HUGHESVILLE — Hughesville’s girls basketball team squared off against Milton in a non-conference matchup that featured two teams riding momentum. Hughesville entered the contest playing some of its best basketball of the season, while Milton hoped to extend a four-game winning streak.

It was the Spartans who controlled the night, however, earning a convincing 50-14 win.

The opening minutes of the game were competitive, with both teams showcasing disciplined defensive play. Possessions were limited early as each side worked to establish a rhythm. Hughesville was the first to break through when Kylie Temple found the bottom of the net, setting the tone for what would quickly become a Spartans surge.

“We spread the ball around pretty well,” Hughesville coach Dustin King said. “They made some extra passes when they needed to, and that really helped us find good looks.”

Once the Spartans found their footing, their offense began to click on all levels. Hughesville’s ball movement and defensive pressure created scoring opportunities in transition, forcing Milton into tough situations. Maddie Smith played a major role in that effort, finishing the night with 13 points, six of which came directly off turnovers.

“I thought she played really well tonight,” King said. “I thought all the girls played pretty unselfishly, and that showed in how we played together.”

While Hughesville maintained control, Milton found moments of success through Carrie King, who disrupted passing lanes and pushed the pace offensively by driving into the paint. Despite those efforts, the Black Panthers struggled to capitalize on scoring chances, missing several close-range shots that could have slowed Hughesville’s momentum.

“We missed so many easy shots,” Milton coach Gene Bruno said. “I’m all about pressing and changing things up, but it all comes back to scoring. If you go five minutes without scoring, then you can’t stop them, and before you know it the game opens up.”

Hughesville continued to apply pressure on both ends of the floor, using its depth and defensive intensity to build a sizable lead heading into halftime. The Spartans’ ability to convert turnovers into points proved to be a decisive factor throughout the game.

Milton showed signs of improvement in the second half, finding the paint more consistently and converting on more opportunities than in the opening half. The Black Panthers managed to score nine points after halftime, demonstrating resilience despite the score.

“That was luck,” Bruno said. “But I told the girls to go out in the second half and see if we could beat them in the second half.”

Hughesville remained composed down the stretch, continuing to execute offensively while maintaining defensive discipline until the final whistle.

With the win, the Spartans improve to 13-2 on the season, continuing their strong run of play. The Black Panthers fall to 7-6 but will look to build on their second-half adjustments as the season progresses.

Hughesville 50, Milton 14

MILTON (14)

Hayden Snyder 1 0-0 2, Lainey Snyder 0 1-2 1, Carrie King 2 0-0 4, Camryn Hoover 0 0-0 0, Liz Schrock 2 3-6 7, Sienna Short 0 0-0 0, Courtney Bertin 0 0-0 0, Matty Lytle 0 0-0 0, Joelle Hoover 0 0-0 0, Ava Rhodes 0 0-0 0, Emma Bickhart 0 0-0 0, Maddison Coup 0 0-0 0, Trinity Cox 0 0-0 0, Lindsay Bogle 0 0-0 0, Kylie Schrock 0 0-0 0. Totals 5 4-8 14.

HUGHESVILLE (50)

Kylie Temple 3 0-0 6, Maddie Smith 3 7-7 13, Georgia Randall 1 0-0 2, Alyssa King 1 0-0 2, Vivian Draper 6 1-3 13, Regan Sellers 0 0-0 0, Tori Morgan 3 0-0 7, Kendall Hamm 1 0-0 3, Aubrey Arrigonie 0 0-0 0, Jaiden Temple 0 0-0 0, Casey Shultz 2 0-0 4, Anna Easton 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-10 50.

Milton 4 1 5 4 — 14

Hughesville 12 16 11 9 — 50

3-point goals: Hughesville 2 (Morgan 1, Hamm 1)