SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School girls basketball team will look to close 2017 on a high note when the Eagles host Shroder in non-conference action on Thursday night. Tip time is set for 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will be looking to piece together a second straight victory after coming home triumphant from a trip to Clark Montessori in their only game of last week. Milford will be out to improve on a 2-7 record in its match-up with the Jaguars.

A LOOK BACK: December 20 at Clark Montessori: Milford 43, Clark Montessori 39

GAME REWIND

Milford started fast then held off a fourth quarter comeback by Clark Montessori to pick up a 43-39 road win. The Eagles rode five early points by Morgan Hills to a 7-2 lead then scored the final four points of the game to get back into the win column. After Clark knotted the score at 39, freshman Azyiah Williams swiped the ball from Jordan Nunn and fed Hills for the winning basket with 1:29 to play. Milford’s diminutive point guard then sealed the win with a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining.

RECORDS

Milford 2-7

Clark Montessori 6-2

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Morgan Hills 14 points

Maddie Plucinski 11 points

Azyiah Williams 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals

Ali Kirk 10 rebounds

Clark Montessori

Jordan Nunn 14 points, 10 rebounds

Dasia Thornton 13 points, 23 rebounds, 4 blocks

NUGGET OF NOTE: The 11 points by senior Maddie Plucinski along with the 10 rebounds by junior Ali Kirk both represented career-highs.

FINAL GAME STATS

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

• Thursday, Dec. 28 vs. Shroder, 7:30 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 8-1, 4-0 CMAC (RV Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Sophomore Dy’Jhanik Armfield (17.4 ppg)
• Last Meeting: N/A

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

Points per game: Morgan Hills (9.6), Azyiah Williams (6.8), Ali Kirk (5.3)

Assists per game: Azyiah Williams (2.2), Abby Thierauf (0.9), Morgan Hills (0.8)

Rebounds per game: Abby Thierauf (6.3), Ali Kirk (5.5), Azyiah Williams (3.6)

Steals: Azyiah Williams (13), Ali Kirk (10), Bryn Rolfsen (9)

Blocks: Abby Thierauf (13), Carlie Duesing/Morgan Hills (2)

Field goal percentage: Morgan Hills (.330), Azyiah Williams (.329), Ali Kirk (.279)

Three-point percentage: Morgan Hills (.313), Azyiah Williams (.190), Bryn Rolfsen (.167)

Free throw percentage: Maddie Plucinski (.727), Morgan Hills/Ali Kirk (.611)

INSIDE THE ECC: A highly competitive start to the conference season features three teams that are currently undefeated in ECC play. Loveland is showing the way at 5-0 with Walnut Hills and West Clermont each 4-0. A resurgent Anderson squad, after finishing 1-22 and 0-14 in the ECC last year, has started 3-2 in league play. The ECC schedule is now on a break until after the first of the year.

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the most recent Division I area coaches’ poll sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer and released on Dec. 25. Mount Notre Dame continues to be the No. 1 choice according to the coaches, but holds just a two point advantage over second place Lakota West. MND received eight first place votes this week to four for second place LWHS. The balance of the top-five includes Mason, Walnut Hills of the ECC and McAuley. Also representing the ECC are Loveland in sixth and West Clermont in eighth, along with Turpin receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs

Emily Bientz

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

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Kyrsten Brown

Points—Season: 6 vs. Northwest; Career: 6 vs. Northwest (2017-18)

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

Assists—Season: 1 at Clark Montessori; Career: 1 three times

Izzy Dadosky

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Carlie Duesing

Points—Season: 5 at Anderson; Career: 4 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)

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

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Brookelyn Edgar

Points—Season: 1 vs. Northwest; Career: 1 vs. Northwest (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 1 four times; Career: 1 four times (2017-18)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Hannah Gallimore

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Morgan Hills

Points—Season: 14 twice; Career: 14 twice (2017-18)

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

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

Ali Kirk

Points—Season: 14 vs. Hillsboro; Career: 14 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 10 at Clark Montessori; Career: 10 at Clark Montessori (2017-18)

Assists—Season: 2 at Clark Montessori; Career: 2 twice

Maddie Plucinski

Points—Season: 11 at Clark Montessori; Career: 11 at Clark Montessori (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 4 at Clark Montessori; Career: 4 at Clark Montessori (2017-18)

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

Sydney Poleski

Points—Season: 1 at McNicholas; Career: 1 at McNicholas (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 1 three times; Career: 1 three times (2017-18)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Bryn Rolfsen

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

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

Assists—Season: 2 at McNicholas; Career: 2 three times

Abby Thierauf

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

Rebounds—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)

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

Caitlyn Wiscombe

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

Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Turpin; Career: 5 vs. Turpin (2017-18)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Azyiah Williams

Points—Season: 14 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)

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

Assists—Season: 6 vs. Northwest; Career: 6 vs. Northwest (2017-18)