Despite the 2nd day of the New Year, fireworks still exploded at Vargas Gymnasium on the campus of Miami High School. Region rivals Miami and San Carlos clashed and it was an instant classic. The gym was packed with a crowd of nearly 2000 people. The atmosphere was electric as fans cheered for their respective teams.
To start the game, Coach Crystal Pietila implemented pressure defense which forced Braves guards Caylee Longstreet and Jenessa Victor to struggle to find a rhythm. The Vandals back court of Tamia Pietila, Savannah Pietila, and Leeyah Goss were able to hit shots to build a double digit lead.
Braves Coach Alvin Antonio called a timeout to start the run and made some adjustments to settle his team down. The result was Longstreet catching fire by hitting a few three pointers to cut into the lead. Longstreet’s play ignited her teammates with backcourt mates Victor and Ellysia Cutter making big time plays to cut the lead close going into the half.
San Carlos’ post Kylee Juan, had a huge game with her inside presence. She proved to be the X-Factor with her defensive presence, and ability to rebound on the offensive end to get second and third chance points. The Vandals would try to shoot their way back in the game from long range but couldn’t convert, resulting in time expiring. The Braves would go on to slip past the Vandals 49-44. Here are some of the prospects who impressed:
Ellysia Cutter 2025 5’9 Wing San Carlos
Cutter is an exceptional wing prospect with the ability to score effectively from all three levels. Her length and athleticism make her an incredibly challenging player to guard, while also giving her an advantage defensively. As a crafty defender, Cutter possesses exceptional reaction time and consistently disrupts passing lanes. A good playmaker who can impact the game in clutch moments.
Demetria Dosela 2025 6’0 Wing Miami
Dosela is a fantastic wing prospect who can score from all three levels. Her most impressive quality that goes under the radar is her vision and passing ability. She knows how to find open teammates and surrender a good shot for a great shot attempt. Dosela was bouncing back from an injury so I anticipate her to be at full strength the next time she goes against the Braves.
Kylee Juan 2026 5’9 Post San Carlos
Juan battled from early on. She has a competitive spirit and did a fantastic job with her low post scoring ability and rebounding. Juan made a huge impact on the game by doing the little things her team needed to stay in the game. She would be a fantastic pickup for a small college needing a reliable post player.
Tamia Pietila 2027 5’7 Point Guard Miami
Pietila is only grazing the surface of her potential. The best part is she still has four more years of high school eligibility. Pietila is a downhill point guard who is athletic, can score at all three levels, and defends pretty well. Being mentored by Arizona Legend BJ Burries should help elevate her game. College coaches get involved early as she is drawing a number of interests from low major universities and colleges.
Jenessa Victor 2024 5’4 Guard San Carlos Victor is a spark plug as she plays with a high motor on both ends of the floor. An aggressive guard who makes critical plays, Victor does the little things on both ends of the floor to make sure her team is successful. I like her ability to lock up opponents defensively, and how she can facilitate on the offensive end.
