Head Coach Matt Tolliver addressing his team during a Jan.11, 2024, loss to Walnut Hills.
After their Dec. 28, 2023, win against Harrison, the Milford girls basketball team had good reason to feel confident. Their record stood at 9-2, 6-2 in ECC play. But just like with many other high school programs, their holiday break was long. The Eagles didn’t play their next game until Jan. 4 a 60-52 OT defeat at the hands of West Clermont. After a 39-35 loss to Walnut Hills on Jan. 11, they’re looking for answers.
Their game against Walnut Hills can be summarized by using a timeless basketball phrase. This game was a game of runs. Leading 9-8 at the end of the first quarter, Walnut Hills started the second quarter on a tear, going on a 9-0 run to open up a 17-8 lead. Milford called a timeout to regroup, and then it was their turn. They got red hot from downtown, using three made three-pointers to fuel an 11-0 run. They lead at the break 19-17.
The chaos continued as soon as the second half started. Whatever Walnut Hills drew up at halftime, man did it make a difference. They opened up the half on a 13-0 run of their own to take a 30-19 lead. That run alone was very disappointing for Milford head coach Matt Tolliver. “I thought we came out flat to start the game. We came back and had a two-point lead at halftime. We talked about having a fast start to the second half, and we didn’t get back on defense at all. I think their first nine points of the third quarter were off rebounds or steals where we give up a layup or a wide-open three and transition that’s just, you know, wasn’t good basketball and I can’t explain why that happened. We’ve been good at that all year and just wasn’t ready to play.”
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