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Paradise Honors girls outlast Dysart

Panthers break tie with 13-3 run

Posted 1/28/22

Eventually, Paradise Honors girls basketball team used their superior depth and speed  to pull away from Dysart on the Demons' home court.

But the second time around was far more difficult …

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WEST VALLEY PREPS

Paradise Honors girls outlast Dysart

Panthers break tie with 13-3 run

Posted

Eventually, Paradise Honors girls basketball team used their superior depth and speed  to pull away from Dysart on the Demons' home court.

But the second time around was far more difficult than the Panthers' 71-47 romp at home Jan. 11. Paradise Honors (15-5 overall, 13-2 regular season) has a target on its back as the #7 ranked team in 4A.

And it's hard to think of another girls basketball team ranked in the 20s with a player the caliber of Dysart senior wing Talia Dial, who finished with 31 points and six rebounds in Thursday's 63-53 Paradise Honors.

"There's something about this gym that makes it tough to play in. I don't know if it's the backdrop or being so close to home but not at home. We struggle here sometimes. They're a really good team and really scrappy. And they've got a guard that can fill it up," Paradise Honors coach Nate Jackson said.

At two points in the game, Paradise Honors appeared poised to pull away, but both times Dysart (12-9, 8-6) regrouped and tied the score.

The Panthers led 26-15 midway through the second quarter, but Dysart ended the half on a 11-0 run to knot it at 26. Talia Dial had five of those points and her younger sister Torah, a sophomore, added a three-pointer.

Then Paradise Honors sophomore point Nakyah Williams took over, pouring in 15 of her team-high 29 points. She and freshman guard Morgan Van Dyke helped push the pace all night.

"They have this connection from playing the last two summers together.  They're really hard to stop when they're clicking. Matching that with our senior leadership, we really have a cohesive unit," Jackson said.

Paradise Honors' lead ballooned to 47-35 late in the third quarter. But the Demons came back again to tie it at 50 with less than four minutes remaining in the game.

Dial got some help in this stretch from freshman forward Brianna Brown (13 rebounds) and junior guard Geneva Holman scored all nine of her points in the second half along with seven rebounds.

"I'm super proud of what they did because when we went there it was kind of the same game early , we tried to fight back but we let it get away from us in the second quarter. That was our goal tonight, to stay in it. Paradise Honors is a great team and for us to keep up with them all four quarters was impressive," Dysart coach Dustin Borst said. "Brianna is coming off being sick. Paradise Honors was actually the first game she was sick. She added that length that we don't have. She helped in that zone with that length. Paradise knocked down a lot of shots in that first game."

Holman scored to tie it at 50. Paradise Honors set up a play for senior center Scarlet Eberlien (10 points), who hit a short post turnaround jumper.

Then Van Dyke made the play of the night, grabbing an offensive rebound and bouncing in a short jumper for 54-50. She guarded Dial most of the night and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

"Scarlet is our rock. She went out last year with a collarbone injury and didn't play the second half of the season. This has been redemption for her and she has led on the floor and off the floor," Jackson said. "Morgan coming on has been one of the biggest pieces. She's been able to fill the gap that the seniors that graduated left."

Paradise Honors has one big regular season showdown left, hosting Estrella Foothills Feb. 1 in a game that would lock up a Southwest Region title, and hang the program's first banner.

Meanwhile, Dysart is ranked #24 and fighting for the final spot in the 4A play-in tourney. Games Jan. 29 and Feb. 1 against #23 Buckeye and Feb. 5 against Estrella Foothilss should determine the Demons' fate.

"Tonight I think we finally proved that we can play with a top 10 team. Borst said. "Tonight was the third game in four days so what we came out with was impressive. We've really got to turn it on for Buckeye. They're not a slouch team."