The state playoffs are still a month away, and there are still many Intermountain Conference games to be played.

But a top-five tilt between the Redmond and Caldera boys basketball teams on Friday (7 p.m. at Caldera) has all the makings of playoff basketball nearing the midpoint of the IMC schedule.

Eight days of buildup since each team has played has only added to the intrigue.

“This is like a playoff matchup,” said Redmond coach Reagan Gilbertson. “That is what we have been geared toward this week, we’ve upped our focus level a bit. As the season gets later, that is just natural and normal to get prepared for the postseason. We are treating this like a postseason game to see where we are at.”

Nearly 20 games into the season, the Wolfpack and the Panthers have proven themselves as two of the top teams in Class 5A and are both in position to host first-round playoff games and make runs to the state tournament.

Despite dealing with injuries to two of its key players this season, Redmond (13-5 overall, 2-1 IMC) was ranked fifth in the OSAA rankings as of Wednesday.

Perhaps one of the top developments this season, Caldera (13-4, 3-0), in just its third season playing at the varsity level, holds the No. 1 spot in the 5A rankings and has won 10 of its last 11 games. Those include marquee wins over 6A West Linn and Caldera’s first-ever win over crosstown rival Summit, behind a 33-point performance from senior post Will Jenson.

“We really try to block out the outside noise with rankings and all that stuff,” said first-year Caldera coach Evan Dougherty. “We try to attack each day with a great attitude and effort. This is that time of year where it is a grind whether you are winning or losing.”

The first of two meetings of the season between the Wolfpack and the Panthers will be a test to see how much experience matters. This year’s Redmond squad has it, while Caldera does not.

Redmond is no stranger to these types of games. The Panthers have been to the state tournament each of the past three years and have won at least one game each time. Senior Jack Snyder, for example, has started eight playoff games over the past two seasons. Four players from the starting lineup on last year’s sixth-place state team have returned: seniors Ian Pearson, Snyder, Ukiah Monson, and junior Wyatt Horner.

“I think our experience is an asset for us,” Gilbertson said. “A lot of these guys have been to a couple of state tournaments. This isn’t uncharted territory.”

Caldera, on the other hand, has appeared in only one playoff game. The Wolfpack have no shortage of fire power with Jenson manning the paint and Macomber, along with senior guards Jack Bents, Seb Fievet and Aiden Cruz, making 3-pointers. Caldera will certainly be a test for Redmond’s gritty defense.

“They just compete every night,” Dougherty said of the Panthers. “They will pressure you all night and try to wear you down. We expect to see that. We expect to see them play super hard and compete. We need to take care of the ball and play our game.”

Friday’s matchup will certainly play a big role in the IMC title chase. A win for the Wolfpack would give them a two-game lead in the IMC standings ahead of Redmond and at least a one-game lead over Summit, depending on the outcome of the Summit-Mountain View game on Friday.

The Panthers need a win to keep pace in the IMC. Redmond already has a loss to Summit on its conference record, although it was playing without its star point guard Pearson, who Gilbertson said is just as important to the team’s defense as he is to the offense.

“We know that any given night in the IMC is a battle,” Dougherty said. “We just have to stay focused, stick to our game plan and play as a team.”

Added Gilbertson: “It is a high school basketball game. It’s five-on-five. We like our chances just as much as anyone else.”