Mayfield coach David Krasnow and his coaching staff installed a new offense coming into an important Western Reserve Conference game against visiting Chardon on Jan. 23. More ball movement. More shots from outside the arc when they’re open. Add in the ability the Wildcats have displayed all season to score in the paint, in transition, and on drives to the hoop, and Krasnow hoped the mix would be effective against a Hilltoppers defense that came in surrendering just 53.6 points per game. Suffice to say, Krasnow was more than pleased with the results. Mayfield took a 12-point lead into halftime, and went on to prevail, 80-69. The Wildcats shot 59% from the field (34 of 58) and went 9-for-25 on 3s. The 80 points were the most given up by Chardon all season. Senior Izzy Austin scored 22 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and had 3 assists for Mayfield, and senior Aarav Ganore (18 points) and junior Trey Brown (14) also finished in double figures. “We implemented a new offense in practice,” Ganore said. “I think we did a really good job of that. We passed the ball around a lot, and that led to a lot of open shots and open 3s for everyone.” @MayfieldSports senior Aarav Ganore (18 points, 4 of 6 on 3s) goes over the Wildcats’ 80-69 WRC win over Chardon pic.twitter.com/FtN4xsBu1x — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 24, 2026 Ganore sank four 3-balls, while Brown and junior Manny Rogers each knocked down two. “We moved the ball really well, and trusted our teammates’ abilities,” Brown said. “We made the extra pass, and I feel like that’s how I got most of my shots. We used those (shot) opportunities pretty well, and also dished out the ball, too.” @MayfieldSports junior Trey Brown (14 points) reviews the Wildcats’ 80-69 WRC win over Chardon pic.twitter.com/VGDzjkk5xC — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 24, 2026 The Wildcats fell behind, 10-6, to start, as Chardon senior Bailey Mann and sophomore Luke Evans scored around a Mayfield turnover to break a 6-6 tie. Mayfield (9-5, 3-1 WRC) scored on four consecutive possessions, getting buckets from four players in the process, to take a 14-10 lead, and Brown’s first triple gave the Wildcats a 17-12 advantage to end the opening frame. Chardon junior Rocco Tarantino scored a quick basket and then a 3 to tie it at 17-17 to start the second quarter, but Mayfield then rattled off an 11-2 run, taking advantage of a few turnovers, and sinking a trio of 3s to go up, 28-19. The Wildcats buried 5 of 9 3-point attempts in the second quarter, and took a 42-30 lead into the halftime break. Mayfield maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half except for one possession late in the game, when both teams had reserves on the floor. “I’m pretty pleased with what we did offensively,” Krasnow said. “I thought the ball movement was good, and we didn’t force as many shots as we had in the past. We moved pretty well without the ball, and I thought our transition offense was pretty good.” @MayfieldSports Coach David Krasnow talks about the Wildcats’ 80-69 WRC win over Chardon pic.twitter.com/avpvVyFCRT — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 24, 2026 When the Wildcats had to play in the halfcourt, they were patient in moving the ball around for the best possible shot, whether outside or in the paint. The 6-foot-4 Austin, who is one of the News-Herald area’s leading scorers at 20.5 points per game, was dynamic as usual, but got plenty of scoring help from his teammates. “We can shoot,” Krasnow said. “I think we have 7, 8, or 9 guys that can really shoot 3s. My message to them was, let’s have great possessions and take great shots. If their shots are layups, fine, but if they’re open 3s, I have confidence in them taking them.” Chardon (10-5, 2-2 WRC) had a 3-game winning streak snapped. The Hilltoppers got 19 points from Mann and 16 from Tarantino, plus 8 each from three other players, but coach Shane Quin thought his team didn’t play defense to its usual standard. “I thought we didn’t bring enough intensity on defense, and I told the guys that’s partly on me,” Quin said. “We didn’t play defense the way we had all season, and we need to get back to that with two more big conference games coming up next week.” One positive that the Hilltoppers can take away is that they won the rebounding battle, 30-21. Sophomore Andrew Cole corralled 10 of those boards. Junior Luke Galfidi, Chardon’s leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, finished with 8 points and is a basket shy of 1,000 points for his career. Mayfield is on the road for two WRC contests next week, at Kenston on Jan. 27 and at North on Jan. 30. Chardon will face off with its two biggest league rivals, visiting Riverside on Jan. 27 and hosting Kenston on Jan. 30. PHOTOS: Mayfield vs. Chardon boys basketball, Jan. 23, 2026 The score Mayfield 80, Chardon 69 ...read more read less