said PT floor boss Bert Kendall. “She puts our team first,” he emphasized.

“Through hard work and determination, she has improved her basketball skills and developed into a complete player on both ends of the court. Isabella has always been a solid outside shooter, but has greatly improved her defense and rebounding.”

Mills did that the hard way. She practiced against her brother, Cameron, who at age 13 is already 5 feet, 9 inches tall. She has also battled her athletic father and uncle. Jess and Bob Mills where both standout athletes at Highlands High School. While Jess ended up playing tennis at the University of Pittsburgh, Bob excelled on the University of Maryland Baltimore County men’s basketball squad.

Noting she visits the Peters Township Recreation Center often to train, Mills said her brother guards her when she practices and her father rebounds for her. They also do drills together.

“Over the years, they have helped me improve,” she said. “I push myself and they do, too.”

Push to hoops

Her grandfather, however, pushed her into the game. A former coach, Glenn Mills owns the B&J Sporting Goods store in Natrona Heights.

“He got me started,” she said.

Mills, however, was torn between sports. Her father introduced her to tennis at age 3 and by fourth grade she was playing against and beating high school seniors. In fact, she actually played with current pro Alison Riske as both shared the same instructor, Lisa Dollard.

“When I was little I was really good at it and I loved tennis, but as I moved up, I hated it because I didn’t have friends. When it came to getting a partner, no one wanted to play with me.”

They did, however, play with her on the pitch. Mills and her current teammate Makenna Marisa, a Penn State recruit, participated in organized soccer through ninth grade while they continued to compete at a high level in the AAU basketball ranks. In fact, their Bruins team eventually reached the semifinals in national tournament competition.

“It got to be too hard to do both,” Mills explained. “It wasn’t easy to give up (soccer) because the sports complement each other. They help with speed and footwork. It was a good decision, though.”

Though difficult too, it was a good choice to give up tennis for basketball even though Mills admitted, “I was a better tennis player and I was not good (at basketball) when I started.”

Tim Drakely helped solve that problem. As her seventh-grade coach, Drakely moved Mills to her natural position.

“Actually going into it, I didn’t want to play at all because I thought basketball was a boys’ sport and when I was little I played the post and didn’t do too much,” she said. “When my coach saw I had the ‘potential’ to play on the perimeter, my love affair with basketball started. I found my spot.”

Studious love

As on the court these days, her spot is at the top when it comes to academics. Mills maintains a 5.15 grade-point-average and belongs to the National Honor Society as well as the Interact Club, which specializes in philanthropic endeavors. Those assets as well as her basketball skills endeared her to college recruiters such as the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, Loyola University Maryland, Stony Brook University in New York and Robert Morris University. However, Mills committed to Case Western Reserve University.

“Because I want to be a doctor,” she said of her decision to attend the top-ranked private research university in Ohio. “It is an amazing place and well-known for its medical school. It basically came down to the academics but I also wanted to still play basketball. When I met the team, I fell in love with the coaching staff and players. Plus, Cleveland is not too far outside of Pittsburgh,” she added.

Mills expects to make an impact at Case Western, which is 12-6 after an injury-riddled 4-20 season in 2018.

Meanwhile, Kendall acknowledged that Mills and Marisa are two of the best that he has had the luxury of coaching and that’s in part because of their unselfish attitude.

“She has embraced her leadership role,” he said. “Our motto every year is our team and she exemplifies that,” Kendall said. “She wants what’s right for the team. As long as we keep being a team, we can go farther and do even better than we have done before.”

Once she matriculates to Case Western, Kendall only predicts further success for Mills.

“Excelling academically and athletically as she has done is no easy feat,” Kendall said. “I am proud of her accomplishments and know that she is well equipped to handle the rigors of college basketball and the pre-med program at Case Western. She is going to be a success.”

Not without further work and not without further achievements first, says Mills. She says much remains to be accomplished. She noted that having won a section title after a 15-year drought has been “amazing” and getting the WPIAL championship game-and although not ending up winning-have been the highlights in her career so far.

“Everybody is making an impact,” Mills said. “If we keep working together, keep that motivation and keep pushing ourselves and not get complacent, then I think we will do something great this year.”

Isabella Mills

Age: 18

Birthdate: Nov. 22

Parents: Jeff and Kristen

Sibling: Cameron, 13

School: Peters Township

Year: Senior

GPA: 5.15

Sport: Basketball.

Achievements: All-Section, twice; AAU semifinalist, WPIAL finalist

Clubs: National Honor Society, Interact

College choice: Case-Western

Major: Biology

Career: Medicine

Color: Blue

Food: Pasta. “If I had to pick one kind though it would be ravioli.”

Restaurant: Pasta Too

Beverage: Chocolate Milk. “I don’t like soda. There are only three drinks for me: milk, water and lemonade.”

Book: Hunger Games, Maze Runner or The Divergent Series

Class: Biology or AP Calculus

Teacher: Deborah Kendrick. “She’s not just my chem teacher but she also helps with NHS so I see her a lot. I have learned so much from her. She’s always said helping each other, it will make you feel better. Doing those extra things really does.”

What life lesson has sports taught you: That if you work hard at whatever you are doing and push yourself to be the best, then you will see results.

People might be surprised to know this about you? “I’m a pet lover, particularly Golden Retrievers, but my family could never have a dog when I was little because I was allergic. Now we can’t have one because we are never home. It wouldn’t be fair to the dog.”

Does your birthday ever fall on Thanksgiving: “Actually, I was born on a Thanksgiving and my birthday has fallen on that date three times. It’s nice because my family is always in and it’s nice to celebrate with them. I’m picky about food so it’s always the basics…turkey and definitely cake.”

Have you ever had your hair cut: “When I was younger, I got it cut a lot and it was really short but in the summer I usually get five inches cut off. It grows really fast. But, I would never think to get it cut during the basketball season. It’s just so easy to tie it up in this long braid.”