SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School girls basketball team will look to return to winning ways in its last game before Christmas this Wednesday night at Clark Montessori. The Eagles stand at just 1-7 on the year, but will look to snatch a win at Clark during a 6 p.m. tipoff on Erie Ave. Milford wraps up the 2017 portion of the schedule at home next Thursday night against Shroder.
A LOOK BACK: December 13 vs. Turpin: Turpin 35, Milford 21
GAME REWIND
In a game where offense was at a premium, Turpin turned 17 offensive rebounds into seven second-chance points, leading the Spartans to a 35-21 win over Milford. The Eagles were limited to just 17 percent shooting from the floor but cranked up the defense to allow the Spartans only 24 percent shooting.
RECORDS
Milford 1-6, 0-4 ECC
Turpin 5-2, 1-2 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Morgan Hills 7 points, 5 rebounds
Abby Thierauf 7 rebounds, 3 blocks
Turpin
Ellie Holt 11 points
Savanna Hazenfield 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
NUGGET OF NOTE: Junior Morgan Hills passed out a career-high three assists in the defeat.
December 15 vs. West Clermont: West Clermont 64, Milford 32
GAME REWIND
West Clermont proved to me too much for the Eagles in the first-ever meeting between Milford and the new Eastern Cincinnati Conference member school as the Wolves doubled up the Eagles 64-32. After a rough start, the Eagles stayed close in the second quarter before WC ultimately pulled away after the half.
RECORDS
Milford 1-7, 0-5 ECC
West Clermont 5-1, 4-0 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Ali Kirk 6 points, 4 rebounds
Morgan Hills 6 points
Azyiah Williams 6 points
West Clermont
Dakota Reeves 21 points, 5 steals
Jasmine Hale 13 points, 8 rebounds
Kaylin Burdick 10 points, 10 rebounds
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the start of this week:
- Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Clark Montessori, 6:00 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 6-1, 5-1 MVC (8th Division III area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Dasia Thornton (12.5 ppg)
- Last Meeting: N/A
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Points per game: Morgan Hills (9.0), Azyiah Williams (6.4), Ali Kirk (6.0)
Assists per game: Azyiah Williams (1.9), Abby Thierauf (1.0), Morgan Hills (0.8)
Rebounds per game: Abby Thierauf (6.6), Ali Kirk (5.0), Azyiah Williams (3.4)
Steals: Bryn Rolfsen/Azyiah Williams (9), Ali Kirk (8)
Blocks: Abby Thierauf (11), Carlie Duesing/Morgan Hills (2)
Field goal percentage: Azyiah Williams (.317), Morgan Hills (.316), Ali Kirk (.304)
Three-point percentage: Ali Kirk (.429), Morgan Hills (.302), Caitlyn Wiscombe (.250)
Free throw percentage: Maddie Plucinski (.714), Ali Kirk (.611), Azyiah Williams (.571)
INSIDE THE ECC: A highly competitive start to the conference season features three teams that are currently undefeated in ECC play. Loveland is showing the way at 5-0 with West Clermont 4-0 and Walnut Hills 3-0. A resurgent Anderson squad, after finishing 1-22 and 0-14 in the ECC last year, has started 3-1 in league play. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Saturday-Walnut Hills at Anderson.
POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the most recent Division I area coaches’ poll sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer and released on Dec. 18. Mount Notre Dame continues to be the No. 1 choice according to the coaches, but holds just a one point advantage over second place Lakota West. The 17 first place votes this week were broken down as follows: Mount Notre Dame 10, Lakota West 6 and McAuley 1. Mason is third this week with McAuley and the ECC’s Walnut Hills completing the top-five. The ECC is also represented by West Clermont in sixth, and Loveland in eighth, along with Kings and Turpin in others receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Emily Bientz
Points—Season: 4 at Walnut Hills; Career: 4 at Walnut Hills (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Kyrsten Brown
Points—Season: 6 vs. Northwest; Career: 6 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 9 at Anderson; Career: 9 at Anderson (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)
Izzy Dadosky
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Carlie Duesing
Points—Season: 5 at Anderson; Career: 4 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. West Clermont; Career: 4 vs. West Clermont (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Brookelyn Edgar
Points—Season: 1 vs. Northwest; Career: 1 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 1 three times; Career: 1 three times (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Hannah Gallimore
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Morgan Hills
Points—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 3 vs. Turpin; Career: 3 vs. Turpin (2017-18)
Ali Kirk
Points—Season: 14 vs. Hillsboro; Career: 14 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 7 twice; Career: 7 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 1 three times; Career: 2 at Anderson (2016-17)
Maddie Plucinski
Points—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 2 five times; Career: 2 five times (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 at McNicholas; Career: 2 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Sydney Poleski
Points—Season: 1 at McNicholas; Career: 1 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Bryn Rolfsen
Points—Season: 9 at McNicholas; Career: 9 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 7 vs. Oak Hills (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 at McNicholas; Career: 2 three times
Abby Thierauf
Points—Season: 8 at McNicholas; Career: 8 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 2 three times; Career: 2 three times (2017-18)
Caitlyn Wiscombe
Points—Season: 7 vs. Loveland; Career: 7 vs. Loveland (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Turpin; Career: 5 vs. Turpin (2017-18)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Azyiah Williams
Points—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)
Rebounds—Season: 6 at McNicholas; Career: 6 at McNicholas (2017-18)
Assists—Season: 6 vs. Northwest; Career: 6 vs. Northwest (2017-18)