No. 1 Miami holds court over No. 4 Pima

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Miami's Demetria Dosela and Pima's Sadie Richardson prepare to jump to start the game. Miami defeated Pima 61-43.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

MIAMI – In a possible playoff predecessor, No. 1 Miami utilized its version of 32 minutes of hell and a deft efficiency from beyond the arc to blaze past No. 4 Pima at home on Friday night, 61-43. 

Tamia Pietila opened the scoring and led all scorers with 21 points. She punctuated her performance with two 3-pointers in the fourth. 

The Vandals (10-0 conference, 21-1 overall) were also led by Demetria Dosela, who hit three 3’s on her way to a 17-point night, and Savannah Pietila, who did all her damage from beyond the arc in the first and second quarters to finish with 9 points. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Miami Vandals head coach Crystal Pietila draws up a play during a timeout.

Despite making seven turnovers in the first quarter, after a couple of plays down low by Adysen Hoopes, the Riders were only down 9-6 with 1:41 left in the opening stanza. 

But Miami closed out the quarter with Savannah stroking her second 3-pointer, and, after a long rebound, Tamia took the ball downcourt and found Aeriana Brown (6 points) for the easy layup to put Miami up 14-6 after one.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Eastern Arizona College Women’s head basketball coach Angelica de Paulo and assistant coach Christopher Corona were on hand for the game.

Miami held Pima to just 6 points in the first and second quarters. In the second quarter alone, Pima had 11 turnovers, many of which led to fast-break opportunities for the Vandals. The Riders finished the game with 25 turnovers, compared to 12 for Miami.  

Miami went on two 7-0 runs in the third quarter, as the Vandals hit 18 points in the quarter to go up 32-12 at the half.

Pima (8-2 conference, 17-5 overall) came back in the third quarter behind solid play from stalwart players like Sadie Richardson (12 points) and Hoopes, who hit for 12 of her team-high 19 points in the quarter – all in the paint. 

But the Vandals continued to rain down 3’s with Dosela getting her third and Leeyah Goss (6 points) her second, and Miami led comfortably heading into the final quarter, 47-30. 

The Riders continued to battle, but the game was not in question in the fourth as Tamia went off for 12 of her game-high 21 points in the quarter, including two 3’s, to secure the game for Miami, 61-43. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima head coach Roy Corona discusses strategy during a timeout.

Other scorers for Pima included Macy Allred with 4 points, Cheyenne Alder and Page Ashby with 2 points, and Hanna Ashby with 1 point.

Miami will be on the road for the next three games, starting with the St. Augustine Wolves on Tuesday, San Tan Charter on Friday, and a big matchup against the San Carlos Braves at San Carlos High School on Feb. 3. 

Pima 36 Arizona Lutheran Academy 37

Pima lost a close one to Arizona Lutheran Academy on Saturday in the second leg on the road.

The Riders and Coyotes played to a close outcome, but Arizona Lutheran held court, 37-36 over Pima. 

The Riders will next host the Lincoln Prep Lightning on Tuesday, Jan. 28, and then the San Carlos Braves on Friday, Jan. 31. Both games start at 5:30 p.m.