SETTING THE SCENE: Following a huge non-conference win and a heartbreaking home loss last week, the Milford High School boys basketball team will look to wrap up the regular season on a high note with wins in the last pair of games on the schedule. Entering the week 7-13 overall and 4-8 in league play, the highlight of the week comes first on Tuesday with a Senior Night celebration against Kings. Then, it’s not only the regular season finale, but also a first round OHSAA Tournament preview when the Eagles travel to Withrow on Friday. The game, which was originally scheduled to be played at Cincinnati State, will now be back on Withrow’s campus following the recent completion of its new gym floor.
TOURNEY TALK: The Eagles will open OHSAA Tournament play against a familiar face as they have drawn Eastern Cincinnati Conference rival Withrow in the first round. Though Milford is in the Hamilton sectional, the game will be played at Lakota West High School on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. Familiarity will be the name of the first two rounds as the Milford-Withrow winner will take on another ECC member in Anderson in the tournament’s second round. Click here for Milford’s sectional tournament draw.
A LOOK BACK: February 7 at Northwest: Milford 68, Northwest 60
THE SHORT STORY
The Eagles played one of their best offensive games of the season as they knocked off top-10 squad Northwest by a 68-60 score on the Knights’ home court. A seesaw first quarter gave way to a Milford explosion in the second as the Eagles took a seven-point halftime lead. After another strong third period, the Eagles saw Northwest close to within two in the waning moments, but the visitors made 10 of 12 free throws in the last two minutes to seal the win.
RECORDS
Milford 7-12
Northwest 14-5
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Matt Kirk 30 points, 8 rebounds
Jake Ayler 11 points
Jacob Riesenberg 9 points, 17 rebounds
Northwest
Ronnell Turner 38 points, 5 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: Matt Kirk’s 30 points were most by a Milford player since Will Hannah scored 30 at Colerain on Jan. 3, 2015. In addition, Jacob Riesenberg’s 17 rebounds were most by an Eagle since Trevor Bullock had 17 against Sycamore on Nov. 30, 2013
February 10 vs. Walnut Hills: Walnut Hills 77, Milford 75 (3OT)
THE SHORT STORY
In one of the most entertaining games in recent Milford basketball history, the Eagles battled through regulation and three overtimes, before coming up just short at the buzzer, 77-75 to Walnut Hills. Walnut’s Kenny Thompson went the length of the floor in the final seconds, connecting on the game-winning bucket to send the visiting Eagles to the triumph. Playing as the underdog, Milford led by as much as 12 in the third quarter before Walnut battled back, setting the stage for heroics left and right.
At the end of regulation, Walnut ran the clock down to one second, but Kameron Gibson’s three rattled out. OT number one was a repeat as Walnut again missed a three at the buzzer. In the second extra period, Nathan Gallimore canned a pair from the foul line with two seconds remaining to force yet another bonus session. The junior showed ice in his veins near the end of third OT as he tied the game for the 11th time with a straightaway three. But Thompson then broke Milford’s hearts with his winning drive and score.
RECORDS
Milford 7-13, 4-8 ECC
Walnut Hills 12-6, 10-2 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jacob Riesenberg 17 points, 14 rebounds
Wes Reid 17 points
Matt Kirk 16 points, 7 rebounds
Nathan Gallimore 16 points
Walnut Hills
Kameron Gibson 35 points
Kenny Thompson 16 points, 8 rebounds
Rob Brown 10 points, 6 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: For the second time in three games and second time this season, Milford placed four players in double figures in scoring. The outburst helped the Eagles to their most points since they scored 84 against Turpin on February 24, 2015.
THANK YOU SENIORS: Senior Night is scheduled in conjunction with the Eagles’ Feb. 14 home finale against Kings. That evening, the 2017 Senior Class consisting of Jack Hannah, Diamonte Johnson, Matt Kirk, Wes Reid and Jacob Riesenberg will be honored for their contributions to Milford Basketball.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Tuesday, Feb. 14 vs. Kings, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 9-11, 6-6 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Clay Spivey (10.6 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Kings 55, Milford 44
- Friday, Feb. 17 at Withrow, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 12-8, 7-5 ECC (9th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Davon Jorden (14.1 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 53, Withrow 42
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 20 games:
Points per game: Matt Kirk (11.5), Jacob Rieseneberg (8.9), Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (8.5)
Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.0), Wes Reid (1.7), Jacob Riesenberg (1.5)
Rebounds per game: Jacob Riesenberg (6.6), Matt Kirk (5.4), Three Tied (2.6)
Steals: Matt Kirk (14), Jake Ayler (13), Nathan Gallimore/Wes Reid (9)
Blocks: Jacob Riesenberg (11), Hunter Pollitt (10), Nathan Gallimore (3)
Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.524), Jake Ayler (.472), Jacob Riesenberg (.468)
Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.419), Nathan Gallimore (.393), Wes Reid (.292)
Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.773), Matt Kirk (.733), Wes Reid (.725)
INSIDE THE ECC: Walnut Hills has clinched its third ECC title in the last five years as they enter the week 10-2 in league play. The battle for second is still on fire with Withrow at 7-5, one game better than the trio of Glen Este, Kings and Loveland. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Tuesday-Kings at Milford, Glen Este at Anderson, Withrow at Turpin and Walnut Hills at Loveland; Friday- Milford at Withrow, Loveland at Glen Este, Turpin at Anderson and Walnut Hills at Kings.
The schedule for ECC teams in the tournament includes:
No. 7 Walnut Hills vs. winner of No. 13 Fairfield-No. 20 Sycamore (Feb. 24, 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 Milford-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. 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)
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 six times; Career: 2 six times (2016-17)
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 twice; Career: 5 twice (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: 2 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 2 vs. Walnut Hills (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 1 vs. Walnut Hills
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 three times; Career: 1 three 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
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)
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 at Kings; Career: 1 at Kings (2016-17)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A