A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: A capsule look at the 2018-19 team:
- Record: 2-5, 1-4 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Head Coach: Dave Fallis (1st year at Milford, 10th year as head coach)
- Top Scorer: Sophomore Azyiah Williams (11.9 ppg)
- Top Rebounder: Freshman Paige Ayler (4.0 rpg)
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for this week:
- Wednesday, Dec. 19 at Walnut Hills, 7:30 p.m.
- Record: 7-0, 5-0 ECC (2nd Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Sean Kelly Darks (19.0 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2017-18; Walnut Hills 67, Milford 23 & Walnut Hills 58, Milford 28
- Saturday, Dec. 22 at Shroder, 1:30 p.m.
- Record: 1-5, 1-2 CMAC (NR Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Returning Scorer: Junior Kaylah Barr (10.6 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2017-18; Milford 40, Shroder 36
A LOOK BACK: December 12 at Milford: Anderson 41, Milford 40
GAME REWIND
Milford overcame a slow first quarter with an outstanding second period to pull to a one point halftime deficit, but that would prove to be the final scoring margin as Anderson pulled out a 41-40 road win. Trailing by three with under 30 seconds remaining, Eagle freshman Paige Ayler hit two free throws to again trim the margin to one. After Anderson’s Karley Steinher missed the front end of a one-and-one with 19 seconds left, the Eagles had a chance for the win, but could only manage a desperation three at the buzzer that was off the mark.
RECORDS
Milford 2-4, 1-3 ECC
Withrow 4-2, 2-2 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Paige Ayler 11 points, 5 rebounds
Azyiah Williams 11 points, 3 assists
Anderson
Margo Thompson 14 points
Sarah Sweeney 9 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: The Eagles won the all important rebounding battle for the first time this season, albeit by a slim 23-22 margin.
December 15 at Loveland: Loveland 60, Milford 47
GAME REWIND
A rough second quarter that saw the Eagles outscored 21-6, along with 26 turnovers proved too much for Milford to overcome as they dropped a 60-47 decision to rival Loveland. MHS trailed just 10-9 after one quarter, but two fouls on a pair of starters were key to allowing Loveland to open a 16-point halftime lead.
RECORDS
Milford 2-3, 1-2 ECC
Loveland 6-1, 4-1 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Azyiah Williams 11 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Loveland
Jillian Hayes 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals
Kate Garry 17 points, 5 three-pointers
NUGGET OF NOTE: Despite falling by a 13-point deficit, the Eagles won the rebounding battle for the second straight game, this time by a 34-29 margin.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s top returning statistical leaders:
Points per game: Azyiah Williams (11.9), Morgan Hills (6.3), Paige Ayler (6.0)
Assists per game: Azyiah Williams (2.7), Paige Ayler (1.4), Morgan Hills (0.7)
Rebounds per game: Paige Ayler (4.0), Ali Kirk (3.7), Carlie Duesing/Abby Thierauf (3.6)
Steals: Azyiah Williams (14), Carlie Duesing/Caitlin Wiscombe (9)
Blocks: Abby Thierauf (9), Caitlin Wiscombe (6), Carlie Duesing (4)
Field goal percentage: Paige Ayler (.500), Azyiah Williams (.463), Carlie Duesing (.417)
Three-point percentage: Azyiah Williams (.421), Paige Ayler (.417), Abby Thierauf (.250)
Free throw percentage: Ali Kirk (.857), Paige Ayler (.722), Azyiah Williams (.714)
INSIDE THE ECC: Walnut Hills remains undefeated for the season and has a one game lead over Loveland in the battle for ECC bragging rights. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Wednesday-Milford at Walnut Hills, Anderson at West Clermont, Loveland at Withrow and Turpin at Kings.
POLL WATCH: The Eagles did not receive any votes in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer area Division I coaches’ poll. Mount Notre Dame continues to the No. 1 ranked team, earning 15 of the 20 first place votes. ECC member Walnut Hills is second with four top nods. The rest of top-five includes Princeton, Mason and Lakota West (one vote). The ECC is also represented by Loveland in sixth, with Kings, Anderson and West Clermont among others receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Paige Ayler
Points—Season: 13 vs. Withrow; Career: 13 vs. Withrow (2018-19)
Rebounds—Season: 5 four times; Career: 5 four times (2018-19)
Assists—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2018-19)
Emily Bientz
Points—Season: 5 at Loveland; Career: 5 at Loveland (2018-19)
Rebounds—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2018-19)
Assists—Season: 1 four times; Career: 1 four times (2018-19)
Carlie Duesing
Points—Season: 3 five times; Career: 8 at Hughes (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 twice; Career: 5 five times
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 five times
Blocks—Season: 3 vs. Withrow; Career: 3 vs. Withrow (2018-19)
Kaitlyn Geis
Points—Season: 5 three times; Career: 5 three times (2018-19)
Rebounds—Season: 4 at West Clermont; Career: 4 at West Clermont (2018-19)
Assists—Season: 1 three times; Career: 1 three times (2018-19)
Steals—Season: 4 at Winton Woods; Career: 4 at Winton Woods (2018-19)
Olivia Gentry
Points—Season: 2 at Loveland; Career: 2 at Loveland (2018-19)
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Morgan Hills
Points—Season: 9 at Kings; Career: 14 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 at Winton Woods; Career: 6 vs. Withrow (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Withrow; Career: 4 at Hughes (2017-18)
Ali Kirk
Points—Season: 9 at Winton Woods; Career: 14 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 9 at Loveland; Career: 10 at Clark Montessori (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 three times; Career: 3 at Madeira (2017-18)
Kaylie McKenney
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Abby Thierauf
Points—Season: 10 vs. McNicholas; Career: 14 at Hughes (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 6 vs. Withrow; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 2 six times (2017-18)
Blocks—Season: 3 twice; Career: 6 vs. Shroder (2017-18)
Caitlin Wiscombe
Points—Season: 5 vs. McNIcholas; Career: 13 vs. Winton Woods (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 at Winton Woods; Career: 5 twice
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Anderson; Career: 5 at Hughes (2017-18)
Azyiah Williams
Points—Season: 22 at West Clermont; Career: 22 at West Clermont (2018-19)
Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. McNicholas; Career: 7 at Turpin (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 6 at Loveland; Career: 6 twice
Steals—Season: 4 vs. McNicholas; 10 at Hughes (2017-18)