#2 Central boys face down Corvallis Tuesday night at Maroon Activities Center

The Butte Central Maroons second-ranked boys' basketball team is back in action this evening with a Southwest A conference tilt with the Corvallis Blue Devils at the Maroon Activities Center and from what we've seen in the early-going of conference play, every game is going to count.

The Corvallis Blue Devils come into the contest at 5-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play with their last outing a 72-59 setback at home against the undefeated and top-ranked Hamilton Broncs in their first conference game of the season.  Their other losses are an early-season contest 68-46 to Lockwood, a 53-50 loss at Ronan and a 70- 59 defeat at the hands of Browning.  Blue Devil victories include their season opener against Anaconda 51-43, a 57-56 over Polson, a 74-58 triumph over East Helena, a 63-38 win at Libby and a 63-53 win over the Florence Falcons.  Corvallis is led by Ryan Hutchison's 15.1 points per game followed by Derek Criddle who contributes an average of 13.8.

The 9-1 Butte Central Maroons are red-hot after their lone loss of the season to the Butte High Bulldogs before the Christmas break.  The Maroons decimated Stevensville 77-18 at home in their first game back after the break followed by a 67-43 trouncing of former #1 Frenchtown in their home gym a week later.  The Maroons are led by junior guard Owen McPartland who is the 10th leading scorer in Class A with 17.1 per game, senior forward Jack Keeley who is tied for third in Class A rebounding at 8.3 per game to go with 10.6 points per game, and freshman guard Joshua Sutton who contributes 11.9 points per game.

Common opponents so far this season include East Helena who the Maroons beat 69-41, Browning who the Maroons beat 70-59, Polson who fell to the Maroons 74-43, Ronan who lost to BC at home 56-43 and Anaconda who felt the Maroons bite in the Snake Pit 56-28.

Tipoff time is set for 7:15pm.