SETTING THE SCENE: Off to a 2-1 start after one week of play, the Milford High School girls basketball squad is back on the court this week with a pair of match-ups inside the always competitive Eastern Cincinnati Conference. The start to the week comes on Wednesday night with a trip to inter-township nemesis Loveland. Then, its back home for the first time in nearly two weeks when the reigning ECC Champions from Glen Este comes calling on Saturday night.
A LOOK BACK: November 28 vs. Princeton: Princeton 70, Milford 64
THE SHORT STORY
Milford nearly overcame a 23-point halftime deficit before coming up just short to Princeton by a 70-64 score during the opening contest of the third annual Mercy Health Tipoff Classic. The Eagles twice clawed within four points in the final 3:30 of the game but could get no closer as the Vikings finished off the season-opening victory.
RECORDS
Milford 0-1
Princeton 1-0
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Tori Gilman 29 points, 8 steals
Ashli Sheldon 10 points, 7 rebounds
Olivia Redrow 9 points, 9 rebounds
Princeton
Willow White 22 points
Malika Wildon 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
NUGGET OF NOTE: Tori Gilman’s 29 points were easily a career-high (previous best 18) and were the most scored by a Milford player since Kelly Noll also scored 29 against McNicholas on Dec. 2, 2014. She was named Milford’s MVP for the Mercy Health Tipoff Classic game.
November 30 at Winton Woods: Milford 56, Winton Woods 41
THE SHORT STORY
Milford exploded for 21 points in the third quarter to break open a one-point halftime game en route to its first win of the season, a 56-41 triumph at Winton Woods. Hannah Thierauf had a career-game to lead the win for Milford, posting new personal-highs with 22 points and seven rebounds.
RECORDS
Milford 1-1
Winton Woods 1-1
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Hannah Thierauf 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals
Tori Gilman 17 points, 6 assists, 6 steals
Winton Woods
Tamara Olverson 14 points, 8 rebounds
Brianna Ball 10 points, 9 rebounds 5 blocks
NUGGET OF NOTE: Milford’s victory was the program’s sixth straight non-conference regular season road contest dating back to a Jan. 2015 defeat at Oak Hills.
December 3 at Anderson: Milford 49, Anderson 25
THE SHORT STORY
Milford held Anderson to just eight percent shooting in the first half and held a 21-point lead at the half, cruising to a 49-25 Eastern Cincinnati Conference victory at Anderson. The first half was a struggle for the Redskins who trailed by a 30-9 count at the half and the beginning of the second was no better as the Eagles led 44-12 after three quarters.
RECORDS
Milford 2-1, 1-0 ECC
Anderson 0-2, 0-1 ECC
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Hannah Thierauf 15 points
Tori Gilman 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Hayden White 7 points, 14 rebounds
Anderson
Natalie Dorsten 7 points, 8 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: The 14 rebounds grabbed by Hayden White represented a new career-high for the senior.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Wednesday, Dec 7 at Loveland, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 2-1, 0-1 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Katelyn Warden & freshman Kate Garry (8.0 ppg each)
- Last Meeting: 2015-16; Milford 52, Loveland 46 & Loveland 33, Milford 28
- Saturday, Dec. 10 vs. Glen Este, 7:00 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 2-2, 0-1 ECC (7th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Returning Scorer: Junior Jasmine Hale (10.3 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2015-16; Glen Este 61, Milford 45 & Glen Este 48, Milford 44
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 3 games:
Points per game: Tori Gilman (20.0), Hannah Thierauf (14.7), Ashli Sheldon (6.3)
Assists per game: Tori Gilman (4.0), Olivia Redrow (1.7), Hayden White (1.3)
Rebounds per game: Hayden White (8.7), Olivia Redrow/Katelyn Rheude (6.7)
Steals: Tori Gilman (16), Hannah Thierauf (6), Hayden White (5)
Blocks: Ashli Sheldon (3), Four Tied (1)
Field goal percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.452), Tori Gilman (.442), Hayden White (.333)
Three-point percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.714), Ashli Sheldon (.286), Tori Gilman (.250)
Free throw percentage: Katelyn Rheude (.800), Hannah Thierauf (.786), Ali Kirk (.667)
INSIDE THE ECC: The first week of conference play saw Kings, Milford, Turpin and Walnut Hills each picking up victories. Walnut’s win was a big one as they defeated reigning conference champs Glen Este. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Wednesday-Milford at Loveland, Turpin at Glen Este, Anderson at Kings and Withrow at Walnut Hills. Saturday-Glen Este at Milford, Walnut Hills at Turpin, Kings at Loveland and Anderson at Withrow.
POLL WATCH: For the second consecutive week, Milford received votes in the Division I area coaches’ poll, sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mason continues to be the heavy favorite, having earned 21 of the 22 first place votes cast. No. 2 Lakota West earned the other top nod, with the GGCL trio of Mount Notre Dame, McAuley and Ursuline rounding out the top-five. Walnut Hills’ win over Glen Este pushed them to sixth, one spot better than the Trojans. Kings, Loveland, Turpin and Withrow join Milford in the others section.
The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Kyrsten Brown
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: 2 at Anderson; Career: 2 at Anderson (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 at Anderson; Career: 1 at Anderson (2016-17)
Tori Gilman
Points—Season: 29 vs. Princeton; Career: 29 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 6 at Anderson; Career: 7 vs. Anderson (2015-16)
Assists—Season: 6 at Winton Woods; Career: 6 twice
Ali Kirk
Points—Season: 2 vs. Princeton; Career: 2 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. Princeton; Career: vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 at Anderson; Career: 2 at Anderson (2016-17)
Maddie Plucinski
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Olivia Redrow
Points—Season: 9 vs. Princeton; Career: 9 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 9 vs. Princeton; Career: vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2016-17)
Katelyn Rheude
Points—Season: 7 at Winton Woods; Career: 12 at Anderson (2015-16)
Rebounds—Season: 8 at Winton Woods; Career: 8 at Winton Woods (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 at Winton Woods; Career: 2 at Winton Woods (2016-17)
Bryn Rolfsen
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Princeton; Career: 5 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 vs. Princeton; Career: 1 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Ashli Sheldon
Points—Season: 10 vs. Princeton; Career: 10 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 7 vs. Princeton; Career: 7 vs. Princeton (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)
Abby Thierauf
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Hannah Thierauf
Points—Season: 22 at Winton Woods; Career: 22 at Winton Woods (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 7 at Winton Woods; Career: 7 at Winton Woods (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 at Winton Woods; Career: 2 at Winton Woods (2016-17)
Hayden White
Points—Season: 7 at Anderson; Career: 11 vs. Middletown (2015-16)
Rebounds—Season: 14 at Anderson; Career: 14 at Anderson (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Princeton; Career: 2 seven times