The San Carlos Lady Braves and Miami Lady Vandals varsity basketball teams each made the top five in Division 2A rankings released last week by AZPreps365. At press time, the 13-2 Lady Braves were ranked No. 1 in the division by AZPreps, while 14-4 Miami was ranked No. 3. The Lady Vandals had held the No. 2 spot in initial rankings released Jan. 9 but were then overtaken by the 12-2 Pima Lady Roughriders. San Carlos and Miami also hit the MaxPreps.com top five, though they were ranked slightly lower at fourth and fifth.

The Lady Braves are unbeaten in Section 2A Valley at 4-0 and went at least 2-0 last week (the results of a Jan. 11 game against Gilbert Classical Academy had not been posted at press time) with wins over Leading Edge Academy-Gilbert (41-32) and Fort Thomas (56-40). Junior Ellysia Cutter leads the team in scoring with 21 points per game, while contributing 3.3 steals. Senior Jenessa Victor averages 12 points and 8.5 steals per game, and junior Zoie Ailak is a force inside, averaging 12 rebounds.

Miami was 5-1 in Section 2A Valley at press time and kept up the pace last week with victories over Arete Prep (48-23), Globe (106-19) and San Tan Charter (98-13). The Lady Vandals have been lifted by the all-around play of freshman Tamia Pietila, who averages 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 6.7 steals a game; by junior Demetria Dosela, averaging 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks; and by junior Savannah Pietila’s 12 points and 5.6 steals per game. In the three wins, Miami had three different top scorers: Savannah Pietila with 13 against Arete Prep, Tamia Pietila with 31 against Globe and junior Leeyah Goss with 22 against San Tan Charter (in that game, Dosela added 21, Tamia Pietila 19 and Savannah Pietila 18).

These two top-ranked teams have met once this season, in Miami on Jan. 2, when the Lady Braves came away with a 49-44 win. They will meet again Friday, Jan. 19, at San Carlos High School – perhaps with first place in 2A Valley on the line again. Before that rematch, though, on Jan. 16 San Carlos will take on the 2-12 San Tan Charter Roadrunners in a road game and Miami will host the 13-4 Leading Edge Academy-GEC Spartans.