Auburn Riverside senior Olivia Denton wanted nothing to do with it.

It was 2011, and Denton’s parents were moving from Federal Way, where she played for YEA Basketball, to Auburn.

“I was upset at first,” Denton said. “That was where I was supposed to grow up.”

Even worse, Denton would team with her youth basketball nemesis: McKenzi Williams.

“I played for YEA and she played for the Rockets,” said Denton, a 5-foot-6 small forward. “It was always a battle. We didn’t like each other.”

At least, not until they got to know each other.

“We’re inseparable now,” Denton said.

But both players maintain their own style. First-year Ravens coach Christian Miller can relate to that. Miller was close to the school’s former coach – he was the best man at Derek Pegram’s wedding last summer. But the extroverted Miller contrasted with the reserved Pegram, who now is the boys basketball coach at Stadium High School in Tacoma.

For Miller, the biggest contrast he sees between Denton and Williams is leadership style. He said Williams uses a “lead by example” role while Denton is an authoritative “hammer.”

“They feed off of each other in that sense, too,” said Miller, who was promoted from assistant coach in June.

On the court, they share one philosophy: all out.

“I trust her,” Williams said of Denton. “I know she’s never going to give up on it.”

Others have picked up the work ethic of the team’s stars, as well. Denton cited Natalie Raum as one example.

“It’s just crazy the progression I’ve seen out of Natalie,” she said. “She’s one of the hardest workers I know. She would text me during the summer to go to the gym.”

Williams, a 5-3 point guard, sees her sophomore backup making an impact this season.

“They better watch out for Autumn Lee,” she said. “She’s one of those players that genuinely wants to get better. She wants the team to be better.”

And then there is Denton’s and Williams’ classmate: 6-3 center Faith Turner.

“When Faith came in, she didn’t even play basketball before,” Denton said.

Denton and Williams played varsity as freshman in 2013-14, while Turner was learning the sport on the junior-varsity squad.

“For her to progress the way she has is a big deal,” Miller said.

Last season that talent helped propel Auburn Riverside to a South Puget Sound League 3A championship and a 23-0 start. But the Ravens lost their final two games, including a 58-48 setback against Edmonds-Woodway in the regional round of the state tournament.

“This has happened to us every single year,” Williams said of the early playoff exits. “My pride won’t let this happen again. It’s time to do it.”

Denton and Williams said the three state championship banners from 2007, 2008 and 2010, hanging in the Auburn Riverside gym, provide motivation as they move into North Puget Sound League 4A this season.

“This is our last year,” Denton said. “We all have to be on the same track to get where we want to go. It’s going to take trusting each other and having each others’ back.”