REDMOND — Fourteen games into the season, with Intermountain Conference play starting next week, the Ridgeview boys basketball team is still trying to find the recipe for success.

There have been moments during the nonleague portion of the season when the Ravens have looked primed to make their first state playoff appearance since 2013. Then there are times like Tuesday night’s 69-55 home loss to Lake Oswego that show there is still much work to be done to achieve that goal.

“I feel like when we are playing good, we are a really good team and tough to beat,” said Ridgeview senior guard Jackson Hertel. “But when we aren’t playing at that level, anyone can beat us.”

Senior guard Logan Nakamura led the 5A Ravens (6-8 overall) with 14 points, while senior forward Brady Muilenburg finished with 12 points. But 6A Lake Oswego (7-4) hit eight 3-pointers and were led by junior Liam Rigney’s 26 points on five made threes.

“We just have to stay consistent,” Muilenburg said. “I feel like we have had a lot of ups and downs that have killed us. If we can get rid of those ups and downs and stay consistent, we can beat anybody.”

After a 2-6 start to the season, the Ravens rolled off three consecutive wins against Class 5A playoff teams from last season, including victories over South Albany (72-63), Woodburn (81-69) and La Salle Prep (65-64 in overtime).

“I think we played really well as a team both offensively and defensively in those three games,” said second-year coach Maarty Leunen. “We trusted each other on the defensive end and weren’t playing alone.”

“During those games we weren’t playing selfish, we were passing it around and getting good, open shots,” said Muilenburg, who during that three-game winning streak averaged 34 points per game, including a 41-point performance in the 72-63 win over South Albany.

But in the four games since that winning streak, the Ravens have managed just one win. Granted, the three losses came against 6A teams.

With IMC play starting next week, and the conference as wide open as it has been in years, the Ravens still have time to make corrections for a run at one of the IMC’s three automatic playoff spots.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to simple things like competing,” said Leunen, the former star at Redmond High, Oregon and professionally in Italy. “It doesn’t necessarily matter what you do on both ends, it is your approach to the game. I’ve learned that in my playing career. Sometimes it is not about the X’s and O’s, but about your effort.”

The Ravens will play their final nonleague game at home on Thursday against Trinity Lutheran, then will open IMC play on Wednesday against Caldera, also at Ridgeview.