Basketball Game Preview: Riverside Generals vs. Mandarin Mustangs

Riverside and Mandarin are an even 4-4 against one another since November of 2014, but not for long. The Riverside Generals will be playing at home against the Mandarin Mustangs at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both have had a bumpy ride up to this point with three consecutive losses apiece.

Riverside saw some tournament action back in December of 2024. They fell to Ridgeview 38-33. While losing is never fun, the Generals can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 359th, while the Panthers are ranked 106th).

Meanwhile, Mandarin managed to keep up with Paxon School For Advanced Studies until halftime on Monday, but things quickly went downhill from there. Mandarin was outmatched by Paxon School For Advanced Studies and fell 72-44. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Mustangs have suffered against the Golden Eagles since December 19, 2017.

Riverside will have to contain Reese Holman as she made an impact in Mandarin's last game. She dropped a double-double on 17 points and 13 boards. That was a full 38.6% of Mandarin's points, marking the third time in a row she's posted more than a third of the team's points. Isabelle Sahyers was another key player, putting up seven points and four steals.

Riverside's loss dropped their record down to 5-8. As for Mandarin, their defeat ended a four-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 5-7.

Riverside was taken down by Mandarin 60-17 in their previous matchup back in December of 2023. That matchup was all but decided by halftime, at which point Riverside was down 42-11.