SETTING THE SCENE: Before embarking on a stretch of four straight Eastern Cincinnati Conference match-ups, the Milford High School boys basketball team will make a Friday night journey to Edgewood for the Eagles’ final game of 2017. The Eagles are flying high this season, opening the year with wins in five of their first six games. The match-up at Edgewood, Milford’s second this year against a member of the Southwest Ohio Conference, is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m.

A LOOK BACK: December 20 vs. McNicholas: McNicholas 53, Milford 46

GAME REWIND

Despite winning two quarters and tying in another, Milford couldn’t overcome an 18-2 deficit after eight minutes of play as McNicholas downed the Eagles 53-46. After falling behind by a game-high 19 with under four minutes left in the third, the Eagles scored the game’s next 14 points to claw within seven near the midpoint of the third. With under a minute remaining, Milford fought to within four, but the Rockets made 6 of 6 free throws to put the game away.

RECORDS

Milford 5-1

Milford 5-0

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Jake Ayler 17 points, 6 rebounds

Nathan Gallimore 14 points, 5 rebounds

Steven Huxell 11 points, 5 rebounds

McNicholas

Ryan Reidy 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals

James Ehlers 13 points

Cole Burdick 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists

NUGGET OF NOTE: Milford’s first loss of the year coincided with losing the rebounding battle (53-46) for the first time this year.

FINAL GAME STATS

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

• Friday, Dec. 29 at Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 3-4, 1-2 SWOC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Austin Scott (9.7 ppg)
• Last Meeting: N/A

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

Points per game: Jake Ayler (14.8), Steven Huxell (11.5), Nathan Gallimore (10.0)

Assists per game: Steven Huxell (3.0), Nathan Gallimore (2.3), Jake Ayler (1.7)

Rebounds per game: Nathan Gallimore (5.0), Jake Ayler/Steven Huxell (4.5)

Steals: Steven Huxell (10), Caleb Farrell/Nathan Gallimore (5)

Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (9), Connor Foster (3), Jack Liles/Brady Sluder (1)

Field goal percentage: Hunter Pollitt (.650), Jake Ayler (.527), Brady Sluder (.471)

Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.600), Steven Huxell (.500), Nathan Gallimore (.438)

Free throw percentage: Nathan Gallimore (.800), Jake Ayler (.759), Brady Sluder (.750)

PLENTY TO GO AROUND: The Eagles feature a roster with the potential to have a different leading scorer virtually every game. Throughout their careers on varsity and developmental levels, several players have shown the ability to be big-time scorers. Here is a look at the players who have led the Eagles in scoring this season: Jake Ayler (4), Nathan Gallimore (1), Steven Huxell (1).

INSIDE THE ECC: Milford and Walnut Hills have each jumped to 3-0 starts in league play to pace the ECC standings early. Loveland and Withrow are just behind at 2-1 each. The schedule for ECC conference games will now take a break until after the first of the year.

POLL WATCH: Milford placed seventh in the most recent Cincinnati Enquirer area Division I coaches’ poll that was released on Dec. 25. Moeller edged Princeton for the No. 1 position, with each squad earning five first place votes. Mason, Oak Hills and Walnut Hills from the ECC round out the top-five. West Clermont comes in ninth this week, with Withrow, Kings and Loveland all 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: 21 at Sycamore; Career: 21 at Sycamore (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 6 twice; Career: 6 twice (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 four times

A.J. Dickerson

Points—Season: 8 at Loveland; Career: 8 at Loveland (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 3 at Harrison; Career: 3 at Harrison (2017-18)

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: 3 at Harrison; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2017-18)

Connor Foster

Points—Season: 8 at Loveland; Career: 8 at Loveland (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. McNicholas; Career: 4 vs. McNicholas (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 1 vs. West Clermont; Career: 1 vs. West Clermont (2017-18)

Nathan Gallimore

Points—Season: 19 Anderson; Career: 19 at Anderson (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 8 at Anderson; Career: 8 at Anderson (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 6 at Harrison; Career: 6 at Harrison (2017-18)

Steven Huxell

Points—Season: 16 at Harrison; Career: 16 at Harrison (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 7 at Sycamore; Career: 7 at Sycamore (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 5 at Anderson; Career: 5 at Anderson (2017-18)

Jack Liles

Points—Season: 4 at Harrison; Career: 4 at Harrison (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Hunter Pollitt

Points—Season: 9 at Sycamore; Career: 9 at Sycamore (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 4 twice; Career: 7 vs. Turpin (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 at Sycamore; Career: 1 three times

Cade Riesenberg

Points—Season: 2 at Sycamore; Career: 2 at Sycamore (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Brady Sluder

Points—Season: 5 twice; Career: 5 twice (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 5 at Sycamore; Career: 5 at Sycamore (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2017-18)