Opponents of the Milford girls basketball team have to play an unpleasant game of "Pick your Poison."

Focus on high scoring sophomore Shannon Weir, and one of the three other girls on the team averaging double figures is bound to burn you. But play Weir straight up, and she's likely to explode for a 30-point night.

"Teams have to ask themselves who they are going to stop and there isn't an easy answer," said Milford head coach Jim Weir. "We have four very good players. This may be the most balanced team I've ever had."

Besides Weir's team-leading 19.6 points-a-game, junior Rachel Baxter is contributing 10.8 a game, while guards Brianne Staggs and Alicia Strong both average 10.7.

The Lady Wildcats will put their perfect record on the line on Friday night when they meet fellow unbeaten Laurens at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Stamford Christmas Tournament. The game could also be a preview of this year's Tri-Valley Championship Game.

"Laurens has a big front line with Erika Robbins and they have a very athletic point guard in Hannah Tirado," Weir said.

Milford will play the tournament without Staggs, who is in Florida over winter break.

"We're just going to have to have the other players step up a little more," Weir said.

One player who has stepped up for Milford this year is Strong, who is easily the most improved player on the roster this season.

"Alicia has worked very hard on her game and she has matured a lot as a player," Weir said. "She's a stronger ballhandler and she can handle different game situations."

Host Stamford and Roxbury play in the other first round game Friday. The consolation and championship games will be played Saturday night.

Milford kept their unbeaten streak alive with a 52-47 non-league victory over Afton Thursday night, and predictably, Weir, Staggs, Baxter and Strong all finished in double figures.

...Milford defeated Stamford in the first round of the Anton Remy Tournament back on Nov. 27.

The Wildcats, 3-3, meet Mt. Markham in one first round game at 6 p.m. Friday, while host Edmeston plays Unadilla Valley in the nightcap at 7:45 p.m.

"Joe goes to see the doctor on Thursday, but my guess is he's not going to play," Milford head coach Frank Spurchise said. "I don't want to rush him back and lose him for the rest of the year."

Spurchise said Mt. Markham has two good players that his team will likely focus on defensively.

"The thing I like about this tournament is we get to play a couple of C schools (Mt. Markham and Unadilla Valley) that we would never play otherwise," Spurchise said.

The consolation and championship game will be played Saturday.