In each of the last three seasons, Western Reserve Conference rivals Riverside and Mayfield have split their season series. After falling at Riverside, 69-60, on Jan. 13, Mayfield was hoping the pattern would continue into this season. In an effort that Coach David Krasnow called their “best game of the season,” the Wildcats never trailed in evening the score with the Beavers, 72-54, in the rematch at Mayfield on Feb. 3. Four Wildcats scored in double figures, led by senior Kellogg Award candidate Izzy Austin with 21 points. Junior Trey Brown added 18, which included going 7 for 8 at the foul line. Junior Kingston Murchison scored 12 points, and junior Jackson Bokovitz came off the bench to score 10 points, all in the third quarter. @MayfieldSports senior Izzy Austin (21 points, 11 rebounds) reviews the Wildcats’ 72-54 win over Riverside pic.twitter.com/spF3XazhFi — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 4, 2026 “We knew we couldn’t get punched in the mouth, like last game (against Riverside), when we got down, 13-6,” the 6-foot-4 Austin said. “We knew we had to go out and ‘punch them in the face’, go on a run, and keep going.” As Austin said, this time Mayfield got out to a 13-2 lead and put the Beavers on their heels. During the game-opening run, Austin and Murchison both got runout dunks off steals, the latter capping the run. @MayfieldSports junior Kingston Murchison (12 points) talks about Mayfield’s 72-54 win over Riverside pic.twitter.com/WaGnFdIDZF — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 4, 2026 “The energy at home was a big part (of the win),” Murchison said. “When we lost to them, they had energy all around. The stands, the whole team, the 3s. So we came out (tonight), we had energy, and we flipped the script.” Riverside (10-7, 4-2 WRC) regrouped and battled back, using an 11-1 run to cut the deficit to 14-12 at the beginning of the second quarter, with six Beavers scoring, and junior J’Ayvion Kyser finishing off the spurt to start the second frame. But Mayfield (11-6, 5-2 WRC), thriving on forcing 10 first-half turnovers and seven of their 13 first half rebounds on the offensive end, pushed its lead to 32-24 at halftime as Austin scored nine of his points. Mayfield kept its foot on the gas through the third quarter. Brown scored 10 of his points, five on free throws, and Bokovitz had a big impact with a pair of 3s among his 10 points. Riverside was held to 4 of 15 shooting in the third quarter and 1 of 7 outside the 3-point arc. The Wildcats came down with nine rebounds while forcing four turnovers in the frame and took a 47-27 lead on a trey by Brown. Senior Aarov Ganore put in a floater in the lane at give Mayfield a 56-34 lead after three, and the Beavers never got closer than the final margin. @MayfieldSports Coach David Krasnow breaks down the Wildcats’ 72-54 win over Riverside pic.twitter.com/HK9SV767hZ — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 4, 2026 “I’m proud of the game plan that we put together with the coaching staff,” Krasnow said. “That is a heck of a team over there. I felt like the defensive effort, energy, rotations, and starting quick were the keys to the game, and we did all that.” Kyser led Riverside with 14 points. Junior David Siebert added 10, and senior Drew Brown scored nine points. The Beavers shot 45% from the field and 5 of 19 on 3s. @BvrBball Coach Matt Cardinal goes over Riverside’s 72-54 loss at Mayfield pic.twitter.com/Yyar11W53Z — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 4, 2026 “Turnovers, and we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds,” Riverside coach Matt Cardina said. “A lot of offensive rebounds in the back half of the second quarter. “We had it down to 19-17, and we felt really good about that. But we were down, 32-24, at the half. I specifically remember a couple offensive rebounds that Mayfield gave second and third efforts and they got us.” Austin also led Mayfield with 11 rebounds, four on the offensive end, giving him a double-double. Mayfield had 12 steals as a team. “The length and athleticism, and he is very skilled with the ball,” Cardina said of defending Austin. “He doesn’t need a whole lot of room to shoot, very crafty inside.” Mayfield broke a win-one, lose-one stretch over their previous seven games, and have now won three of their last four. The Wildcats host South on Feb. 6, and hope that Riverside can go on the road on the same night and knock off WRC leader Kenston, which is 7-0 in the league. “I have a lot of respect for all aspects of Riverside,” Krasnow said. “This was our best win against a high-quality opponent. My message to the team after the game was this is who we can be. We got to see it, feel it, and believe it for all 32 minutes. “Kenston’s got no losses (in the league), so we need our friends at Riverside on Friday to give us some help.” THE SCORE (FROM FEB. 3) Mayfield 72, Riverside 54 ...read more read less