SETTING THE SCENE: The members of the 2017-18 Milford High School girls basketball team will open the new season with an opportunity to make a name for themselves, when the Eagles start a week that features four games in a seven day span. Entering the year with a roster that is void of a six-member senior class from last season, the newest flock of Eagles will visit McNicholas on Saturday afternoon to tip-off the year before switching to their home court for a Monday night date with Northwest as part of the Mercy Health Tip-Off Classic.

A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Head Coach Kristi McKenney enters this season shot on players with varsity experience, but not on depth as 14 players make up the Eagles’ roster. The two most experienced players are a pair of guards in senior Bryn Rolfsen and junior Ali Kirk who saw action in 21 and 17 games respectively last year. Senior Kyrsten Brown saw limited varsity minutes in her first year back in the program last season; classmate Maddie Plucinski and sophomore Abby Thierauf were both regulars on the junior varsity team, while dressing for varsity action. The balance of the roster is fresh faces, with nine different players set to make their Milford varsity debuts this year. Among the newcomers are seniors Sydney Poleski and Brookelyn Edgar, juniors Emily Bientz, Izzy Dadosky, Hannah Gallimore and Morgan Hills and freshmen Carlie Duesing and Azyiah Williams. Milford will also get a mid-season boost from junior Caitlyn Wiscombe, a transfer from Texas that must sit out due to OHSAA transfer rules.

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

• Saturday, Nov. 25 at McNicholas, 2:00 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 14-11, 6-4 GCLC (3^rd Division II area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Junior Julia Brune (6.9 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; McNicholas 54, Milford 45
• Monday, Nov. 27 vs. Northwest, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016-17 Record: 12-10, 7-5 SWOC (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
• Top Returning Scorer: Junior Sante Williams (9.0 ppg)
• Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 61, Northwest 34

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

Points per game: Bryn Rolfsen (1.1), Ali Kirk (0.9), Kyrsten Brown (0.2)

Assists per game: Bryn Rolfsen (0.5), Ali Kirk (0.4), Kyrsten Brown (0.2)

Rebounds per game: Bryn Rolfsen (2.0), Ali Kirk (1.2), Kyrsten Brown (0.5)

Steals: Bryn Rolfsen (9), Ali Kirk (4), Kyrsten Brown (3)

Blocks: Ali Kirk/Abby Thierauf (1)

Field goal percentage: Kyrsten Brown (.333), Ali Kirk (.227), Bryn Rolfsen (.177)

Three-point percentage: Ali Kirk (1.000), Bryn Rolfsen (.056)

Free throw percentage: Ali Kirk (.556)

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the preseason Division I area coaches’ poll sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mount Notre Dame is the overwhelming preseason No. 1 according to the coaches, earning 15 of the 17 first place votes that were cast. The other top nods went to the second and third place-ranked teams, Mason and Lakota West. McAuley and Princeton round out the top-five. Representing the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in the first rankings of the year are Walnut Hills in sixth, West Clermont in seventh, Kings in ninth, along with Turpin and Loveland, both 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: N/A; Career: 2 at Seton (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 2 twice (2016-17)

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: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Brookelyn Edgar

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

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: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Ali Kirk

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 5 at Seton (2016-17)

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: 5 vs. Hughes (2016-17)

Assists—Season: N/A; 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

Sydney Poleski

Points—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Bryn Rolfsen

Points—Season: N/A; Career: 5 vs. Walnut Hills (2016-17)

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

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: 2 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

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: N/A; Career: N/A

Rebounds—Season: N/A; Career: N/A

Assists—Season: N/A; Career: N/A