SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School boys basketball squad will take to the court for a pair of key Eastern Cincinnati Conference battles this week as the Eagles look to stay alive in the league championship race. The Eagles are firmly in third place in the ECC standings, just two games off the first place pace and just a single contest out of second. This week is an important one as Milford (8-4, 6-2 ECC) will be looking to complete season sweeps of both Loveland and West Clermont, the duo tied for fourth in the league rundown entering the week. The action begins Tuesday with a visit from Loveland, before Milford’s first-ever visit to West Clermont on Friday night.
A LOOK BACK: January 12 at Withrow: Withrow 52, Milford 46
GAME REWIND
Milford couldn’t overcome a disastrous first half or a dominating performance by Withrow big man Abba Lawal as the Tigers picked up a 52-46 win. The Eagles managed just seven first half points, trailing by 14 at the intermission before turning it up in the second half. Still trailing by 14 after the third, the Eagles made a fourth quarter run with a 23-point explosion, but they couldn’t quite overcome the big deficit.
RECORDS
Milford 7-3, 5-2 ECC
Withrow 8-5, 6-1 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jake Ayler 14 points
Steven Huxell 12 points
Brady Sluder 10 points, 6 rebounds
Withrow
Abba Lawal 26 points, 15 rebounds
Mike Hill, Jr. 9 points, 8 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: Junior Brady Sluder continued his steady improvement this season as he established a new career-best with 10 points.
January 13 at Lebanon: Lebanon 65, Milford 57
GAME REWIND
Lebanon shot 78 percent in the first half and 60 percent for the game as the Warriors fought off Milford for a 65-57 non-conference win. Trailing by eight at the half, the Eagles responded early in the third period, fighting back for a 29-28 lead on a three-pointer by Jake Ayler. But Lebanon scored the final 11 of the quarter to regain a lead it would never relinquish.
RECORDS
Milford 7-4
Lebanon 10-3
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jake Ayler 18 points, 8 rebounds
Steven Huxell 16 points
Lebanon
Harrison Hookfin 21 points, 9 rebounds
Brendan Lamb 14 points
Drew Sekerak 11 points, 4 assists
NUGGET OF NOTE: The 60 percent shooting yielded by the Eagles was the highest by an opponent in a game this season.
January 19 vs. Anderson: Milford 50, Anderson 32
GAME REWIND
The Eagles limited conference rival Anderson to single-digit points in three of four quarters, pulling away from the Redskins for a 50-32 victory. After leading 25-14 at the break, Milford caught fire in the second half, shooting 58 percent to seal the victory.
RECORDS
Milford 8-4, 6-2 ECC
Anderson 5-9, 3-5 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Nathan Gallimore 12 points
Steven Huxell 12 points
Jake Ayler 11 points
Anderson
Hunter Bode 7 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks
NUGGET OF NOTE: Senior Nathan Gallimore’s stellar play against Anderson this season continued as he has averaged 15.5 points per game in two wins over the Redskins, including a career-high 19 points in the first match-up between the squads.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the week:
- Tuesday, Jan. 23 vs. Loveland, 7:30 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 5-8, 3-4 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Jalen Greiser (14.2 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2017-18; Milford 57, Loveland 52
- Friday, Jan. 26 at West Clermont, 7:30 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 7-4, 3-4 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Jay Tiemeyer (15.8 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2017-18; Milford 53, West Clermont 51
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Points per game: Jake Ayler (14.3), Steven Huxell (10.7), Nathan Gallimore (9.3)
Assists per game: Steven Huxell (2.2), Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (1.8)
Rebounds per game: Jake Ayler (4.4), Nathan Gallimore (4.1), Brady Sluder (3.9)
Steals: Steven Huxell (16), Nathan Gallimore (10), A.J. Dickerson (8)
Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (17), Brady Sluder (6), Connor Foster (5)
Field goal percentage: Hunter Pollitt (.552), Jake Ayler (.527), Brady Sluder (.510)
Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.571), Steven Huxell (.472), Nathan Gallimore (.439)
Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.771), Nathan Gallimore (.769), AJ Dickerson (.700)
PLENTY TO GO AROUND: The Eagles feature a roster with the potential to have a different leading scorer virtually every game. Throughout their careers on varsity and developmental levels, several players have shown the ability to be big-time scorers. Here is a look at the players who have led the Eagles in scoring this season: Jake Ayler (7), Connor Foster (1), Nathan Gallimore (1), Steven Huxell (1), Jake Ayler/Steven Huxell (1), Nathan Gallimore/Steven Huxell (1).
INSIDE THE ECC: Walnut Hills continues to show the way in the race for the ECC Championship as they are 8-0, but lead Withrow by just one game. The Tigers are 7-1 and one game ahead of Milford after last week’s win in a head-to-head meeting. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Tuesday-Loveland at Milford, Walnut Hills at Withrow, Kings at Anderson and West Clermont at Turpin; Friday-Milford at West Clermont, Loveland at Kings, Turpin at Walnut Hills and Anderson at Withrow.
POLL WATCH: With losses in two of three games last week, Milford dropped into the others receiving votes section in the most recent Cincinnati Enquirer area Division I coaches’ poll that was released on Jan. 22. Princeton continues to lead the way, earning 11 of 16 first place votes to claim the top spot. Moeller took the other five top nods and is second, with Oak Hills, Mason and Walnut Hills from the ECC rouning out the top-five. Withrow, West Clermont and Kings join the Eagles among other teams earning votes this week. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Jake Ayler
Points—Season: 21 at Sycamore; Career: 21 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 8 at Lebanon; Career: 8 at Lebanon (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 4 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 4 vs. Walnut Hills (2017-18)
A.J. Dickerson
Points—Season: 8 at Loveland; Career: 8 at Loveland (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 three times; Career: 4 three times (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 at Harrison; Career: 3 at Harrison (2017-18)
Caleb Farrell
Points—Season: 5 at Turpin; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 4 three times; Career: 4 three times (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 three times; Career: 3 three times (2017-18)
Connor Foster
Points—Season: 13 vs. Kings; Career: 13 vs. Kings (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Kings; Career: 2 vs. Kings (2017-18)
Nathan Gallimore
Points—Season: 19 Anderson; Career: 19 at Anderson (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 8 twice; Career: 8 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 6 at Harrison; Career: 6 at Harrison (2017-18)
Steven Huxell
Points—Season: 16 twice; Career: 16 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 7 at Sycamore; Career: 7 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 5 at Anderson; Career: 5 at Anderson (2017-18)
Jack Liles
Points—Season: 5 at Turpin; Career: 5 at Turpin (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 twice; Career: 2 twice (2017-18)
Hunter Pollitt
Points—Season: 9 at Sycamore; Career: 9 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 three times; Career: 7 vs. Turpin (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 four times
Cade Riesenberg
Points—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 2 vs. Anderson; Career: 2 vs. Anderson (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 vs. Anderson; Career: 1 vs. Anderson (2017-18)
Brady Sluder
Points—Season: 10 at Withrow; Career: 10 at Withrow (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 9 at Turpin; Career: 9 at Turpin (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 vs. Kings; Career: 3 vs. Kings (2017-18)