And the prep basketball season tips into action.

Redmond High’s boys team has an array of guys who can score and the Mustangs are brimming with confidence, according to coach Todd Rubin.

“I think that our scoring will be a lot more spread out this year than it was last year, and that’s due to guys just working on their games,” he said.

For the Mustang girls, coach Ashley Graham said it’s going to be about the five on the floor and everyone on the bench ready to go.

“Our focus is really going to be team offense, really getting each other open,” she said.

Here’s a look at both teams, who will host Juanita in 3A KingCo action Friday night. The girls (0-1) will play at 6 p.m., followed by the boys (0-1) at 7:30 p.m.

BOYS

Rubin said the Mustangs have all the pieces to work with — including eight seniors — and they just need to improve every practice and game to make an impact this season in 3A KingCo. Last year, Redmond finished 12-11 overall in 4A and made the KingCo playoffs.

Top senior returners are Aleks Bober (5-foot-11 guard), Devon La Pierre (6-foot-5 center), Graham Sheffer (6-foot-1 forward) and Kevin Gordon (6-foot-4 center/forward). Bober has a knack for scoring and creating space to deliver his shots, and the other three big guys should be able to score down low, the coach said.

Another key player will be 6-1 junior point guard Maclain Forseth, who distributes the ball well and mixes in some tough defense.

Rubin feels the deep Mustang squad has been working hard in practice and is prepared to challenge tough 3A KingCo squads. Further down the line, one of Redmond’s goals is to qualify for districts and have a chance to beat one of the tough Metro League teams.

“We’re already probably six weeks ahead of where we were last year of installing different defenses and plays on offense, and being prepared for different zones or presses that we might see,” he said.

The guys have hit the weight room hard and are physically stronger than ever.

“I think that’s gonna really translate to being better defensively and playing through some contact and enabling us to score down low,” Rubin added.

Bober said that chemistry, consistency, knowledge and belief in each other will drive the Mustangs this season.

“I think that when we all work together, like as puzzle pieces and come together correctly, then it’s deadly,” Bober said. “It’s far more than just basketball. A lot of it has to do with school, life and everything. I just learn the importance of working with other people and to accomplish a common goal.”

Gordon has played with some of the Mustangs since fifth grade in the select program and is excited to bounce through one last season with his teammates. Molding the new guys into the Mustang mix is a plus as well.

He said the squad will have to play four solid quarters each game to reap success.

“Just going out and playing hard every night and not having any lapses,” said Gordon, adding, “I’m gonna try and bring a lot of leadership and just do my best defensively and do whatever I can offensively.”

GIRLS

Coach Graham said the Mustangs — who finished 6-15 overall in 4A play last year — are entering this season in 3A KingCo with a fresh mind and are primed to take on some talented teams like Juanita, Bellevue and others.

“We’re looking good. I think it’s a different kind of year because we don’t have any seniors this year, so we’re really asking our junior group to kind of step up and be good leaders,” said Graham, who also has her team focused on utilizing different types of defenses.

Leading the way will be returners Teagyn Ohrt (5-11 junior forward), Meghan Egberg (5-10 junior guard), Katie Hartman (5-10 junior forward) and Kiki Milloy (5-11 sophomore guard). Andrea Dang, a 5-2 junior, will handle point-guard duties and is a good ball distributor.

Egberg is looking forward to clashing with Juanita on Friday and said that everyone is ready to step up to the challenge this year in 3A.

“I think just hard work and the fight to win,” she said of key Mustang components to go along with hustle and confidence. “Since we’re in 3A, I feel like we have an upper on them since we were in 4A last year.”

Milloy said that intensity and defense will help the Mustangs win games.

“I feel like we all have the skills and we’re all capable of scoring and getting rebounds and boxing out and getting steals. I think that we can do it,” said Milloy, noting that she loves competing with her teammates in practice to set the stage for league contests. Egberg added that the Mustang practices provide a great atmosphere for the players.

Graham agrees.

“We’re trying to keep ‘em positive, keep ‘em intense, keep ‘em focused and they’re doing a good job,” she said.

As team captain, Egberg feels she can be good role model for the players by bringing leadership and excitement to the court. The shooting guard is set on adding some points, steals and assists into the mix, too.

She’s comfortable in her role in helping mold the team into a tight-knit unit and is looking forward to getting some of the younger players pumped about the program.

Milloy shone on the court as a freshman last year and is set for more.

“I learned that other girls can play and that I need to keep up my intensity if I’m gonna compete with them,” she said.