SETTING THE SCENE: Riding a 5-0 start, the Milford High School boys basketball team will face its stiffest challenge to date when the Eagles host undefeated McNicholas on Wednesday night in its lone match-up of this week. The Eagles, newly minted as the No. 8 ranked team in the area according to the Cincinnati Enquirer weekly poll, will take on the Rockets, No. 1 this week in the Division II rankings. Milford is coming off a week that featured Eastern Cincinnati Conference victories over Loveland and West Clermont that have propelled the Eagles into a share for first place in the league standings.
A LOOK BACK: December 12 at Loveland: Milford 57, Loveland 52
GAME REWIND
Milford overcame a three-point end of third quarter deficit by outscoring Loveland 23-15 in the fourth quarter to come away with a 57-52 victory. The Eagles led at the end of each of the first two quarters before Loveland took control in the third period, only to see the Eagles complete the comeback with a big fourth.
RECORDS
Milford 4-0, 2-0 ECC
Loveland 2-2, 1-1 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jake Ayler 14 points
Steven Huxell 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Loveland
Jalen Greiser 20 points
Matthew Toigo 15 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: Junior A.J. Dickerson saw his most extensive action of the season, finishing with a career-high eight points in 21 minutes of action.
December 15 vs. West Clermont: Milford 53, West Clermont 51
GAME REWIND
Milford and West Clermont battled down to the final seconds in the first-ever meeting between the schools, with the host Eagles ultimately prevailing 53-51. The Wolves played from behind throughout the fourth and final quarter with Milford’s Jake Ayler making four of five free throws in the final minute to seal up the win. West Clermont had a chance at the buzzer but Jay Tiemeyer’s potential game-winning three rattled out.
RECORDS
Milford 5-0, 3-0 ECC
West Clermont 2-2, 1-2 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jake Ayler 17 points, 5 rebounds
Steven Huxell 11 points
West Clermont
Jay Tiemeyer 24 points
Dallas Padgitt 18 points, 10 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: Milford was outstanding from the free throw line, connecting on a season-best 81% (13 of 16).
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the week:
- Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs. McNicholas, 7:30 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 4-0, 2-0 GCLC (1st Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Ryan Reidy (15.5 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; McNicholas 60, Milford 50
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Points per game: Jake Ayler (14.4), Steven Huxell (11.6), Nathan Gallimore (9.2)
Assists per game: Steven Huxell (3.2), Nathan Gallimore (2.4), Jake Ayler (1.8)
Rebounds per game: Nathan Gallimore (5.0), Steven Huxell (4.4), Jake Ayler (4.2)
Steals: Steven Huxell (19), Caleb Farrell (5), A.J. Dickerson/Nathan Gallimore (4)
Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (8), Connor Foster (3), Brady Sluder (1)
Field goal percentage: Hunter Pollitt (.684), Jake Ayler (.550), Brady Sluder (.500)
Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.583), Steven Huxell (.500), Nathan Gallimore (.370)
Free throw percentage: Nathan Gallimore (.800), Jake Ayler (.778), A.J. Dickerson (.625)
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 (3), Nathan Gallimore (1), Steven Huxell (1).
INSIDE THE ECC: Milford and Walnut Hills have each jumped to 3-0 starts in league play to pace the ECC standings early. Loveland and Withrow are just behind at 2-1 each. The schedule for ECC conference games will now take a break until after the first of the year.
POLL WATCH: Milford made its first appearance of the season inside the top-10 of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Division I area coaches’ poll, coming in eighth in the Dec. 18 edition of the rankings. Moeller continues to hold the No. 1 spot, but has seen its margin clipped to just two points over Princeton. Moeller earned five number one votes this week to seven for Princeton, with third-ranked Mason earning the final top vote. Walnut Hills of the ECC is fourth this week with St. Xavier rounding out the top-five. In the others receiving votes section, the ECC is represented by West Clermont, Withrow and Loveland. 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: 6 at Harrison; Career: 6 at Harrison (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 four times
A.J. Dickerson
Points—Season: 8 at Loveland; Career: 8 at Loveland (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 at Sycamore; Career: 4 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 at Harrison; Career: 3 at Harrison (2017-18)
Caleb Farrell
Points—Season: 3 at Harrison; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2017-18)
Connor Foster
Points—Season: 8 at Loveland; Career: 8 at Loveland (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 vs. West Clermont; Career: 1 vs. West Clermont (2017-18)
Nathan Gallimore
Points—Season: 19 Anderson; Career: 19 at Anderson (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 8 at Anderson; Career: 8 at Anderson (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 6 at Harrison; Career: 6 at Harrison (2017-18)
Steven Huxell
Points—Season: 16 at Harrison; Career: 16 at Harrison (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: 4 at Harrison; Career: 4 at Harrison (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Hunter Pollitt
Points—Season: 9 at Sycamore; Career: 9 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 7 vs. Turpin (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 at Sycamore; Career: 1 three times
Cade Riesenberg
Points—Season: 2 at Sycamore; Career: 2 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Brady Sluder
Points—Season: 5 twice; Career: 5 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 at Sycamore; Career: 5 at Sycamore (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2017-18)