SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School girls basketball team is back in action beginning on Wednesday night when the Eagles return home for the first of two Eastern Cincinnati Conference match-ups this week. The Eagles will be out to snap a modest three-game losing streak when it hosts Turpin on Wednesday, before then turning its attention to the first-ever ECC Varsity Doubleheader on Friday night. On a night featuring varsity-only action, the Eagles will take on West Clermont for the first time ever in the opener of a doubleheader with the MHS boys squad.
A LOOK BACK: December 2 at Anderson: Anderson 30, Milford 26
GAME REWIND
In a game where neither team could get on track offensively, Anderson held off Milford by a 30-26 score in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference opener for both squads. The Eagles trailed by seven at the 5:30 mark of the fourth, but scored five of the next six points to claw within three on an Azyiah Williams bucket with 3:18 to play. But Milford would get just a Morgan Hills free throw in the final minute as they came up short. The win for the Redskins snapped a four-game losing streak to Milford.
RECORDS
Milford 1-3, 0-1 ECC
Anderson 1-2, 1-0 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Morgan Hills 7 points
Ali Kirk 6 points, 6 rebounds
Kyrsten Brown 9 rebounds
Anderson
Karley Steinher 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals
NUGGET OF NOTE: Senior Kyrsten Brown pulled down a career-high nine rebounds in the defeat.
December 6 vs. Loveland: Loveland 67, Milford 34
GAME REWIND
After a very competitive first half that saw a three-pointer by Caitlyn Wiscombe at the buzzer leave Milford trailing just 30-24, Loveland totally dominated the second half to pull away to a 67-34 victory. The Tigers scored 19 points in the third quarter and 18 more in the fourth, while limiting Milford to just 14 percent shooting and 10 total points.
RECORDS
Milford 1-4, 0-2 ECC
Loveland 4-0, 2-0 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Morgan Hills 10 points
Loveland
Jillian Hayes 21 points, 10 rebounds
Kate Garry 12 points
Tess Broermann 10 points, 5 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: Junior Caitlyn Wiscombe, a transfer from the state of Texas, made her Milford debut and responded with seven points, while senior Maddie Plucinski tallied her first career varsity points, finishing with four.
December 9 at Walnut Hills: Walnut Hills 67, Milford 23
GAME REWIND
Walnut Hills’ pressure defense proved to be too much for Milford to withstand as the first round of the ECC’s Battle of the Eagles went to WHHS by a 67-23 score. Milford trailed by just 10-6 after one quarter, but was outscored 40-9 over the next two as Walnut built an insurmountable advantage.
RECORDS
Milford 1-5, 0-3 ECC
Walnut Hills 4-0, 2-0 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Ali Kirk 8 points, 7 rebounds
Walnut Hills
Kennedi Myles 13 points, 12 rebounds
Sean Kelly Darks 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
NUGGET OF NOTE: Junior Emily Bientz became the ninth different Eagle already this season to score her first career varsity points as she connected on four free throws to finish with four points.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the start of this week:
- Wednesday, Dec. 13 vs. Turpin, 7:30 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 2-2, 0-2 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Savanna Hazenfield (14.5 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Turpin 35, Milford 32 & Turpin 42, Milford 28
- Friday, Dec. 15 vs. West Clermont, 6:00 p.m.
- 2017-18 Record: 3-1, 2-0 ECC (7th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Jasmine Hale (13.8 ppg)
- Last Meeting: First meeting
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Points per game: Morgan Hills (9.8), Azyiah Williams (7.2), Ali Kirk (6.7)
Assists per game: Azyiah Williams (2.5), Abby Thierauf (1.3), Bryn Rolfsen (0.8)
Rebounds per game: Abby Thierauf (6.8), Ali Kirk (5.5), Azyiah Williams (3.8)
Steals: Abby Thierauf (7), Ali Kirk/Bryn Rolfsen/Azyiah Williams (6)
Blocks: Abby Thierauf (6), Carlie Duesing/Morgan Hills (2)
Field goal percentage: Azyiah Williams (.381), Morgan Hills (.313), Ali Kirk (.286)
Three-point percentage: Ali Kirk (.500), Morgan Hills (.308), Azyiah Williams (.273)
Free throw percentage: Emily Bientz/Maddie Plucinski (1.000, Azyiah Williams (.571)
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. 11. Mount Notre Dame continues to be the No. 1 choice according to the coaches, earning 11 of the 19 first place votes that were cast. Mason and Lakota West shared the No. 2 spot, with the former picking up four first place votes and the latter three top nods. Fourth place McAuley received the final top vote with the ECC’s Walnut Hills rounding out the top-five. Other ranked ECC squads include West Clermont in seventh, Loveland in eighth and Kings among 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: 2 vs. Loveland; Career: 2 vs. Loveland (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: 1 three times; Career: 1 three times (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 four times; Career: 2 four 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: 1 twice; Career: 1 vs. Loveland (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)