Basketball Recap: Hammond's Luck Takes a Turn for the Worse on Monday

It was a good run, but Hammond unfortunately witnessed the end of their four-game winning streak on Monday. They might have been a little too into the holiday spirit, gifting the Denham Springs Yellowjackets an easy 68-48 victory. While losing is never fun, the Tornadoes can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Louisiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 100th, while the Yellowjackets are ranked 16th).

When it comes to explaining why Hammond lost, don't look at Justin Harland. Despite the final result, he went 7 of 11 on his way to 18 points. With that strong performance, Harland is now averaging an impressive 15.1 points per game. The team also got some help courtesy of Jordin Lewis, who went 6 of 13 on his way to 13 points.

Denham Springs' win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jermaine OConner, who went 7 for 14 on his way to 16 points and six rebounds. OConner is on a roll when it comes to points, as he's now scored 16 or more in the last three games he's played. DaJean Golmond was another key player, going 6 of 14 on his way to 14 points and five steals.

Hammond's loss dropped their record down to 7-2. As for Denham Springs, the victory keeps them at an undefeated 11-0.

Hammond wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next match, a 77-31 win against Kentwood on the 18th. As for Denham Springs, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 73-43 victory against Livonia on the 18th.