It was a stellar 2023-24 season for Miami girls’ varsity basketball, with the 25-6 Lady Vandals taking second in Section 2A Valley and going all the way to the Division 2A title game. In the championship the second-seeded Miami team faced the #1 seed Phoenix Country Day Lady Eagles, who had bested another local team – the 2A Valley champion San Carlos Lady Braves – in the semifinals.

To reach the final, Miami had to get past the #3 Pima Lady Roughriders, who had beaten Miami 58-56 on December 29. The Lady Vandals avenged that loss decisively on Friday, blowing out Pima 56-30. Miami built a 20-5 advantage to end the first quarter and cruised on to the victory. Demetria Dosela, who reached 1,000 career points this year, led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Outstanding Lady Vandals freshman Tamia Pietila, who averaged just under 20 points a game this year, backed her up with 21 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

In Saturday’s championship game, Pietila scored the opening basket against Phoenix Country Day for a 2-0 Miami lead. The Lady Eagles answered with a 7-0 run. Though a Leeyah Goss layup would cut their lead to 7-4, Phoenix Country Day built it up to 19-4 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Eagles went on to claim the 2A championship with a 60-30 victory over Miami.

Dosela led the Lady Vandals again in the title game, with 13 points and six rebounds, while Pietila recorded nine points and seven boards. Both will return next season for head coach Crystal Pietila, along with fellow starters Leeyah Goss and Savannah Pietila, and reserves Areiana Brown and Drianna Dosela, as the Lady Vandals look for another strong season.