SETTING THE SCENE: For the second time in three weeks, the Milford High School boys basketball team will take to the court for a trio of contests in the week ahead. The Eagles have hit a bit of a rough patch as of late, having dropped three of their last five outings. This week is heavy on non-conference action as Milford will travel to Shroder on Tuesday night, before hosting Winton Woods on Saturday evening. Sandwiched in between is a Friday night battle with Eastern Cincinnati Conference foe Turpin. The Eagles enter this week 9-5 overall and tied for second in the ECC race at 7-3.

A LOOK BACK: January 20 vs. Loveland: Milford 49, Loveland 38

GAME REWIND

Milford shot 57 percent from the field in the first half, then held off a spirited second half comeback from Loveland to pick up a 49-38 win over the Tigers and sweep the season series. Five straight points by Jalen Greiser to start the fourth quarter brought Loveland to within three points, but the Eagles scored 10 of the game’s last 12 points to score the victory.

RECORDS

Milford 9-4, 7-2 ECC

Loveland 5-9, 3-5 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Steven Huxell 13 points

Nathan Gallimore 10 points, 7 rebounds

Cade Riesenberg 7 points, 7 rebounds

Loveland

Jalen Greiser 22 points

NUGGET OF NOTE: Playing significant minutes for the first time this season, junior Cade Riesenberg responded by posting career-highs in both points (seven) and rebounds (seven).

FINAL GAME STATS

January 26 at West Clermont: West Clermont 56, Milford 34

GAME REWIND

Very little went right for Milford as West Clermont salvaged a split as the season series between the schools with a 56-34 triumph. The Wolves were red hot shooting all night long, shooting 62 percent for the game to just 30 for the Eagles.

RECORDS

Milford 9-5, 7-3 ECC

West Clermont 10-4, 5-4 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Nathan Gallimore 10 points

West Clermont

John Aicholtz 17 points

Alex Puckett 11 points

NUGGET OF NOTE: In Milford’s four losses this season, three opponents, including West Clermont, have shot better than 52 percent in the game. The Wolves’ final 61.8% was the highest shooting percentage yielded by Milford this season.

FINAL GAME STATS

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

• Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Shroder, 7:30 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 3-13, 1-6 GMAC (RV Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Brandon Doss (15.4 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2015-16; Milford 64, Shroder 58
• Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Turpin, 7:30 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 1-14, 0-10 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Junior Nick Hadad (13.9 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2017-18; Milford 52, Turpin 35
• Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Winton Woods, 7:00 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 9-4 (10^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Junior Greg Tribble (16.6 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2009-10; Winton Woods 76, Milford 57 & Milford 75, Winton Woods 59

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

Points per game: Jake Ayler (13.6), Steven Huxell (10.2), Nathan Gallimore (9.4)

Assists per game: Steven Huxell (2.1), Nathan Gallimore (1.8), Jake Ayler (1.7)

Rebounds per game: Brady Sluder (4.2), Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (4.1)

Steals: Steven Huxell (16), A.J. Dickerson (11), Caleb Farrell/Nathan Gallimore (10)

Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (17), Brady Sluder (8), Connor Foster (5)

Field goal percentage: Hunter Pollitt (.552), Jake Ayler (.508), Brady Sluder (.492)

Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.486), Nathan Gallimore (.419), Steven Huxell (.415)

Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.796), Nathan Gallimore (.789), AJ Dickerson (.688)

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 (7), Nathan Gallimore (2), Steven Huxell (2), Connor Foster (1), Jake Ayler/Steven Huxell (1), Nathan Gallimore/Steven Huxell (1).

INSIDE THE ECC: Walnut Hills continues to show the way in the race for the ECC Championship as they are 10-0 and have opened a three-game lead over Milford and Withrow. The Eagles and Tigers are the only squads still in the running as just four conference games remain for each of the front runners. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Friday-Turpin at Milford, West Clermont at Kings, Walnut Hills at Anderson and Withrow at Loveland.

POLL WATCH: Milford continues to receive votes in the Jan. 29 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll. The hot battle for the top spot is led by Princeton this week which holds an 8-6 advantage in first place votes over Moeller. Oak Hills, Walnut Hills from the ECC and Mason who complete the top-five. The ECC is also represented by West Clermont in ninth, with Withrow joining Milford in the others receiving votes section. 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: 8 at Lebanon; Career: 8 at Lebanon (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 4 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 4 vs. Walnut Hills (2017-18)

A.J. Dickerson

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

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

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

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: 5 at Turpin; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)

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

Assists—Season: 3 three times; Career: 3 three times (2017-18)

Connor Foster

Points—Season: 13 vs. Kings; Career: 13 vs. Kings (2017-18)

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

Assists—Season: 2 vs. Kings; Career: 2 vs. Kings (2017-18)

Nathan Gallimore

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

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

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

Adam Harris

Points—Season: 3 at West Clermont; Career: 3 at West Clermont (2017-18)

Rebounds— Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Steven Huxell

Points—Season: 16 twice; Career: 16 twice (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: 5 at Turpin; Career: 5 at Turpin (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 2 twice; Career: 2 twice (2017-18)

Hunter Pollitt

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

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

Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 four times

Cade Riesenberg

Points—Season: 7 vs. Loveland; Career: 7 vs. Loveland (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 7 vs. Loveland; Career: 7 vs. Loveland (2017-18)

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

Brady Sluder

Points—Season: 10 at Withrow; Career: 10 at Withrow (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 9 at Turpin; Career: 9 at Turpin (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 3 vs. Kings; Career: 3 vs. Kings (2017-18)

Grant Whitaker

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds— Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A