SETTING THE SCENE: In the midst of a stretch of five of six games on the road, the Milford High School boys basketball will lace up its sneakers twice this week with a pair of Eastern Cincinnati Conference road contests. Coming off a disappointing loss to Anderson last time out, the Eagles (5-9, 3-5 ECC) will first look for revenge on Miami Township rival Loveland from an early season loss, before looking for the season sweep of Glen Este on Friday. The trip to GEHS will be the last time ever before the formation of West Clermont High next year.

A LOOK BACK: January 17 vs. Lebanon: Milford 53, Lebanon 43

THE SHORT STORY

The Eagles locked down on defense in the middle two quarters, allowing just 15 points as they picked up a 53-43 win over Lebanon. After opening its lead to a game-high 14 in the third period, the Eagles had to turn back an 11-0 run by the Warriors that brought them within three points. But Milford answered with a 9-0 spurt of its own to go back in front by a comfortable margin.

RECORDS

Milford 5-8

Lebanon 3-9

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Matt Kirk 14 points, 10 rebounds

Jacob Riesenberg 9 points, 6 rebounds

Nathan Gallimore 6 points, 5 assists

Lebanon

Parker Smith 16 points, 6 rebounds

Zach Huffman 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Dakota Allen 10 points, 4 assists

NUGGET OF NOTE: Senior Matt Kirk played his second straight excellent game for the Eagles, posting his first career double-double. It was the first double-double by an Eagle since Jack Engeelman scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a win over Turpin last February.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

January 20 at Anderson: Anderson 61, Milford 57

THE SHORT STORY

Milford watched an 11-point lead after three quarters evaporate as Anderson streaked by the Eagles by a 61-57 count. The Redskins came alive on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors by a 21-6 count as they made 6 of 14 field goals, to just 1 of 9 for Milford.

RECORDS

Milford 5-9, 3-5 ECC

Anderson 5-7, 3-5 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Matt Kirk 13 points

Jake Ayler 10 points

Jacob Riesenberg 9 points, 8 rebounds

Anderson

Jay Tiemeyer 22 points

Ben Sommer 18 points

Jake Newton 12 points

NUGGET OF NOTE: Milford’s seven three-pointers made was a season-high, as were the squad’s 14 assists.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:

• Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Loveland, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 7-7, 4-4 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Mitch Robinson (10.9 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Loveland 49, Milford 32
• Friday, Jan. 27 at Glen Este, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 6-7, 3-5 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Brad Gardner (13.6 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 60, Glen Este 53

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 14 games:

Points per game: Matt Kirk (10.1), Jake Ayler (8.6), Jacob Riesenberg (8.2)

Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.1), Wes Reid (1.5), Three tied (1.2)

Rebounds per game: Matt Kirk/Jacob Riesenberg (4.9), Wes Reid (3.1)

Steals: Nathan Gallimore/Matt Kirk/Wes Reid (7)

Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (10), Jacob Riesenberg (7), Nathan Gallimore/Matt Kirk (2)

Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.586), Jacob Riesenberg (.510), Jake Ayler (.486)

Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.433), Nathan Gallimore (.375), Kyle Minton (.364)

Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.750), Wes Reid (.737), Matt Kirk (.716)

INSIDE THE ECC: Another win last week for Walnut Hills keeps the Eagles atop the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings, now with a two-game lead at 7-1. Kings is second at 5-3, with Loveland and Turpin just behind at 4-4. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Tuesday-Milford at Loveland, Anderson at Kings, Walnut Hills at Withrow and Turpin at Glen Este. Friday-Milford at Glen Este, Walnut Hills at Turpin, Kings at Loveland and Withrow at Anderson.

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, released on Jan. 23. Moeller continues to be the clear favorite of the voting coaches, this week earning all 13 of No. 1 votes. The rest of the top-five continues to features LaSalle, Oak Hills, Mason and Lakota East. The ECC is represented by Walnut Hills in sixth, Kings in ninth and Withrow 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: 16 at Kings; Career: 16 at Kings (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. Glen Este; Career: 4 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2016-17)

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 2 three times; Career: 2 three times (2016-17)

Nathan Gallimore

Points—Season: 13 at Kings; Career: 13 at Kings (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 5 three times; Career: 5 three times (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 5 twice; Career: 5 twice (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 twice; Career: 2 twice (2016-17)

Steven Huxell

Points—Season: 3 at Kings; Career: 3 at Kings (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Diamonte Johnson

Points—Season: 5 at Taft; Career: 5 at Taft (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 2 at Kings; Career: 2 at Kings (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)

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: 10 vs. Lebanon; Career: 10 vs. Lebanon (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2016-17)

Double-doubles—Season 1; Career 1

Kyle Minton

Points—Season: 6 vs. Withrow; Career: 6 vs. Withrow (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 6 at Anderson; Career: 6 at Anderson (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 six times; Career: 1 six times (2016-17)

Hunter Pollitt

Points—Season: 6 at Taft; Career: 6 at Taft (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 7 vs. Turpin; Career: 7 vs. Turpin (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)

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: 4 at Anderson; Career: 4 at Anderson (2016-17)

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 twice; Career: 3 twice (2016-17)

Brady Sluder

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: 1 at Kings; Career: 1 at Kings (2016-17)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A