SETTING THE SCENE: Searching for its first Eastern Cincinnati Conference win of the season, the Milford High School girls basketball squad will take to the hardwood for a pair of league contests this week, beginning on Wednesday night against rival Loveland. A busy opening week to the season saw the Eagles post a 1-3 record, with the victory coming over Hillsboro. Following the inter-township battle on Wednesday night, the first installment of the annual ECC Battle of the Eagles is set for Saturday afternoon when Milford visits Walnut Hills.

A LOOK BACK: November 29 vs. Hillsboro: Northwest 52, Milford 48

GAME REWIND

The Eagles dominated the first half of play to key its first victory of the season as the Eagles cruised to a 47-32 win over Hillsboro on Nov. 29. After allowing just one second quarter point, Milford led by a 28-6 margin at the second half, then played a steady second half to clinch the win. The Eagles were especially stout on the defensive end, holding Hillsboro without a field goal for a period of nearly 13 minutes from late in the first quarter to early in the third stanza.

RECORDS

Milford 1-2

Hillsboro 1-1

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Ali Kirk 14 points, 7 rebounds

Morgan Hills 13 points

Azyiah Williams 10 points, 4 assists

Hillsboro

Delaney Eakins 7 points, 10 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: Junior Ali Kirk played the best game of her Milford career, posting personal highs in both points (14) and rebounds (7).

FINAL GAME STATS

December 2 at Anderson: Anderson 30, Milford 26

The Eagles came up short in their Eastern Cincinnati Conference opener, falling 30-26 at Anderson. Final stats from the game were not immediately available.

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

• Wednesday, Dec. 6 vs. Loveland, 7:30 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 3-0, 1-0 ECC (8^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Sophomore Jillian Hayes (12.0 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Loveland 56, Milford 52 & Loveland 51, Milford 47
• Saturday, Dec. 9 at Walnut Hills, 2:00 p.m.
• 2017-18 Record: 2-0, 0-0 ECC (5^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Junior Kennedi Myles (15.5 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Walnut Hills 61, Milford 28 & Walnut Hills 46, Milford 44

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

Points per game: Morgan Hills (13.0), Azyiah Williams (10.0), Ali Kirk (7.7)

Assists per game: Azyiah Williams (3.7), Abby Thierauf (1.7), Bryn Rolfsen (1.3)

Rebounds per game: Abby Thierauf (9.0), Ali Kirk (5.3), Azyiah Williams (4.3)

Steals: Ali Kirk/Bryn Rolfsen (5), Azyiah Williams (4)

Blocks: Abby Thierauf (6), Morgan Hills (1)

Field goal percentage: Azyiah Williams (.435), Morgan Hills (.405), Kyrsten Brown (.333)

Three-point percentage: Morgan Hills (.409), Azyiah Williams (.333), Bryn Rolfsen (.200)

Free throw percentage: Azyiah Williams (.583), Four tied (.500)

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. 4. Mount Notre Dame continues to be the No. 1 choice according to the coaches, earning 12 of the 20 first place votes that were cast. Mason and Lakota West shared the No. 2 spot, with the former picking up six first place votes and the latter a single top nod. Fourth place McAuley received the final top vote with the ECC’s Walnut Hills rounding out the top-five. Other ranked ECC squads include West Clermont in seventh, Loveland in eighth and Kings and Turpin among others 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: N/A; Career: N/A

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: 4 vs. Northwest; Career: 4 vs. Northwest (2017-18)

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

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: 4 vs. Hillsboro; Career: 4 vs. Hillsboro (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Brookelyn Edgar

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

Rebounds—Season: 1 twice; Career: 1 twice (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 vs. Northwest; Career: 14 vs. Northwest (2017-18)

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

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

Ali Kirk

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

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

Assists—Season: 1 twice; Career: 2 at Anderson (2016-17)

Maddie Plucinski

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: 2 three times; Career: 2 three times (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 at McNicholas; Career: 1 at McNicholas (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 at McNicholas; 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 twice; Career: 2 twice (2017-18)

Caitlyn Wiscombe

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

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)