PHOENIX — Tamia Pietila had a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, Demetria Dosela added 18 and the Miami girls basketball team claimed the program’s first state title since 1987 with a 52-22 win over Arizona Lutheran on Saturday.

It is the 26th win in the last 27 games for the Vandals (30-2, 8-0 2A East), which did not lose a 2A conference game this season. Miami lost in the Open Copper Division last week to 3A Page, then in November to 4A Mesquite.

“It feels amazing. We’ve been dreaming of this since we were young girls. We’ve been playing together since we were very young, so it’s an amazing feeling,” Pietila said after the final buzzer sounded and Miami hoisted the championship trophy.

The standout sophomore hit 9 of 19 shots from the field, including two 3-pointers, and had three steals in the victory for the Vandals, which may be at the top of the 2A conference for at least a few more years.

“Back-to-back-to-back,” Pietila said about potentially making it a threepeat while she walks the halls in Miami, adding that last year’s 60-30 loss to Phoenix Country Day in the title game a year ago.

“We put in the extra hours, the extra work to get to here. We’re here, we got our revenge and we’re here,” Pietila said.

The Miami Vandals hold the 2A state championship banner after defeating Arizona Lutheran 52-22 on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Phoenix. It is Miami’s first title since 1987, when they were 3A. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365)

Coach Crystal Pietila said this win is such a “great feeling” at that her school has amazing fans.

“First, glory to God. Our girls have been working since they were little, 6, 7 years old. To have this win is a special feeling,” Pietila said.

Demetria Dosela, who was 7 of 20 from the field with 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, had four assists, two blocks and two steals, said last year’s title game loss was a tough pill to swallow.

“Losing last year, it made us more hungry … to put a banner on our wall,” Dosela said.

Arizona Lutheran could never really get anything going offensively due to a suffocating defense by Miami, which forced 26 turnovers and immediately took a 20-4 lead in the first quarter.

The Coyotes (24-6, 5-3 2A Valley) shot just 19% from the field (9-46) and was a dismal 1 for 14 from beyond the arc.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.