SETTING THE SCENE: Off to a 2-1 start after one week of play, the Milford High School girls basketball squad is back on the court this week with a pair of match-ups inside the always competitive Eastern Cincinnati Conference. The start to the week comes on Wednesday night with a trip to inter-township nemesis Loveland. Then, its back home for the first time in nearly two weeks when the reigning ECC Champions from Glen Este comes calling on Saturday night.

A LOOK BACK: November 28 vs. Princeton: Princeton 70, Milford 64

THE SHORT STORY

Milford nearly overcame a 23-point halftime deficit before coming up just short to Princeton by a 70-64 score during the opening contest of the third annual Mercy Health Tipoff Classic. The Eagles twice clawed within four points in the final 3:30 of the game but could get no closer as the Vikings finished off the season-opening victory.

RECORDS

Milford 0-1

Princeton 1-0

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Tori Gilman 29 points, 8 steals

Ashli Sheldon 10 points, 7 rebounds

Olivia Redrow 9 points, 9 rebounds

Princeton

Willow White 22 points

Malika Wildon 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals

NUGGET OF NOTE: Tori Gilman’s 29 points were easily a career-high (previous best 18) and were the most scored by a Milford player since Kelly Noll also scored 29 against McNicholas on Dec. 2, 2014. She was named Milford’s MVP for the Mercy Health Tipoff Classic game.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

November 30 at Winton Woods: Milford 56, Winton Woods 41

THE SHORT STORY

Milford exploded for 21 points in the third quarter to break open a one-point halftime game en route to its first win of the season, a 56-41 triumph at Winton Woods. Hannah Thierauf had a career-game to lead the win for Milford, posting new personal-highs with 22 points and seven rebounds.

RECORDS

Milford 1-1

Winton Woods 1-1

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Hannah Thierauf 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals

Tori Gilman 17 points, 6 assists, 6 steals

Winton Woods

Tamara Olverson 14 points, 8 rebounds

Brianna Ball 10 points, 9 rebounds 5 blocks

NUGGET OF NOTE: Milford’s victory was the program’s sixth straight non-conference regular season road contest dating back to a Jan. 2015 defeat at Oak Hills.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

December 3 at Anderson: Milford 49, Anderson 25

THE SHORT STORY

Milford held Anderson to just eight percent shooting in the first half and held a 21-point lead at the half, cruising to a 49-25 Eastern Cincinnati Conference victory at Anderson. The first half was a struggle for the Redskins who trailed by a 30-9 count at the half and the beginning of the second was no better as the Eagles led 44-12 after three quarters.

RECORDS

Milford 2-1, 1-0 ECC

Anderson 0-2, 0-1 ECC

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Hannah Thierauf 15 points

Tori Gilman 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Hayden White 7 points, 14 rebounds

Anderson

Natalie Dorsten 7 points, 8 rebounds

NUGGET OF NOTE: The 14 rebounds grabbed by Hayden White represented a new career-high for the senior.

FINAL GAME STATS LINK

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

• Wednesday, Dec 7 at Loveland, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 2-1, 0-1 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Scorer: Senior Katelyn Warden & freshman Kate Garry (8.0 ppg each)
• Last Meeting: 2015-16; Milford 52, Loveland 46 & Loveland 33, Milford 28
• Saturday, Dec. 10 vs. Glen Este, 7:00 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 2-2, 0-1 ECC (7^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Junior Jasmine Hale (10.3 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2015-16; Glen Este 61, Milford 45 & Glen Este 48, Milford 44

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 3 games:

Points per game: Tori Gilman (20.0), Hannah Thierauf (14.7), Ashli Sheldon (6.3)

Assists per game: Tori Gilman (4.0), Olivia Redrow (1.7), Hayden White (1.3)

Rebounds per game: Hayden White (8.7), Olivia Redrow/Katelyn Rheude (6.7)

Steals: Tori Gilman (16), Hannah Thierauf (6), Hayden White (5)

Blocks: Ashli Sheldon (3), Four Tied (1)

Field goal percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.452), Tori Gilman (.442), Hayden White (.333)

Three-point percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.714), Ashli Sheldon (.286), Tori Gilman (.250)

Free throw percentage: Katelyn Rheude (.800), Hannah Thierauf (.786), Ali Kirk (.667)

INSIDE THE ECC: The first week of conference play saw Kings, Milford, Turpin and Walnut Hills each picking up victories. Walnut’s win was a big one as they defeated reigning conference champs Glen Este.  The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Wednesday-Milford at Loveland, Turpin at Glen Este, Anderson at Kings and Withrow at Walnut Hills. Saturday-Glen Este at Milford, Walnut Hills at Turpin, Kings at Loveland and Anderson at Withrow.

POLL WATCH: For the second consecutive week, Milford received votes in the Division I area coaches’ poll, sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mason continues to be the heavy favorite, having earned 21 of the 22 first place votes cast. No. 2 Lakota West earned the other top nod, with the GGCL trio of Mount Notre Dame, McAuley and Ursuline rounding out the top-five. Walnut Hills’ win over Glen Este pushed them to sixth, one spot better than the Trojans. Kings, Loveland, Turpin and Withrow join Milford in the others section.

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: 2 vs. Princeton; Career: 2 vs. Princeton (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: 9 vs. Princeton; Career: vs. Princeton (2016-17)

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

Katelyn Rheude

Points—Season: 7 at Winton Woods; 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: N/A; Career: N/A

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 vs. Princeton; Career: 10 vs. Princeton (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 vs. Princeton; Career: 2 seven times