SETTING THE SCENE: For the second time in eight days, the Milford Eagles and Withrow Tigers will take to the same court, but this time with much higher stakes as the two Eastern Cincinnati Conference rivals meet in the opening round of the 2017 OHSAA Tournament. The match-up will be the rubber match of the season series as each team protected its home court during the previous contests. There will be no home court advantage this time as Lakota West will be hosts on Saturday evening at 8 p.m.
A LOOK BACK: February 14 vs. Kings: Milford 55, Kings 41
THE SHORT STORY
Milford couldn’t have written a better Senior Night script as the Eagles coasted to a 55-41 win over Kings. The five-man senior class, which also made up the starting line-up for the first time as a group, all made it into the scoring column as the Eagles found retribution for a loss to the Knights earlier this season.
RECORDS
Milford 8-13, 5-8 ECC
Kings 9-12, 6-7 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Matt Kirk 16 points
Jacob Riesenberg 8 points, 12 rebounds
Kings
Clay Spivey 21 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: Senior Jack Hannah drew his first career starting assignment as the Eagles snapped a modest three-game losing streak to the Knights.
February 17 at Withrow: Withrow 49, Milford 33
THE SHORT STORY
Very little went right for the Eagles as Withrow scored the game’s first 15 points and never looked back, winning on its Senior Night by a 49-33 score over Milford. The Eagles played the Tigers to a 21-all tie in the second half, but a 16-point halftime deficit that saw the visitors net just 12 points before the break was too much to overcome.
RECORDS
Milford 8-14, 5-9 ECC
Withrow 14-8, 9-5 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Nathan Gallimore 8 points
Jacob Riesenberg 7 points, 4 rebounds
Withrow
Muhammed Harouna 12 points
Brandon Powell 9 points, 6 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: The setback to the Tigers marked the first time since Withrow joined the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in 2014-15 that the Eagles came up short to their newest conference rival.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s next OHSAA Tournament opponent:
- Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. Withrow (at Lakota West), 8:00 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 14-8, 9-5 ECC (9th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Davon Jorden (13.1 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 53, Withrow 42 & Withrow 49, Milford 33
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 22 games:
Points per game: Matt Kirk (11.4), Jacob Rieseneberg (8.8), Nathan Gallimore (8.5)
Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.0), Wes Reid (1.6), Jacob Riesenberg (1.5)
Rebounds per game: Jacob Riesenberg (6.7), Matt Kirk (5.1), Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (2.6)
Steals: Matt Kirk (16), Jake Ayler (13), Nathan Gallimore/Wes Reid (10)
Blocks: Jacob Riesenberg (11), Hunter Pollitt (10), Nathan Gallimore (3)
Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.513), Jacob Riesenberg (.468), Jake Ayler (.466)
Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.413), Nathan Gallimore (.387), Wes Reid (.286)
Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.773), Matt Kirk (.730), Wes Reid (.725)
INSIDE THE ECC: Walnut Hills clinched its third ECC title in the last five years as they finished 12-2 in league play. Withrow enjoyed a huge turnaround from last season, winning four more league games and finishing second at 9-5. Glen Este and Loveland finished in a tie for third in the competitive league, each at 7-7.
The schedule for ECC teams in the tournament includes: No. 7 Walnut Hills vs. winner of No. 13 Fairfield-No. 20 Sycamore (Feb. 28, 8:00 p.m. at Lakota West), No. 9 Withrow vs. No. 24 Milford (Feb. 25, 8:00 p.m. at Lakota West), No. 14 Glen Este vs. No. 17 Middletown (Feb. 25, 5:00 p.m. at Fairfield), No. 18 Kings vs. No. 15 Amelia (Feb. 25, 6:00 p.m. at Lakota West), No. 19 Loveland vs. No. 21 Edgewood (Feb. 25, 8:00 p.m. at Fairfield), No. 22 Anderson vs. winner of No. 9 Withrow-No. 24 Milford (March 1, 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton) and No. 26 Turpin vs. No. 5 Princeton (Feb. 23, 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton).
POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the final weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll of the year. Undefeated Moeller picked up the poll crown for this year, earning all eight first place votes. The rest of the top-five features LaSalle, Oak Hills, Mason and Princeton. The ECC is represented by Walnut Hills in seventh and Withrow in ninth, along with Glen Este receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Jake Ayler
Points—Season: 16 at Kings; Career: 16 at Kings (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2016-17)
A.J. Dickerson
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Caleb Farrell
Points—Season: 7 at Glen Este; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 seven times; Career: 2 seven times (2016-17)
Connor Foster
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Nathan Gallimore
Points—Season: 16 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 16 vs. Walnut Hills (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 6 at Northwest; Career: 6 at Northwest (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 5 twice; Career: 5 twice (2016-17)
Jack Hannah
Points—Season: 8 vs. Loveland; Career: 8 vs. Loveland (2106-17)
Rebounds—Season: 5 three times; Career: 5 three times (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 twice; Career: 2 twice (2016-17)
Steven Huxell
Points—Season: 4 at Northwest; Career: 4 at Northwest (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 3 at Withrow; Career: 3 at Withrow (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)
Diamonte Johnson
Points—Season: 5 at Taft; Career: 5 at Taft (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 2 at Kings; Career: 2 at Kings (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 four times; Career: 1 four times (2016-17)
Blake King
Points—Season: 4 vs. Glen Este; Career: 4 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Glen Este; Career: 3 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Matt Kirk
Points—Season: 30 at Northwest; Career: 30 at Northwest (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 10 vs. Lebanon; Career: 10 vs. Lebanon (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2016-17)
Double-doubles—Season 1; Career 1
Jack Liles
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Kyle Minton
Points—Season: 6 vs. Withrow; Career: 6 vs. Withrow (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 6 at Anderson; Career: 6 at Anderson (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 eight times; Career: 1 eight times (2016-17)
Hunter Pollitt
Points—Season: 6 at Taft; Career: 6 at Taft (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 7 vs. Turpin; Career: 7 vs. Turpin (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)
Wes Reid
Points—Season: 20 vs. Sycamore; Career: 20 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 8 vs. Sycamore; Career: 8 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2016-17)
Cade Riesenberg
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Jacob Riesenberg
Points—Season: 18 at McNicholas; Career: 18 at McNicholas (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 17 at Northwest; Career: 17 at Northwest (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 4 at Northwest; Career: 4 at Northwest (2016-17)
Brady Sluder
Points—Season: 1 at Glen Este; Career: 1 at Glen Este (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 1 three times; Career: 1 three times (2016-17)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A