TJ girls top Decatur

Jefferson senior guard Michelle Morse eclipsed the 1,000-point total in her high school career in a 61-54 win over Decatur Friday at Jefferson.

“It feels good,” Morse said of reaching the 1,000-point plateau.

Morse scored 28 points, including the final eight points of the game for Jefferson.

Morse had 995 career points coming into the game. She now has 1,023 points — a school record that she keeps building on with every game.

“That is an incredible accomplishment,” said Jefferson coach Mike Grady. “That’s an impressive total. When Michelle goes off, she’s unstoppable.”

Jefferson built an early 15-7 and was up 34-21 at halftime. But the Gators wouldn’t go away.

With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Decatur senior Dekeidra Brewer hit a free throw to cut Jefferson’s lead to 49-40. After Jefferson missed a jump shot, Decatur’s Kamrica Ary-Turner made a basket to get the Gators within seven points. Jefferson missed a 3-pointer, and Decatur senior Cristina Null got the ball inside for two more points. With 4:35 left in the game, Jefferson’s once seemingly insurmountable lead was now only 49-44.

“We couldn’t stop them from getting it down in the key,” Clark said. “But we picked that up and we started running and it opened things up for us.”

“They’re a great team,” Morse said. “Our cross-town games are always close. We started shooting jump shots and they weren’t falling.”

Jefferson picked up the defensive intensity and pressured the Gators into two turnovers, which were converted into four Jefferson points as the Raiders re-built their lead.

“I’m proud of them,” Decatur coach Mike Grady said. “Records don’t mean a thing in cross-town games. They did a good job.”

Jefferson senior Jessiye Clark finished with 12 points, including two 3-pointers. In addition to her 28 points, Morse had five steals and seven rebounds.

Brewer scored 11 points and grabbed five steals and six rebounds for Decatur. Null had 10 points and four rebounds.

Decatur’s Nicole Collins hit two 3-pointers and made four steals.

Jefferson improved to 4-2 in the SPSL, 8-2 overall. Decatur is 2-4 in the SPSL, 4-6 overall. Federal Way is 2-4 in the SPSL, 4-6 overall.

“We felt this was a pivotal game,” Grady said. “We’re in good shape. We want to be in striking distance of the top team, and right now that’s Rogers.”

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