By COLE COSGROVE

Associate editor

The Decatur girls basketball team concluded its season Wednesday with a 62-47 loss to Capital in the consolation bracket of the West Central District tournament.

The Gators were two wins away from qualifying for the state tournament.

“They were good players and were aggressive,” Decatur junior Kamrica Ary-Turner said of Capital. “They pushed harder when we slacked. We couldn’t lay off ever. We slacked a couple times, and that’s when they pushed and got their lead.”

Capital’s Alissa Wright scored 28 points, including nine of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Decatur senior Jennifer Morrow led the team with 23 points.

The Gators went on a 6-0 run to start the second quarter and take a 17-15 lead. But Capital responded with seven straight points of its own, all from free throws.

Capital led 27-22 at halftime. Decatur cut the lead to 32-30 with an 8-0 run midway through the third quarter, but again Capital responded, this time with a 3-pointer from Wright. Decatur was never closer than four points the rest of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Decatur turned the ball over six times, twice missed the front end of one-and-one free throw attempts, and made only one of its final 10 field goal attempts.

“Their shots fell and we missed a few clutch shots at the end,” said Decatur junior Amanda Font, who finished with eight points. “It’s so sad the season is over. We’ve been together since November and our team is really close. It was a lot of fun.”

The Gators finished the season with a 15-10 record.

“I’m not going to remember the games, but I’ll remember each player and the bonds we had,” Morrow said. “We were always there for each other.”

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