Growing pains, growing promise

The Miami High School Lady Vandals varsity basketball team knew Wednesday night’s matchup against Alchesay was going to be a challenge, and while the final score didn’t fall in their favor, there were still plenty of moments that showed this young group is heading in the right direction.

Just one year ago, Miami rolled past Alchesay 80-35. This season, the Lady Vandals look very different, graduating four of their five starters and relying on a roster filled with youth. With three freshmen and three sophomores, Miami is learning on the fly, gaining valuable experience with every game.

Alchesay’s scrappy defense and quick pace set the tone early. The Lady Falcons capitalized on fast-break opportunities, jumping out to a 21-11 lead after the first quarter. Miami settled in during the second quarter, battling on the boards and attacking the lane, but still trailed 35-24 at halftime.

The Lady Vandals showed real fight coming out of the break. A third-quarter run gave the home crowd something to cheer about as Tamia Pietila knocked down back-to-back three-pointers. Miami also came up with several big rebounds and strong finishes inside, trimming the deficit and cutting Alchesay’s momentum. After three quarters, the score stood at 47-39.

In the fourth quarter, Miami continued to compete. Adisynne Davis pulled down a big rebound and converted a tough put-back, showing grit in the paint. Despite the effort, Alchesay’s depth and quickness proved difficult to contain down the stretch, as the Lady Falcons pulled away for a 69-49 win.

Individually, there were bright spots all over the stat sheet. Pietila recorded a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds, marking her sixth straight game with at least 15 points. She’s averaging an impressive 30 points per game through the first three contests. Olivia Chacon just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Tessa Roberts chipped in eight rebounds and four points.

This season may bring its share of growing pains, but the Lady Vandals are building something important — confidence, chemistry, and resilience. With effort like this and experience gained each game, this young Miami squad is laying the foundation for the future.