SETTING THE SCENE: Looking to snap a modest two-game losing streak, the Milford High School girls basketball team will take to the hardwood this week against two of the top three teams in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in the coming days. The Eagles enter this week with a 2-3 overall record and are 1-2 early in the ECC schedule. This week kicks off with a visit to Turpin, one of two unbeaten teams in the league, with a return home to host Walnut Hills also on tap.

A LOOK BACK: December 7 at Loveland: Loveland 56, Milford 52

THE SHORT STORY

A spirited fourth quarter wasn’t enough for Milford to overcome a difficult third period as the Eagles dropped a 56-52 decision at arch-rival Loveland. Milford trailed by just three at halftime, but connected on just 1 of 10 third quarter shots as the Tigers built an insurmountable lead. MHS trailed by 11 late in the fourth, but used a 7-0 run to climb within four in the last minute of play, only to see the Tigers close out the win from the foul line.

RECORDS

Milford 2-2, 1-1 Eastern Cincinnati Conference

Loveland 3-1, 1-1 Eastern Cincinnati Conference

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Tori Gilman 18 points, 4 assists, 4 steals

Ashli Sheldon 10 points, 5 rebounds

Katelyn Rheude 10 points, 6 steals

Loveland

Marie Plitt 13 points, 8 rebounds

Katelyn Warden 10 points

Jillian Hayes 8 points, 9 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: Sophomore Ali Kirk scored her first career varsity points with a three-pointer at the buzzer of the fourth quarter.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

December 10 vs. Glen Este: Glen Este 45, Milford 43

THE SHORT STORY

For the second straight game, Milford nearly overcame a fourth quarter deficit before ultimately coming up just short, this time a 45-43 setback to Glen Este. After falling behind by 11 early in the fourth, the Eagles blasted into the lead with 2:19 to go as a three-pointer by Hannah Thierauf capped a 15-3 Milford run. But the senior’s triple would end up being the Eagles’ final points of the night as a serious of misses and Kaylin Burdick’s go-ahead jumper sealed Milford’s fade.

RECORDS

Milford 2-3, 1-2 Eastern Cincinnati Conference

Glen Este 3-3, 1-2 Eastern Cincinnati COnference

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Hannah Thierauf 16 points

Tori Gilman 10 points, 5 steals

Olivia Redrow 6 points, 10 rebounds

Glen Este

Jasmine Hale 11 points, 8 rebounds

Dakota Reeves 8 points, 10 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: With her 10-point, 5-steal, 3-assist performance, Gilman concludes the week as the ECC’s leader in all three categories. She is averaging 17.6 points, 3.8 assists and 5.0 steals per game this season.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

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

• Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Turpin, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 5-1, 3-0 ECC (8^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Kaitlyn Workman (13.3 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 47, Turpin 34; Turpin 49, Milford 42 & Milford 42, Turpin 40
• Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Walnut Hills, 2:00 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 5-1, 2-1 ECC (9^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Sophomore Kennedi Myles (15.0 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Walnut Hills 52, Milford 50 & Walnut Hills 52, Milford 46

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 5 games:

Points per game: Tori Gilman (17.6), Hannah Thierauf (13.4), Ashli Sheldon (6.4)

Assists per game: Tori Gilman (3.8), Hayden White (1.4), Olivia Redrow (1.2)

Rebounds per game: Olivia Redrow (7.2), Hayden White (6.4), Katelyn Rheude (5.6)

Steals: Tori Gilman (25), Katelyn Rheude (11), Hannah Thierauf (9)

Blocks: Katelyn Rheude/Ashli Sheldon (3), Tori Gilman/Hayden White (2)

Field goal percentage: Tori Gilman (.440), Hannah Thierauf (.382), Ashli Sheldon (.262)

Three-point percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.643), Ashli Sheldon (.300), Tori Gilman (.286)

Free throw percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.800), Katelyn Rheude (.727), Tori Gilman (.588)

INSIDE THE ECC: A surprising Kings team is one of two ECC squads that have opened this season a perfect 3-0 in league play, joining Turpin at the top of the standings. Walnut Hills sits in third at 2-1, ahead of three squads, including Milford, each tied at 1-2.  The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Wednesday-Milford at Turpin, Kings at Glen Este and Loveland at Withrow; Saturday-Walnut Hills at Milford, Turpin at Kings, Withrow at Glen Este and Anderson at Loveland.

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in this week’s edition of the Division I area coaches’ poll, presented by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mason is the heavy favorite, earning 16 of the 19 first place votes. Lakota West with one vote, Mount Notre Dame, McAuley with one vote and Ursuline with one make up the top-five. The ECC is represented by Walnut Hills in sixth, Turpin in eighth, Glen Este in ninth and Kings, Loveland and Withrow 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: 2 at Anderson; Career: 2 at Anderson (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 at Anderson; Career: 1 at Anderson (2016-17)

Tori Gilman

Points—Season: 29 vs. Princeton; Career: 29 vs. Princeton (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 6 at Anderson; Career: 7 vs. Anderson (2015-16)

Assists—Season: 6 at Winton Woods; Career: 6 twice

Ali Kirk

Points—Season: 3 at Loveland; Career: 3 at Loveland (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 4 vs. Princeton; Career: vs. Princeton (2016-17)

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

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: 9 vs. Princeton; Career: 9 vs. Princeton (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 10 vs. Glen Este; Career: 10 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)

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

Katelyn Rheude

Points—Season: 10 at Loveland; Career: 12 at Anderson (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: 8 at Winton Woods; Career: 8 at Winton Woods (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 2 at Winton Woods; Career: 2 at Winton Woods (2016-17)

Bryn Rolfsen

Points—Season: 4 vs. Glen Este; Career: 4 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 5 vs. Princeton; Career: 5 vs. Princeton (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 vs. Princeton; Career: 1 vs. Princeton (2016-17)

Ashli Sheldon

Points—Season: 10 twice; Career: 10 twice (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 7 vs. Princeton; Career: 7 vs. Princeton (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (2016-17)

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: 22 at Winton Woods; Career: 22 at Winton Woods (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: 7 at Winton Woods; Career: 7 at Winton Woods (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 2 at Winton Woods; Career: 2 at Winton Woods (2016-17)

Hayden White

Points—Season: 7 at Anderson; Career: 11 vs. Middletown (2015-16)

Rebounds—Season: 14 at Anderson; Career: 14 at Anderson (2016-17)

Assists—Season: 2 twice; Career: 2 eight times