A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: A capsule look at the 2018-19 team:

• 2018-19 Record: 13-11, 7-7 ECC
• Head Coach: Joe Cambron (18^th year at Milford and as HS head coach)
• Top Scorer: Senior Steven Huxell (15.7 ppg)
• Top Rebounder: Senior Brady Sluder (4.8 rpg)

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at No. 17 Milford’s OHSAA Tournament opponent:

• Friday, March 1 vs. No. 3 Mason, 7:00 p.m. {at Lakota West HS}
• 2018-19 Record: 17-4, 12-4 GMC
• Top Scorer: Senior Landen Long (18.3 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2012-13; Mason 56, Milford 51
• Click here to view the District I Sectional Brackets

A LOOK BACK: February 26 at Lakota West: Milford 59, LaSalle 49 (OT)

In a game where grit and sheer determination ruled, the Milford High School boys basketball team overcame a 13-point second half, then dominated overtime on the way to a 59-49 upset of No. 6 LaSalle in the OHSAA Tournament. Seeded No. 17, the Eagles advance to Friday’s district semi-final where it will meet No. 3 Mason. Tip time is 7 p.m. at Lakota West.

The Eagles got a spark at the end of the third quarter from Caleb Farrell who sank a half court shot at the buzzer that drew them to within 33-31. The fourth quarter was a slugfest with Milford coming up with a defensive stop at the end to force OT.

Another big spark on the night came from senior Cade Riesenberg who came off the bench for eight points and five huge rebounds. His driving move in the paint with under a minute left tied the game at 46 and set the stage for OT.

The Lancers were able to stymie Milford leading scorer Steven Huxell who connected on just 1 of 11 field goals, but made 8 of 9 from the free throw line. His efficiency helped the Eagles drain 19 of 22 from the line for the game.

The victory also held special meaning as it represented the 200^th victory at Milford for longtime head coach Joe Cambron.

GAME REWIND

The first half was predictably hard fought with the Lancers leading 11-7 after eight minutes and Milford finally taking its first lay-up on a nifty reverse lay-up by Ferrell with just over five minutes remaining in the second. Late in the second, Jack Liles connected on a shot in the paint for two of his team-high 17 points and the Eagles got a stop to leave the score 20-17 LaSalle at the break.

At the start of the second half, LaSalle’s Nathan Vogelpohl and Jaylen Lemons keyed a 13-3 run that pushed the Lancers out in front 33-20 with 3:38 remaining. But the Eagles refused to stay down, as six points by Jake Ayler and Farrell’s heave at the horn were part of an 11-0 Milford run that drew them within two with eight minutes to play.

The fourth quarter was a battle that featured five of the game’s seven ties. LaSalle drew out to a modest five-point advantage with less than five to play, but a three and a lay-up by Liles tied the game again. Lemons made two free throws for LaSalle and about a minute later, Riesenberg’s move to the hole tied the game with under 60 seconds remaining. In the final five seconds, two LaSalle shots came up short forcing extra time.

Overtime was all Milford as an Ayler bucket put Milford in front to stay. Leading 48-47, Milford scored seven in row, five from the foul line, to take command. Four free throws in the final 40 seconds by Ayler produced the final 10-point winning margin.

RECORDS

Milford 13-11

LaSalle 12-11

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Jack Liles 17 points, 8 rebounds

Jake Ayler 15 points

Steven Huxell 10 points, 4 rebounds

Cade Riesenberg 8 points, 5 rebounds (3 offensive)

LaSalle

Nathan Vogelpohl 18 points

Jaylen Lemons 12 points

Michael Wergers 4 points, 8 rebounds

NUGGETS OF NOTE: The Eagles, who finished the regular season ranked second in the ECC in free throw shooting at 67%, shot as season-best 86.4% from the line against the Lancers.

FINAL GAME STATS

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

Points per game: Steven Huxell (15.7), Jake Ayler (8.8), Jack Liles (8.7)

Assists per game: Steven Huxell (2.3), Jake Ayler (2.2), Caleb Farrell (1.9)

Rebounds per game: Brady Sluder (4.8), Steven Huxell (3.9), Jack Liles (3.7)

Steals: A.J. Dickerson (33), Jake Ayler (28), Steven Huxell (26)

Blocks: Brady Sluder (19), Jake Ayler/Connor Foster/Jack Liles (5)

Field goal percentage: Brady Sluder (.492), Jack Liles (.451), Connor Foster (.449)

Three-point percentage: Jack Liles (.430), Steven Huxell (.415), Jake Ayler (.414)

Free throw percentage: A.J. Dickerson (.792), Jack Liles (.757), Steven Huxell (.746)

INSIDE THE ECC: West Clermont captured its first ECC Boys Basketball Championship, finishing with a record of 12-2, one game ahead of Turpin at 11-3. Walnut Hills took third at 8-6, with Loveland and Milford sharing fourth, each at 7-7. Kings and Withrow were next, each at 5-9, with Anderson rounding out the standings at 1-13.

Milford Eagles Season/Career Highs

Jack Ackermann

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds— Season: 1 vs. Edgewood; Career: 1 vs. Edgewood (2018-19)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Jake Ayler

Points—Season: 20 at Taft; Career: 22 vs. Taft (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 8 vs. Anderson; Career: 8 twice

Assists—Season: 6 vs. Edgewood; Career: 6 vs. Edgewood (2018-19)

Steals—Season: 4 twice; Career: 4 twice (2018-19)

Cole Chaney

Points—Season: 4 vs. Edgewood; Career: 4 vs. Edgewood (2018-19)

Rebounds— Season: 2 vs. Edgewood; Career: 2 vs. Edgewood (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 3 vs. Anderson; Career: 3 vs. Anderson (2018-19)

A.J. Dickerson

Points—Season: 11 at Loveland; Career: 11 twice

Rebounds—Season: 8 vs. West Clermont; Career: 8 vs. West Clermont (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 5 vs. Anderson; Career: 5 vs. Anderson (2018-19)

Steals—Season: 4 vs. Anderson; Career: 4 twice

Caleb Farrell

Points—Season: 9 twice; Career: 9 twice (2018-19)

Rebounds—Season: 5 at Anderson; Career: 5 at Anderson (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 4 vs. West Clermont; Career: 4 vs. West Clermont (2018-19)

Connor Foster

Points—Season: 10 vs. Harrison; Career: 13 vs. Kings (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 6 twice; Career: 6 twice (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 2 at Kings; Career: 2 twice

Blocks—Season: 4 at Withrow; Career: 4 at Withrow (2018-19)

Adam Harris

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 3 at West Clermont (2017-18)

Rebounds— Season: 1 at McNicholas; Career: 1 at McNicholas (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 1 vs. Walnut Hills; Career: 1 twice

Steven Huxell

Points—Season: 28 at Walnut Hills; Career: 28 at Walnut Hills (2018-19)

Rebounds—Season: 9 at Loveland; Career: 9 at Loveland (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 4 seven times; Career: 7 at Shroder (2017-18)

Steals—Season: 5 vs. Anderson; Career: 5 vs. Anderson (2018-19)

Jack Liles

Points—Season: 27 vs. Lebanon; Career: 27 vs. Lebanon (2018-19)

Rebounds—Season: 8 twice; Career: 8 twice (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 3 twice; Career: 3 twice (2018-19)

Steals—Season: 3 vs. West Clermont; Career: 3 vs. West Clermont (2018-19)

Cade Riesenberg

Points—Season: 8 twice; Career: 10 vs. Western Brown (2017-18)

Rebounds—Season: 9 at Anderson; Career: 9 at Anderson (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 1 six times; Career: 1 nine times

Joey Round

Points—Season: 4 vs. Anderson; Career: 4 vs. Anderson (2018-19)

Rebounds— Season: 2 twice; Career: 2 twice (2018-19)

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Brady Sluder

Points—Season: 16 at Anderson; Career: 16 twice (2018-19)

Rebounds—Season: 11 at Kings; Career: 11 at Kings (2018-19)

Assists—Season: 2 three times; Career: 3 vs. Kings (2017-18)

Blocks—Season: 5 vs. Sycamore; Career: 5 vs. Sycamore (2018-19)

Double-doubles—Season: 1; Career: 1

Grant Whitaker

Points—Season: 2 vs. Harrison; Career: 2 vs. Harrison (2018-19)

Rebounds— Season: 1 vs. Edgewood; Career: 1 vs. Edgewood

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A