Turner Havard enjoyed a career game Friday night against OakForest Academy of Amite, La. The Brookhaven Academy senior postplayer accounted for 29 points, 10 rebounds and four steals inleading the home-standing Cougars to a 71-56 thumping of the YellowJackets.

In the varsity girls game, Brookhaven Academy overcame asluggish first half to whip Oak Forest 64-35, led by guards AmySmith and Katie Newman with 15 and 14 points respectively.

The Cougars (9-4, 2-0) steadily pulled awayfrom Oak Forest after leading 42-33 at halftime in a fast-tempocontest. Havard, an agile 6-5 center, made 12 of 19 field goalattempts and 4 of 6 free throws in realizing his total. He scored17 second-half points.

Brookhaven Academy head coach Dale Watts said Havard has astrong work ethic. “Turner is one of the hardest working players wehave. He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid, too.

“He sprained his ankle Thursday in practice and we had to ice itdown,” Watts noted. “He was ready to play.”

The Cougars got 14 points and 4 assists from senior point guardJake Sessums. Senior center Paul Coker chipped in 12 points and 11rebounds.

Oak Forest (1-10) got a strong 24 points from 5-9 guard DaneMitchell. The Jackets hustled and refused to wilt, often beatingBrookhaven down the floor.

Watts saw room for improvement. “We scored 71 but we gave up 56.We had a lot of mental lapses on defense. We didn’t get back andcover (Jackets).”

The Lady Cougars (16-1) held a shaky 27-21halftime lead in the varsity girls game. Sparked by Smith’s 4third-quarter treys, they roared to a 51-29 lead entering the finalframe. Newman netted 8 of her points in the third.

BA girls coach Barry Gray said his girls are showing signs offatigue. “We have the holiday blues. We didn’t do the fundamentalthings right. After halftime we played a lot better.”

The Lady Cougars committed 18 turnovers and collected 31rebounds. They were led on the backboards by Lindsay Altman with 6rebounds. Lindsey Phillips, Anna K. Gatlin and Ancy Myers each head5 rebounds.

Phillips dished out 8 assists. Smith made 5 steals. Gatlin had 4assists and 4 steals.

Oak Forest (3-12) got a game-high 18 points from guard BrennanFitzgerald. She also had 5 rebounds.

Junior High Results

Brookhaven Academy swept the preliminary junior highgames as the boys won 52-35 and the girls rolled 44-6.

The Cougars got 10 points from Jonathan Winborne. AlexDavis and Cole Hodges each had 9 points.

Sutton Travis led Oak Forest with 17points.

The Lady Cougars (11-0) were led by Lauren Smith’s 11points. Kelli Byrd, Amber Beeson and Allison Puckett scored 6apiece.

GIRLS

Brookhaven Academy 64, Oak Forest (La.) 35

Oak Forest (35) Brenna Fitzgerald 18, Kennedy 9, Lopinto4, Oliver 3, Hamel 1.

Brookhaven (64) Amy Smith 15, Newman 14, A.K. Gatlin 9,Phillips 8, A.L. Gatlin 4, Myers 1.

Total fouls: Oak Forest 15. Brookhaven 16. Fouledout-Himel.

Free Throws M-A: Oak Forest 9-14. Brookhaven10-15.

3-point goals: Smith 5, Newman, Kennedy,Oliver.

Oak Forest Acad. 12 9 8 6 – 35

Brookhaven Acad. 13 14 24 13 – 64

BOYS

Brookhaven Academy 71, Oak Forest (La.) 56

Oak Forest (56) Dane Mitchell 24, Chapman 2, Fitz 4,McDaniel 2, Mabus 9, Lofton 9, King 6.

Brookhaven (71) Turner Havard 29, Sessums 14, Coker 12,Davis 2, Moreton 3, Co. Smith 1, Cr. Smith 5, Latham5.

Total fouls: Oak Forest 15. Brookhaven 12. Fouledout-none.

Free Throws M-A: Oak Forest 5-8. Brookhaven8-13.

3-point goals: Mitchell 2, Sessums 2, Lofton, Cr. Smith,Moreton, Latham.

Oak Forest Acad. 14 19 12 11 -56

Brookhaven Acad. 23 19 21 18 -71