South Decatur opened the girls’ basketball season hosting Milan Tuesday. The Lady Cougars scored 34 points in the middle quarters, more than Milan scored in the game, en route to a 53-33 victory.
A jumper by South’s Dalilah Martin off the Taylor Somers assist got the Lady Cougars on the board for the 2025-26 season. A rebound bucket by Somers made it 4-0. Milan’s first bucket came on a drive by Emma Voss.
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A Martin 3-pointer later in the quarter extended South’s lead to 11-7. Milan’s Caroline McMillan scored in the lane to make it a two-point game. South’s Lilly Murray found Martin on the break for the easy bucket to close out the first quarter with South on top 13-9.
South scored the first seven points of the second quarter. Two free throws by Riley Benge was followed by a bucket by Somers and 3-pointer from Raegan Benge. A Voss drive to the bucket for Milan stopped the run and cut the deficit to 20-11.
Martin found herself wide open at the top of the key on the next trip down the court and she buried a 3-pointer to push the lead to 12 points. After Milan cut the deficit to nine points, Murray connected on a 3-pointer to put South up 28-14.
Milan closed the half on a 6-2 run. Four points from Voss and two from Mariah Carroll cut the deficit to 30-20 at the half.
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After the break, the Lady Cougars outscored Milan 17-6 in the third quarter. Riley Benge and Raegan Benge both scored six points in the frame to lead the Lady Cougars. Somers and Martin added a bucket, and Sophia Wittkamper hit a free throw as the Lady Cougars stretched the lead to 47-26 heading to the fourth quarter.
Milan outscored South 7-6 in the final quarter. Ellie Rullman and Voss both hit 3-pointers and McKenna Eaglin added a free throw for the Lady Indians. South countered with buckets from Lyndsey Shireman and Martin and two free throws by Somers as South closed out the 20-point win.
For South, Martin led four Lady Cougars in double figures with 16 points. Raegen Benge scored 11 points. Riley Benge and Somers both scored 10 points. Murray scored three points followed by Shireman two and Wittkamper one.
On the glass, Raegan Benge added eight rebounds followed by Somers seven, Martin six and Riley Benge six.
Murray dished out a team-high six assists. Riley Benge added four assists.
Voss led Milan with 14 points. McMillan and Rullman both scored eight points.
