SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School girls basketball team will tip-off the 2016-17 season with a packed first week as the Eagles hit the hardwood for a trio of contests in the coming week. The biggie of the week is also the opener as Milford will play host to the first game of the 2016 Mercy Health Tipoff Classic. The match-up will feature a visit from Princeton in a game with the extra pomp and circumstance of the third annual Classic. Milford, coming off the most successful campaign in two decades, also features road tilts at Winton Woods and the Eastern Cincinnati Conference opener at Anderson.

A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Last season was a great one for the Eagles as they won 18 games, finished third in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and advanced to the OHSAA Sectional Finals. But gone from that squad are three players who now have slots on college basketball rosters, leaving a new flock of Eagles ready to make their own name this winter. Head coach Kristi McKenney welcomes back a pair of starters from last year in senior point guard Tori Gilman and senior forward Hayden White. Gilman was an honorable mention All-ECC selection last year and is the Eagles’ top returning scorer at 6.9 points per game. She was also among the league’s best in both assists and steals last year. White was a beast on the boards for Milford last year and will have an opportunity to be a bigger force on offense as well. Fellow senior Katelyn Rheude also saw lots of varsity minutes last year. Other players who split time between varsity and junior varsity who should make an impact this year include seniors Olivia Redrow, Ashli Sheldon and Hannah Thierauf. Players new to this year’s varsity roster include juniors Kyrsten Brown, Maddie Plucinski and Bryn Rolfsen, sophomore Ali Kirk and freshman Abby Thierauf.

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

• Monday, Nov. 28 vs. Princeton, 7:30 p.m.
• 2015-16 Record: 7-17, 4-12 GMC (9^th Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Junior Malika Wildon (8.9 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2006-07; Princeton 73, Milford 41
• Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Winton Woods, 7:30 p.m.
• 2015-16 Record: 7-17 (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: N/A
• Last Meeting: 2015-16; Milford 56, Winton Woods 39
• Saturday, Dec. 3 at Anderson, 2:00 p.m.
• 2015-16 Record: 6-16, 3-13 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Senior Natalie Dorsten (3.9 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2015-16; Milford 38, Anderson 24 & Milford 57, Anderson 38

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

Points per game: Tori Gilman (6.9), Hayden White (3.6), Katelyn Rheude (2.3)

Assists per game: Tori Gilman (2.3), Hayden White (0.7), Katelyn Rheude (0.3)

Rebounds per game: Hayden White (5.6), Tori Gilman (1.9), Katelyn Rheude (1.2)

Steals: Tori Gilman (65), Hayden White (31), Katelyn Rheude (10)

Blocks: Hayden White (20), Tori Gilman (3), Olivia Redrow (1)

Field goal percentage: Katelyn Rheude (.457), Tori Gilman (.406), Hayden White (.368)

Three-point percentage: None

Free throw percentage: Katelyn Rheude (.778), Tori Gilman (.541), Hayden White (.488)

INSIDE THE ECC: Glen Este was one of the area’s best teams last season, finishing 21-2 overall and a perfect 14-0 in league play. The last ever squad to be fielded at Glen Este figures to be one of the top teams in the league again this winter. Early results this season show Walnut Hills at 2-0, with Loveland and Turpin also victorious in its openers. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Saturday-Milford at Anderson, Loveland at Turpin, Withrow at Kings and Walnut Hills at Glen Este.

POLL WATCH: The preseason Division I area coaches’ poll sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer features Mason as the favorite squad of the 13 voting coaches. The Comets received eight No. 1 nods, with Lakota West (three votes), Mount Notre Dame (one), McAuley (one) and Ursuline rounding out the top-five. The ECC is well represented by Glen Este in sixth, Walnut Hills in eighth and Kings, Milford, Loveland, Turpin and Anderson all receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs

Kyrsten Brown

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Tori Gilman

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 18 vs. Seton (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 7 vs. Anderson

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 6 at Withrow (2015-16)

Ali Kirk

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Maddie Plucinski

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Olivia Redrow

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 2 at Batavia (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 2 at Batavia (2015-16)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 2 at Batavia (2015-16)

Katelyn Rheude

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 12 at Anderson (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 4 twice (2015-16)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 1 seven times (2015-16)

Bryn Rolfsen

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Ashli Sheldon

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 2 at Batavia (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 2 twice (2015-16)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Abby Thierauf

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Hannah Thierauf

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 3 vs. Withrow (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 2 vs. Withrow (2015-16)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Hayden White

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 11 vs. Middletown (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 12 vs. Austintown-Fitch (2015-16)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 2 six times