SETTING THE SCENE: After getting back in the win column with a home triumph over Withrow last Friday, the Milford High School boys basketball team is back on the court this week for a pair of contests. The Eagles enter the week sporting a 4-8 overall mark and remain in the thick of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference race with a 3-4 league record. This week tips off with a home non-conference tilt against Lebanon on Tuesday night, before the second round of the ECC round robin begins when the Eagles visit Anderson on Friday evening.

A LOOK BACK: January 10 at Kings: Kings 55, Milford 44

THE SHORT STORY

The Eagles couldn’t overcome a disastrous first half that saw them score just nine points, but a strong second half made it close as Kings handed Milford a 55-44 setback. After connecting on just three first half field goals, the Eagles shot a blistering 63% after the break, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 19-point halftime deficit.

RECORDS

Milford 3-8, 2-4 ECC

Kings 7-3, 5-1 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Jake Ayler 16 points

Nathan Gallimore 13 points

Kings

Matt Sichterman 13 points

Tyler Mitchell 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Clay Spivey 10 points

NUGGET OF NOTE: For the second game in a row, sophomore Jake Ayler established a new career-high as he posted a game-high 16 points.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

January 13 vs. Withrow: Milford 53, Withrow 42

THE SHORT STORY

Milford pulled away from a closely contested first half to snap its six-game losing streak with a 53-42 home win over Withrow. After leading by just one at the half, the Eagles’ lead never shrunk below four after the early portion of the third quarter as Milford closed out the win. The Eagles sealed it in the fourth by making 13 of 16 free throws in the last eight minutes, including 7 of 7 by senior Matt Kirk.

RECORDS

Milford 4-8, 3-4 ECC

Withrow 6-6, 2-5 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Matt Kirk 15 points, 9 rebounds

Wes Reid 13 points

Withrow

Davon Jorden 14 points

Albert Kalala 10 points, 12 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: The Eagles made a season-high 21 free throws (on 27 attempts), matching their season-best by shooting 78% from the line.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

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

• Tuesday, Jan. 17 vs. Lebanon, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 3-8, 1-5 GWOC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Parker Smith (16.8 ppg)
• Last Meeting: N/A
• Friday, Jan. 20 at Anderson, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 4-6, 2-5 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Ben Sommer (16.4 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 50, Anderson 37

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 12 games:

Points per game: Matt Kirk (9.6), Jake Ayler (8.5), Jacob Riesenberg (8.1)

Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (1.8), Wes Reid (1.4), Matt Kirk (1.3)

Rebounds per game: Matt Kirk (4.7), Jacob Riesenberg (4.6), Wes Reid (3.3)

Steals: Nathan Gallimore/Wes Reid (7), Matt Kirk (5)

Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (10), Jacob Riesenberg (5), Nathan Gallimore/Matt Kirk (2)

Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.600), Jacob Riesenberg (.581), Jake Ayler (.500)

Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.435), Nathan Gallimore (.362), Wes Reid (.273)

Free throw percentage: Wes Reid (.794), Jake Ayler (.750), Matt Kirk (.726)

INSIDE THE ECC: With wins over fellow front runners Kings and Loveland last week, Walnut Hills has risen to the top of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings at 6-1. The Knighs (5-2) and Tigers (4-3) remain within striking distance with a cackle of Glen Este, Milford and Turpin just behind, each at 3-4. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Friday-Milford at Anderson, Walnut Hills at Glen Este, Loveland at Turpin and Kings at Withrow.

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, released on Jan. 16. Moeller continues to be the clear favorite of the voting coaches, this week earning all nine 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 seventh and Loveland and Withrow each earning 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: 2 three times; Career: 2 three times (2016-17)

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: 2 four times; Career: 2 four times (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 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 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

Diomante 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: 9 twice; Career: 9 twice (2016-17)

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

Kyle Minton

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

Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Glen Este; Career: 3 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 five times; Career: 1 five 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: 3 three times; Career: 3 six 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 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