SETTING THE SCENE: Coming off a season-opening win over Sycamore last Friday night, the Milford High School boys basketball squad is back on the hardwood this week with a pair of contests, including the opening to Eastern Cincinnati Conference play. The week tips off with a tough non-conference trip to Princeton for the Eagles. Then, the rigors of ECC play begin on Friday night when Anderson visits MHS Gymnasium on Friday (Dec. 9). Tip off for both contests is set for 7:30 p.m.
A LOOK BACK: December 2 vs. Sycamore: Milford 53, Sycamore 44
THE SHORT STORY
Playing with a nearly entire new cast of characters, the Eagles opened the 2016-17 season with a 53-44 non-conference win over Sycamore. After a close first half that saw Milford lead by just two at halftime, the Eagles blistered the Aves by shooting 60 percent in the second half to pull away for the win. In addition to shooting 56 percent from the floor, the Eagles defense also got the job done by limiting Sycamore to just 28 percent shooting. The game was the opener in third annual Mercy Health Tipoff Classic.
RECORDS
Milford 1-0
Sycamore 0-1
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Wes Reid 20 points, 8 rebounds
Matt Kirk 14 points, 5 rebounds
Sycamore
Jaden Sayles 14 points, 7 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: Wes Reid had a huge game to tip-off his senior season as he earned game MVP honors by connecting on 7 of 8 shots, including a pair of three’s to finish with a career-high 20 points.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Princeton, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 0-1, 0-0 GMC (9th Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Scorer: Junior Darweshi Hunter (16.0 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2009-10; Princeton 65, Milford 44
- Friday, Dec. 9 vs. Anderson, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 0-0, 0-0 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Scorer: Senior Jake Newton (8.8 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2015-16; Milford 58, Anderson 52 & Anderson 63, Milford 49
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 1 game:
Points per game: Wes Reid (20.0), Matt Kirk (14.0), Nathan Gallimore (8.0)
Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (5.0), Three Tied (2.0)
Rebounds per game: Wes Reid (8.0), Matt Kirk (5.0), Nathan Gallimore (4.0)
Steals: Three Tied (1)
Blocks: Hunter Pollitt/Jacob Riesenberg (1)
Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.875), Nathan Gallimore (.600), Three Tied (.500)
Three-point percentage: Wes Reid (.667), Two Tied (.333)
Free throw percentage: Nathan Gallimore/Wes Reid (1.000), Matt Kirk (.700)
INSIDE THE ECC: Withrow took the first big shot at shaking up the ECC with a conference-opening win over Walnut Hills last Saturday night in the only league match-up to date. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Friday-Anderson at Milford, Turpin at Loveland, and Withrow at Kings.
POLL WATCH: For the second straight week, the Eagles are one of several teams receiving votes in the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Division I area coaches’ poll. The top of the poll remains the same with Moeller earning eight of the 11 first place votes that were cast. Teams in slots two through four (Oak Hills, LaSalle and Mason) each earned one top vote, with Lakota East rounding out the top-five. The ECC is well represented with Walnut Hills, Kings and Withrow holding the next three spots. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs
Jake Ayler
Points—Season: 3 vs. Sycamore; Career: 3 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Sycamore; Career: 3 3 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 2 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Caleb Farrell
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 2 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Nathan Gallimore
Points—Season: 8 vs. Sycamore; Career: 8 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. Sycamore; Career: 4 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 5 vs. Sycamore; Career: 5 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Jack Hannah
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: 1 vs. Sycamore; Career: 1 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 1 vs. Sycamore; Career: 1 vs. Sycamore (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: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Matt Kirk
Points—Season: 14 vs. Sycamore; Career: 15 at Kings (2015-16)
Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Sycamore; Career: 6 twice (2015-16)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 2 twice (2015-16)
Kyle Minton
Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
Hunter Pollitt
Points—Season: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 2 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 1 vs. Sycamore; Career: 1 vs. Sycamore (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: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 3 three times (2015-16)
Jacob Riesenberg
Points—Season: 6 vs. Sycamore; Career: 6 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Rebounds—Season: 2 vs. Sycamore; Career: 2 vs. Sycamore (2016-17)
Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A
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