SETTING THE SCENE: Three games in seven days await the 2017-18 Milford High School boys basketball team as the Eagles tip-off a new campaign beginning on Friday night (Dec. 1). Milford will be looking to shake off a rare down season as they finished 8-15 last year. Just three players with significant varsity experience return for longtime head coach Joe Cambron, but the cupboard is hardly bare as several members of last year’s 19-3 junior varsity squad will make the step into the limelight this winter. Action begins on Friday night at non-conference foe Sycamore, before the Eagles take part in the Mercy Health Tip-Off Classic on Tuesday at Harrison. Then, it’s the beginning of league play on Dec. 8 when the Eagles make the trip to Anderson.

A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: The Eagles will feature a roster heavy on juniors as seven of the 10 varsity players are in the third-year of their prep careers. Topping the list of top returning scorers are one of two seniors in Nathan Gallimore, along with one of the standout juniors, Jake Ayler, who each averaged 8.3 points per game last year. The other returning regular is junior Caleb Farrell, while senior Hunter Pollitt and juniors Steven Huxell and Brady Sluder were all part-time varsity performers last year. Newcomers to the Eagle varsity crew include juniors A.J. Dickerson, 6’7” Connor Foster and Cade Riesenberg, along with sharp shooting sophomore Jack Liles.

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

• Friday, Dec. 1 at Sycamore, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 7-16, 6-10 GMC (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Senior Christian Kelly (8.8 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 53, Sycamore 44
• Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Harrison, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 6-17, 3-9 SWOC (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Senior Frankie Young (8.6 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2009-10; Harrison 53, Milford 48 & Milford 54, Harrison 25
• Friday, Dec. 8 at Anderson, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 10-13, 6-8 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Senior Drew Huxtable (7.1 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 50, Anderson 37 & Anderson 61, Milford 57

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

Points per game: Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (8.3), Hunter Pollitt (1.9)

Assists per game: Nathan Gallimore (2.0), Jake Ayler (1.2), Caleb Farrell (0.9)

Rebounds per game: Jake Ayler/Nathan Gallimore (2.7), Hunter Pollitt (1.9)

Steals: Jake Ayler (13), Nathan Gallimore (10), Caleb Farrell (8)

Blocks: Hunter Pollitt (10), Nathan Gallimore (3), Brady Sluder (1)

Field goal percentage: Hunter Pollitt (.733), Jake Ayler (.455), Nathan Gallimore (.406)

Three-point percentage: Jake Ayler (.396), Nathan Gallimore (.392), Caleb Farrell (.200)

Free throw percentage: Jake Ayler (.797), Nathan Gallimore (.690), Caleb Farrell (.500)

POLL WATCH: Milford is one of many teams that make-up the others receiving votes section of the first Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll of the season. Nationally-ranked Moeller is the favorite of the 10 voting coaches, taking eight first place nods. Princeton is second with the other two No. 1 votes, with Mason, Lakota East and the ECC’s Walnut Hills completing the top-five. Withrow of the ECC comes in ninth with Kings, West Clermont and Anderson joining the Eagles among others receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs

Jake Ayler

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 16 at Kings (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 4 twice (2016-17)

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

A.J. Dickerson

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 7 at Glen Este (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 3 twice (2016-17)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 2 seven times (2016-17)

Connor Foster

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Nathan Gallimore

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 16 vs. Walnut Hills (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 6 at Northwest (2016-17)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 5 twice (2016-17)

Steven Huxell

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 4 at Northwest (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 3 at Withrow (2016-17)

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

Jack Liles

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Hunter Pollitt

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 6 at Taft (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 7 vs. Turpin (2016-17)

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

Cade Riesenberg

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Brady Sluder

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 1 at Glen Este (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 1 three times (2016-17)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A