SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School girls basketball team will look to return to its winning ways when it return to the hardwood for a pair of match-ups this week. After winning four of five from late December through early January, the Eagles are now looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Milford enters the week 5-11 overall and 1-9 in Eastern Cincinnati Conference play and will search for its next win in a non-conference Wednesday night home date with Winton Woods, coached by former Xavier University star Gary Lumpkin. Then, Saturday is the annual Game of Hope at Turpin, with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.
A LOOK BACK: January 17 at Loveland: Loveland 62, Milford 43
GAME REWIND
A talented Loveland team proved to be too much for Milford as the Tigers stopped the Eagles 62-43. After being doubled up by the Tigers earlier in the year, the Eagles played one of the ECC’s frontrunners closer this time, including a 19-point fourth quarter scoring performance.
RECORDS
Milford 5-10, 1-8 ECC
Loveland 12-1, 7-1 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Ali Kirk 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals
Loveland
Jillian Hayes 13 points
Kate Garry 9 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: Milford made a season-high 16 free throws on a season-best 22 attempts for a 72.7%, the second-highest mark of the year from the line for the Eagles.
January 20 at West Clermont: West Clermont 82, Milford 26
GAME REWIND
A tough week for the Eagles came to an end as West Clermont rolled past Milford by an 82-26 score. After staying within eight in the first quarter, the Wolves dominated the second period to pull into an insurmountable lead at the half.
RECORDS
Milford 5-11, 1-9 ECC
West Clermont 11-5, 7-1 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Abby Thierauf 11 points, 7 rebounds
West Clermont
Jasmine Hale 21 points
Dakota Reeves 19 points
Kaylin Burdick 10 points, 9 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: The fourth quarter three-pointer by Abby Thierauf was the first of the sophomore’s career.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for this week:
- Wednesday, Jan. 24 vs. Winton Woods, 7:30 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 4-11 (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Aria Gaines (9.3 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 56, Winton Woods 51
- Saturday, Jan. 27 at Turpin, 2:00 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 8-8, 3-6 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Ellie Holt (12.5 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2017-18; Turpin 35, Milford 21
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Points per game: Morgan Hills (7.7), Azyiah Williams (6.7), Ali Kirk (5.7)
Assists per game: Azyiah Williams (2.1), Bryn Rolfsen (1.0), Abby Thierauf (0.9)
Rebounds per game: Abby Thierauf (6.4), Ali Kirk (4.9), Azyiah Williams (3.3)
Steals: Azyaih Williams (27), Ali Kirk (26), Bryn Rolfsen (16)
Blocks: Abby Thierauf (25), Carlie Duesing (6), Morgan Hills/Maddie Plucinski/Azyiah Williams (2)
Field goal percentage: Maddie Plucinski (.377), Abby Thierauf (.365), Azyiah Williams (.336)
Three-point percentage: Ali Kirk (.400), Morgan Hills (.324), Bryn Rolfsen (.250)
Free throw percentage: Ali Kirk (.794), Azyiah Williams (.667), Maddie Plucinski (.647)
INSIDE THE ECC: Three teams remain at the forefront of the battle for the ECC Championship, with undefeated Walnut Hills in the lead at 8-0. West Clermont is just behind at 7-1, with Loveland trailing by one-half game. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Wednesday-West Clermont at Walnut Hills; Saturday-Milford at Turpin, Anderson at Walnut Hills, Loveland at Withrow and Kings at West Clermont.
POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the most recent Division I area coaches’ poll sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer and released on Jan. 22. Lakota West continues to show the way at the top of the rankings with 14 of the 19 first place votes that were cast. Second place Mount Notre Dame earned four top nods, while third-place Mason took the final one. Walnut Hills of the ECC is fourth, with McAuley rounding out the top-five. The well represented ECC also shows Loveland in sixth and West Clermont in seventh, along with Turpin in others receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Emily Bientz
Points—Season: 4 at Walnut Hills; Career: 4 at Walnut Hills (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Kyrsten Brown
Points—Season: 6 twice; Career: 6 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 9 at Anderson; Career: 9 at Anderson (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 four times
Izzy Dadosky
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: 3 at Hughes; Career: 3 at Hughes (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Carlie Duesing
Points—Season: 8 at Hughes; Career: 8 at Hughes (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 at Hughes; Career: 5 at Hughes (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 at Hughes; Career: 1 at Hughes (2017-18)
Brookelyn Edgar
Points—Season: 5 vs. Withrow; Career: 5 vs. Withrow (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 2 three times; Career: 2 three times (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 at Hughes; Career: 2 at Hughes (2017-18)
Hannah Gallimore
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: 1 at Hughes; Career: 1 at Hughes (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Morgan Hills
Points—Season: 14 twice; Career: 14 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 6 vs. Withrow; Career: 6 vs. Withrow (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 4 at Hughes; Career: 4 at Hughes (2017-18)
Ali Kirk
Points—Season: 14 vs. Hillsboro; Career: 14 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 10 at Clark Montessori; Career: 10 at Clark Montessori (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 at Loveland; Career: 2 three times
Maddie Plucinski
Points—Season: 11 twice; Career: 11 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 6 at Hughes; Career: 6 at Hughes (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 at McNicholas; Career: 2 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Sydney Poleski
Points—Season: 2 at Loveland; Career: 2 at Loveland (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 2 vs. Withrow; Career: 2 vs. Withrow (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Bryn Rolfsen
Points—Season: 9 at McNicholas; Career: 9 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 five times; Career: 7 vs. Oak Hills (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 vs. Withrow; Career: 3 vs. Withrow (2017-18)
Abby Thierauf
Points—Season: 14 at Hughes; Career: 14 at Hughes (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 four times; Career: 2 four times (2017-18)
Blocks—Season: 6 vs. Shroder; Career: 6 vs. Shroder (2017-18)
Caitlyn Wiscombe
Points—Season: 7 three times; Career: 7 three times (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Turpin; Career: 5 vs. Turpin (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 5 at Hughes; Career: 5 at Hughes (2017-18)
Azyiah Williams
Points—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 6 at McNicholas; Career: 6 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 6 vs. Northwest; Career: 6 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Steals—Season: 10 at Hughes; 10 at Hughes (2017-18)