SETTING THE SCENE: Looking to snap a modest two-game losing streak, the Milford High School girls basketball team will take to the hardwood this week against two of the top three teams in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in the coming days. The Eagles enter this week with a 2-3 overall record and are 1-2 early in the ECC schedule. This week kicks off with a visit to Turpin, one of two unbeaten teams in the league, with a return home to host Walnut Hills also on tap.
A LOOK BACK: December 7 at Loveland: Loveland 56, Milford 52
THE SHORT STORY
A spirited fourth quarter wasn’t enough for Milford to overcome a difficult third period as the Eagles dropped a 56-52 decision at arch-rival Loveland. Milford trailed by just three at halftime, but connected on just 1 of 10 third quarter shots as the Tigers built an insurmountable lead. MHS trailed by 11 late in the fourth, but used a 7-0 run to climb within four in the last minute of play, only to see the Tigers close out the win from the foul line.
RECORDS
Milford 2-2, 1-1 Eastern Cincinnati Conference
Loveland 3-1, 1-1 Eastern Cincinnati Conference
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Tori Gilman 18 points, 4 assists, 4 steals
Ashli Sheldon 10 points, 5 rebounds
Katelyn Rheude 10 points, 6 steals
Loveland
Marie Plitt 13 points, 8 rebounds
Katelyn Warden 10 points
Jillian Hayes 8 points, 9 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: Sophomore Ali Kirk scored her first career varsity points with a three-pointer at the buzzer of the fourth quarter.
December 10 vs. Glen Este: Glen Este 45, Milford 43
THE SHORT STORY
For the second straight game, Milford nearly overcame a fourth quarter deficit before ultimately coming up just short, this time a 45-43 setback to Glen Este. After falling behind by 11 early in the fourth, the Eagles blasted into the lead with 2:19 to go as a three-pointer by Hannah Thierauf capped a 15-3 Milford run. But the senior’s triple would end up being the Eagles’ final points of the night as a serious of misses and Kaylin Burdick’s go-ahead jumper sealed Milford’s fade.
RECORDS
Milford 2-3, 1-2 Eastern Cincinnati Conference
Glen Este 3-3, 1-2 Eastern Cincinnati COnference
KEY PLAYERS
Milford
Hannah Thierauf 16 points
Tori Gilman 10 points, 5 steals
Olivia Redrow 6 points, 10 rebounds
Glen Este
Jasmine Hale 11 points, 8 rebounds
Dakota Reeves 8 points, 10 rebounds
NUGGET OF NOTE: With her 10-point, 5-steal, 3-assist performance, Gilman concludes the week as the ECC’s leader in all three categories. She is averaging 17.6 points, 3.8 assists and 5.0 steals per game this season.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Turpin, 7:30 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 5-1, 3-0 ECC (8th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Senior Kaitlyn Workman (13.3 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Milford 47, Turpin 34; Turpin 49, Milford 42 & Milford 42, Turpin 40
- Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Walnut Hills, 2:00 p.m.
- 2016-17 Record: 5-1, 2-1 ECC (9th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Scorer: Sophomore Kennedi Myles (15.0 ppg)
- Last Meeting: 2016-17; Walnut Hills 52, Milford 50 & Walnut Hills 52, Milford 46
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 5 games:
Points per game: Tori Gilman (17.6), Hannah Thierauf (13.4), Ashli Sheldon (6.4)
Assists per game: Tori Gilman (3.8), Hayden White (1.4), Olivia Redrow (1.2)
Rebounds per game: Olivia Redrow (7.2), Hayden White (6.4), Katelyn Rheude (5.6)
Steals: Tori Gilman (25), Katelyn Rheude (11), Hannah Thierauf (9)
Blocks: Katelyn Rheude/Ashli Sheldon (3), Tori Gilman/Hayden White (2)
Field goal percentage: Tori Gilman (.440), Hannah Thierauf (.382), Ashli Sheldon (.262)
Three-point percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.643), Ashli Sheldon (.300), Tori Gilman (.286)
Free throw percentage: Hannah Thierauf (.800), Katelyn Rheude (.727), Tori Gilman (.588)
INSIDE THE ECC: A surprising Kings team is one of two ECC squads that have opened this season a perfect 3-0 in league play, joining Turpin at the top of the standings. Walnut Hills sits in third at 2-1, ahead of three squads, including Milford, each tied at 1-2. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Wednesday-Milford at Turpin, Kings at Glen Este and Loveland at Withrow; Saturday-Walnut Hills at Milford, Turpin at Kings, Withrow at Glen Este and Anderson at Loveland.
POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in this week’s edition of the Division I area coaches’ poll, presented by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mason is the heavy favorite, earning 16 of the 19 first place votes. Lakota West with one vote, Mount Notre Dame, McAuley with one vote and Ursuline with one make up the top-five. The ECC is represented by Walnut Hills in sixth, Turpin in eighth, Glen Este in ninth and Kings, Loveland and Withrow all receiving votes. 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: 3 at Loveland; Career: 3 at Loveland (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: 10 vs. Glen Este; Career: 10 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
Assists—Season: 3 at Anderson; Career: 3 at Anderson (2016-17)
Katelyn Rheude
Points—Season: 10 at Loveland; 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: 4 vs. Glen Este; Career: 4 vs. Glen Este (2016-17)
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 twice; Career: 10 twice (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 twice; Career: 2 eight times