Photos: Paradise Honors takes out top-seeded Salpointe 56-54, state 4A semifinals
The Lancers went down early, fought back, but couldn't hold a fourth quarter lead in a see-saw loss to fourth seed Paradise Honors 56-54, March 3, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) helps up teammate Erin Even (24) as the Paradise Honors players celebrate their 56-54 upset of the top ranked Lancers in the 4A state semifinals, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Paradise Honors' Lizzy Guincho (22) claws the ball out of reach of Salpointe's Aliyah Adger (0) in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayci Nelson (2) attempts to reverse her way past Paradise Honors' Genesis Kanae (11) to the bucket during the first quarter in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) gets knocked around trying to get between Paradise Honors' Jocelyn Leal (24), left, and Lizzy Guincho (22) in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Erin Even (24) slams into the arms of Paradise Honors' Jaelyn Perez (1) on a third quarter drive in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) gets off a shot over the arms of the Paradise Honors defense early in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Kayla del Rio (11) tries to scoop her way around Paradise Honors' Jaelyn Perez (1) during the fourth quarter in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12), left, and Jayci Nelson (2) put the squeeze on Paradise Honors' Jaelyn Perez (1) in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Paradise Honors' Jaelyn Perez (1), left, and Paradise Aveda Soriano (10) try to box in Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) on her drive in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Paradise Honors' Hala Aoufe (32) blocks the shot from Salpointe's Erin Even (24) during the fourth quarter in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) gets whacked on the arm trying to lever up a shot from the lane in the dying seconds of the Lancers’ semifinal playoff game against Paradise Honors, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
The Salpointe student section can’t watch as the Lancers slip further behind in the last minute against Paradise Honors in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Paradise Honors' Star Nwabichie (15) draws a crowd of Salpointe players trying to snare an offensive rebound on a Panther free throw in the last seconds of their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Erin Even (24) gets grabbed by Paradise Honors' Hala Aoufe (32) trying to defend her drive into the lane during the first quarter in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Erin Even (24) loses the scramble for the loose ball to Paradise Honors' Hala Aoufe (32) in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) gets double-teamed by Paradise Honors' Aveda Soriano (10), top, and Hala Aoufe (32) in the fight for a loose ball in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Abuk Lual (3) picks up a foul swatting a shot from Paradise Honors' Hala Aoufe (32) in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Paradise Honors' Star Nwabichie (15) gets a hand on Salpointe's Erin Even (24) disrupting her shot during the first quarter in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Jayda Nelson (12) can’t quite disrupt the handoff from Paradise Honors' Hala Aoufe (32), left, and Jaelyn Perez (1) in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Katie Adams (20) fouls Paradise Honors' Star Nwabichie (15) on a short range shot in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's Katie Adams (20) and Jayda Nelson (12), left, react to Adams picking up a foul late in their 4A state semifinal game against Paradise Honors, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Paradise Honors' coach Nathan Jackson tries to get the team organized as the bench celebrates a Panther score in the final seconds of their 4A state semifinal upset of top-seeded Salpointe, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Salpointe's coach Joseph Luevano shares a pinky-shake with Jayci Nelson (2) during a Paradise Honors free throw during the first quarter in their 4A state semifinal, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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