By John Robbins of Buttesports.com

Butte Central Maroons 63 Whitefish Bulldogs 41

Butte Central started a little jittery to begin play, but Eric Loos grounded them early on knocking down a pair at the line and a nice duce on an assist from Kyle Holter, it was 4-4 with 5 minutes to play in the first quarter.

Kyle Holter took one to the rack for a quick two, and just as fast he would knock down a trey ball from the left wing to give Central a 9-4 advantage, a timeout was taken with 3:07 to go.

Whitefish would get a bucket down low on a loopy loop of a shot for 2, Dougie Peoples would drive the lane and get another lay in for 2 for the Maroons, Eric Loos continued to turn up the heat as he tracked down another rebound went up for two and was fouled on the play converting the and 1.

Whitefish would come right back on their next two possessions and cash both in for two, 14-10 Butte Central at the end of 1.

Whitefish kept attacking as the 2^nd quarter started getting a quick two, answered by Dougie for 2 more, Josh Sutton got in the action as he would dial one up from long distance and the Maroons would lead by 7 early on.

Whitefish would come down with 5 to go and splash a triple of their own to cut it to 5, 20-15 BC.

Central would extend their first half lead to 10 after an Eric Loos jumper, followed by a Kyle Holter put back for two more and Central would lead 27-15 into halftime.

Whitefish began the second half with a fastbreak lay in for two, Dougie would stroke a 3 in the corner and fine Zane Moodry on an excellent cut on the baseline for two more. Off a defensive rebound Eric Loos got another duce under the bucket to give Central a 34-17 lead with 5 minutes to go.

Owen McPartland would break the ice and cash in his first three of the night for the Maroons and the lead inflated to 20 with just under 5 to play in the period.

Butte Central owned the 3^rd period as they exploded for 25 points to Whitefish’s 11 and would lead 52-27 after 3 quarters of play.

Zane Moodry started things off for the Maroons in the fourth with a quick 2, followed by 8^th grader Josh Suttons 2^nd three ball of the night, 57-31 Maroons. Senior Riley Gelling saw some floor time and cashed in a nice little jumper for two more for Butte Central to lead by 30 with 3:40 to go, 63-33.

Butte Central not only survives but left Whitefish stranded after an enormous `second half and goes on to win 63-41. They will play the Dillon Beavers tomorrow at 8pm.

Dougie Peoples led the way with 19 points, Kyle Holter, Ericl Loos shared 11 apiece, Zane Moodry had 9, Josh Sutton had 6, Owen McPartland had3, Riley Gelling and Jack Keeley both had 2.