SETTING THE SCENE: A pair of challenging non-conference match-ups awaits the Milford High School boys basketball team as they bring the 2016 portion of this season’s schedule to a close. The Eagles are 3-3 on the season, following a slugfest set-back at McNicholas last week. The coming week features games against two teams that picked up victories over Milford last year. The slate opens with a visit from Fairfield on Tuesday night, marking the third Greater Miami Conference opponent Milford has faced this season. On Friday, the Eagles will head downtown for an afternoon matinee at Taft.
A LOOK BACK: December 21 at McNicholas: McNicholas 60, Milford 50
THE SHORT STORY
McNicholas opened the fourth quarter on a 12-4 run to turn a slim two-point third quarter edge into a double-digit lead, pulling away from Milford for a 60-50 non-conference win. The Eagles broke out of the opening tip to take an early 8-2 lead, but led for the final time midway through the third period as the Rockets pulled off the come-from-behind win.
RECORDS
Milford 3-3
McNicholas 3-1
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jacob Riesenberg 18 points, 6 rebounds
Matt Kirk 12 points, 6 rebounds
McNicholas
Cole Burdick 22 points, 6 rebounds
Ryan Reidy 13 points
Nathan Brunot 10 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: Senior Jacob Risenberg exploded for a career-high 18 points, while sophomore Jake Ayler, coming off back-to-back double figure scoring performances, earned his first career start.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Tuesday, Dec. 27 vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 4-1, 1-1 GMC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Seniors Andre Givens & Devonte Ross (10.0 ppg each)
- Last Meeting: 2015-16; Fairfield 61, Milford 47
- Friday, Dec. 30 at Taft, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 5-1, 1-1 CMAC (2nd Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Malek Green (19.7 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2015-16; Taft 60, Milford 56
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 6 games:
Points per game: Matt Kirk/Jacob Riesenberg (9.8), Wes Reid (9.3)
Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.7), Wes Reid (1.7), Jacob Riesenberg (1.2)
Rebounds per game: Jacob Riesenberg (5.7), Matt Kirk (4.7), Wes Reid (3.3)
Steals: Nathan Gallimore (5), Matt Kirk (4), Jack Hannah (3)
Blocks: Jacob Riesenberg (3), Nathan Gallimore/Hunter Pollitt (2)
Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.690), Jacob Riesenberg (.511), Jake Ayler (.424)
Three-point percentage: Wes Reid (.500), Jake Ayler (.273), Nathan Gallimore (.269)
Free throw percentage: Wes Reid (.813), Jake Ayler (.739), Matt Kirk (.686)
INSIDE THE ECC: Loveland has started the league season at a perfect 3-0 to take early command in the ECC standings. A logjam of Kings, Milford, Walnut Hills and Withrow all shared second place, each at 2-1 so far. The conference schedule is on a break until after the first of the year.
POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, released on Dec. 19. Moeller continues to hold the top-spot after receiving 9 of the 13 first place votes that were cast. Oak Hills earned the other four top nods and takes over the second spot after beating Mason last Friday night. LaSalle, Mason and Lakota East round out the top-five. The ECC is represented by Withrow in seventh, Walnut Hills in eighth, Kings in ninth and Loveland and 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: 13 vs. Loveland; Career: 13 vs. Loveland (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. Glen Este; Career: 4 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 2 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Caleb Farrell
Points—Season: 2 vs. Anderson; Career: 2 vs. Anderson (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Glen Este; Career: 3 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 2 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Nathan Gallimore
Points—Season: 12 at Princeton; Career: 12 at Princeton (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 5 twice; Career: 5 twice (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 5 vs. Sycamore; Career: 5 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Jack Hannah
Points—Season: 8 vs. Loveland; Career: 8 vs. Loveland (2106-17)
Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Glen Este; Career: 5 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Loveland; Career: 2 vs. Loveland (2016-17)
Diomante Johnson
Points—Season: 2 at McNicholas; Career: 2 at McNicholas (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
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: 16 at Princeton; Career: at Princeton (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 9 vs. Anderson; Career: 9 vs. Anderson (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2016-17)
Kyle Minton
Points—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Glen Este; Career: 3 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 three times; Career: 1 three times (2016-17)
Hunter Pollitt
Points—Season: 4 vs. Glen Este; Career: 4 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 2 twice; Career: 2 twice (2016-17)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
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: 3 twice; Career: 3 five times
Jacob Riesenberg
Points—Season: 18 at McNicholas; Career: 18 at McNicholas (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 11 vs. Glen Este; Career: 11 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2016-17)
Aaron Salva
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: 1 at McNicholas; Career: 1 at McNicholas (2016-17)
Brady Sluder
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A