By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE — East St. John scored its third straight victory Tuesday night, besting District 7-5A foe H.L. Bourgeois on the road, 63-27.

Kennisha Brooks scored 18 points to lead all scorers. Da’Rae Taylor added 13, while Meah Monroe and Kariontae Victor scored 11 and eight, respectively.

ESJ jumped out to a 14-4 first quarter lead and kept extending the lead from there, allowing just seven first half points.

Destiny Shelby led the Braves (3-15, 1-4) with 15 points.

“We forced a lot of turnovers,” East St. John coach Jackson Manuel said. “Twenty seven in the game. They didn’t handle our pressure well, and when we do that, it’s awfully hard for anyone to beat us.”

Taylor added nine assists and six steals to her point total, adding another strong all-around performance in what’s been a season of them for the senior point guard.

Another strength for the Wildcats (11-5, 4-1)  this season has been the strong play of the frontcourt, led by Brooks. Monroe, a 5’9” freshman, and Brianna Thompson, a 6’2” sophomore, have each brought great size and energy this season.

“(Thompson) really seems to be coming into her own,” Manuel said. “She still fouls a little too much. Because of her height, she tries to block a lot of shots, and sometimes that’s to her detriment. But she’s going to improve on that. We have really high hopes for her. She’s got the body build and ability to be a very good defensive player.”

Monroe, meanwhile, has brought some nice production to the table of late at both ends of the court.

“She’s coming on like gangbusters,” Manuel said. “She’s a very tough defender and she does a good job offensively around the basket. She’s been a big-time plus for us.”