SETTING THE SCENE: Following a huge non-conference win and a heartbreaking home loss last week, the Milford High School boys basketball team will look to wrap up the regular season on a high note with wins in the last pair of games on the schedule. Entering the week 7-13 overall and 4-8 in league play, the highlight of the week comes first on Tuesday with a Senior Night celebration against Kings. Then, it’s not only the regular season finale, but also a first round OHSAA Tournament preview when the Eagles travel to Withrow on Friday. The game, which was originally scheduled to be played at Cincinnati State, will now be back on Withrow’s campus following the recent completion of its new gym floor.

TOURNEY TALK: The Eagles will open OHSAA Tournament play against a familiar face as they have drawn Eastern Cincinnati Conference rival Withrow in the first round. Though Milford is in the Hamilton sectional, the game will be played at Lakota West High School on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. Familiarity will be the name of the first two rounds as the Milford-Withrow winner will take on another ECC member in Anderson in the tournament’s second round. Click here for Milford’s sectional tournament draw.

A LOOK BACK: February 7 at Northwest: Milford 68, Northwest 60

THE SHORT STORY

The Eagles played one of their best offensive games of the season as they knocked off top-10 squad Northwest by a 68-60 score on the Knights’ home court. A seesaw first quarter gave way to a Milford explosion in the second as the Eagles took a seven-point halftime lead. After another strong third period, the Eagles saw Northwest close to within two in the waning moments, but the visitors made 10 of 12 free throws in the last two minutes to seal the win.

RECORDS

Milford 7-12

Northwest 14-5

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Matt Kirk 30 points, 8 rebounds

Jake Ayler 11 points

Jacob Riesenberg 9 points, 17 rebounds

Northwest

Ronnell Turner 38 points, 5 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: Matt Kirk’s 30 points were most by a Milford player since Will Hannah scored 30 at Colerain on Jan. 3, 2015. In addition, Jacob Riesenberg’s 17 rebounds were most by an Eagle since Trevor Bullock had 17 against Sycamore on Nov. 30, 2013

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

February 10 vs. Walnut Hills: Walnut Hills 77, Milford 75 (3OT)

THE SHORT STORY

In one of the most entertaining games in recent Milford basketball history, the Eagles battled through regulation and three overtimes, before coming up just short at the buzzer, 77-75 to Walnut Hills. Walnut’s Kenny Thompson went the length of the floor in the final seconds, connecting on the game-winning bucket to send the visiting Eagles to the triumph. Playing as the underdog, Milford led by as much as 12 in the third quarter before Walnut battled back, setting the stage for heroics left and right.

At the end of regulation, Walnut ran the clock down to one second, but Kameron Gibson’s three rattled out. OT number one was a repeat as Walnut again missed a three at the buzzer. In the second extra period, Nathan Gallimore canned a pair from the foul line with two seconds remaining to force yet another bonus session. The junior showed ice in his veins near the end of third OT as he tied the game for the 11^th time with a straightaway three. But Thompson then broke Milford’s hearts with his winning drive and score.

RECORDS

Milford 7-13, 4-8 ECC

Walnut Hills 12-6, 10-2 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Jacob Riesenberg 17 points, 14 rebounds

Wes Reid 17 points

Matt Kirk 16 points, 7 rebounds

Nathan Gallimore 16 points

Walnut Hills

Kameron Gibson 35 points

Kenny Thompson 16 points, 8 rebounds

Rob Brown 10 points, 6 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: For the second time in three games and second time this season, Milford placed four players in double figures in scoring. The outburst helped the Eagles to their most points since they scored 84 against Turpin on February 24, 2015.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

THANK YOU SENIORS: Senior Night is scheduled in conjunction with the Eagles’ Feb. 14 home finale against Kings. That evening, the 2017 Senior Class consisting of Jack Hannah, Diamonte Johnson, Matt Kirk, Wes Reid and Jacob Riesenberg will be honored for their contributions to Milford Basketball.

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

• Tuesday, Feb. 14 vs. Kings, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 9-11, 6-6 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Clay Spivey (10.6 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Kings 55, Milford 44
• Friday, Feb. 17 at Withrow, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 12-8, 7-5 ECC (9^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Davon Jorden (14.1 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 53, Withrow 42

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 20 games:

Points per game: Matt Kirk (11.5), Jacob Rieseneberg (8.9), Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (8.5)

Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.0), Wes Reid (1.7), Jacob Riesenberg (1.5)

Rebounds per game: Jacob Riesenberg (6.6), Matt Kirk (5.4), Three Tied (2.6)

Steals: Matt Kirk (14), Jake Ayler (13), Nathan Gallimore/Wes Reid (9)

Blocks: Jacob Riesenberg (11), Hunter Pollitt (10), Nathan Gallimore (3)

Field goal percentage: Wes Reid (.524), Jake Ayler (.472), Jacob Riesenberg (.468)

Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.419), Nathan Gallimore (.393), Wes Reid (.292)

Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.773), Matt Kirk (.733), Wes Reid (.725)

INSIDE THE ECC: Walnut Hills has clinched its third ECC title in the last five years as they enter the week 10-2 in league play. The battle for second is still on fire with Withrow at 7-5, one game better than the trio of Glen Este, Kings and Loveland. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Tuesday-Kings at Milford, Glen Este at Anderson, Withrow at Turpin and Walnut Hills at Loveland; Friday- Milford at Withrow, Loveland at Glen Este, Turpin at Anderson and Walnut Hills at Kings.

The schedule for ECC teams in the tournament includes:

No. 7 Walnut Hills vs. winner of No. 13 Fairfield-No. 20 Sycamore (Feb. 24, 8:00 p.m. at Lakota West), No. 9 Withrow vs. No. 24 Milford (Feb. 25, 8:00 p.m. at Lakota West), No. 14 Glen Este vs. No. 17 Middletown (Feb. 25, 5:00 p.m. at Fairfield), No. 18 Kings vs. No. 15 Amelia (Feb. 25, 6:00 p.m. at Lakota West), No. 19 Loveland vs. No. 21 Edgewood (Feb. 25, 8:00 p.m. at Fairfield), No. 22 Anderson vs. winner of No. 9 Milford-No. 24 Milford (March 1, 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton) and No. 26 Turpin vs. No. 5 Princeton (Feb. 23, 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton).

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the final weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll of the year. Undefeated Moeller picked up the poll crown for this year, earning all eight first place votes. The rest of the top-five features LaSalle, Oak Hills, Mason and Princeton. The ECC is represented by Walnut Hills in seventh and Withrow in ninth, along with Glen Este. 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 twice; Career: 4 twice (2016-17)

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

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: 7 at Glen Este; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)

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

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

Nathan Gallimore

Points—Season: 16 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 16 vs. Walnut Hills (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 6 at Northwest; Career: 6 at Northwest (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 twice; Career: 5 twice (2016-17)

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

Steven Huxell

Points—Season: 4 at Northwest; Career: 4 at Northwest (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 2 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 2 vs. Walnut Hills (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 1 vs. Walnut Hills

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 three times; Career: 1 three times (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: 30 at Northwest; Career: 30 at Northwest (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 eight times; Career: 1 eight 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 twice; Career: 4 twice (2016-17)

Jacob Riesenberg

Points—Season: 18 at McNicholas; Career: 18 at McNicholas (2016-17)

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

Assists—Season: 4 at Northwest; Career: 4 at Northwest (2016-17)

Brady Sluder

Points—Season: 1 at Glen Este; Career: 1 at Glen Este (2016-17)

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

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A