SETTING THE SCENE: In its only contest in the week leading up to Christmas, the Milford High School boys basketball team will renew a non-conference rivalry when it travels to McNicholas on Wednesday night (Dec. 21). The match-up will pit the Eagles and the Rockets on the court for the fifth consecutive season, with Milford having been victorious in three of the four previous contests. Tip time at McNick is set for 7:30 p.m.
A LOOK BACK: December 13 vs. Loveland: Loveland 49, Milford 32
THE SHORT STORY
Milford fell victim to a scorching hot Loveland team as the Tigers made of 10 of 19 three-pointers en route to a 49-32 victory over the Eagles. The Tigers made seven of their three’s in the first half, while limiting Milford to only 19 percent shooting in the first half as the visitors raced to a 31-13 lead at the break.
RECORDS
Milford 2-2, 1-1 ECC
Loveland 3-1, 2-0 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Jake Ayler 13 points
Loveland
Mitch Robinson 16 points, 7 rebounds
Jalen Greiser 11 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: The Loveland victory a six-game series winning streak for the Eagles. The Tigers last bested their Miami Township rivals on the hardwood late in the 2012-13 season.
December 16 vs. Glen Este: Milford 60, Glen Este 53
THE SHORT STORY
The Eagles shot 52 percent in the second half to turn back a pesky Glen Este squad and pick up a 60-53 win over the Trojans. After leading by 11 at halftime, Milford watched as the Trojans cut the deficit to four during the second half before pulling away for the Eastern Cincinnati Conference triumph.
RECORDS
Milford 3-2, 2-1 Eastern Cincinnati Conference
Glen Este 1-3, 0-2 Eastern Cincinnati Conference
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Wes Reid 17 points
Jake Ayler 12 points, 4 rebounds
Jacob Riesenberg 6 points, 11 rebounds
Glen Este
Brad Gardner 25 points, 6 rebounds
A.J. Zambenedetti 11 points
NUGGET OF NOTE: Jacob Riesenberg set a career-high by pulling down 11 rebounds, while Wes Reid tallied his 17 points on the strength of connecting on all seven of his field goal attempts.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Wednesday, Dec. 21 at McNicholas, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 2-1, 1-1 GCL Co-Ed (7th Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Ryan Reidy (14.3 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 61, McNicholas 58
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 5 games:
Points per game: Wes Reid (10.8), Matt Kirk (9.4), Jacob Riesenberg (8.2)
Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.4), Wes Reid (1.6), Jake Ayler/Jacob Riesenberg (1.2)
Rebounds per game: Jacob Riesenberg (5.6), Matt Kirk (4.4), Wes Reid (3.6)
Steals: Nathan Gallimore (4), Jack Hannah (3), Five Tied (2)
Blocks: Jacob Riesenberg (3), Nathan Gallimore/Hunter Pollitt (2)
Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.760), Jacob Riesenberg (.457), Jack Hannah (.429)
Three-point percentage: Wes Reid (.600), Jake Ayler (.300), Nathan Gallimore (.286)
Free throw percentage: Wes Reid (.813), Jake Ayler (.727), Matt Kirk (.710)
INSIDE THE ECC: Loveland had a big week last week, knocking off both Milford and Kings to improve to 3-0 early in league play. A three-way tie for second that features Kings, Milford and Withrow trails the front-running Tigers, all at 2-1. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Tuesday-Glen Este at Walnut Hills.
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 vs. Glen Este; Career: 5 vs. Glen Este (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: N/A; Career: N/A
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 twice; Career: 1 twice (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: 14 vs. Anderson; Career: 14 vs. Anderson (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: N/A; Career: N/A
Brady Sluder
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A