Basketball Game Preview: Miami Vandals vs. Fountain Hills Falcons

Two dominant guards in Tamia Pietila and Seilah Smith are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Miami Vandals will head out on the road to challenge the Fountain Hills Falcons at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Miami will be looking to extend their current nine-game winning streak.

Miami saw some tournament action on Saturday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Casteel, sneaking past 81-78. That's two games straight that the Vandals have won by exactly three points.

Miami's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Pietila led the charge by dropping a double-double on 22 points and 11 assists. The game was Pietila's fourth in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Demetria Dosela, who dropped a double-double on 24 points and ten boards.

Meanwhile, you're bound to get a positive result if you outscore your opponent every quarter, and that's exactly how it played out for Fountain Hills back in December of 2024. They were the clear victor by a 45-19 margin over Highland Prep. The Falcons have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won eight contests by 22 points or more this season.

Fountain Hills' win came from a few key players Miami will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Smith, who posted 11 points along with eight rebounds and seven steals. That's the most boards she has posted since back in January of 2024. Saedee Smith was another key player, putting up 12 points and seven steals.

Fountain Hills pushed their record up to 9-4 with the win, which was their 12th straight at home dating back to last season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 53.4 points per game. As for Miami, their record is now 13-1.

Everything went Miami's way against Fountain Hills when the teams last played back in November of 2024, as Miami made off with a 62-37 victory. Does Miami have another victory up their sleeve, or will Fountain Hills turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.