BUTLER TWP — Forget about Meet the Players Night.

Butler High basketball has replaced it with a Countdown to the Madness.

"We're trying to generate more interest and excitement in our boys and girls programs," said Butler Boys Basketball Parents Club president Roger Snodgrass. "This is far beyond a coach introducing his players, having each kid stand up and sit down."

Countdown to the Madness will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday in the Butler High gym. It will include Golden Tornado boys and girls basketball teams from junior high on up, though only the junior varsity and varsity players will be introduced.

The evening will feature a performance by the Butler cheerleaders, girls and boys basketball team drills, five-on-five scrimmages and various contests that will involve spectators.

Snodgrass said Countdown to the Madness is based on college basketball's Midnight Madness, which helps ring in the collegiate season.

"With high school age kids, we obviously can't do anything at midnight," Snodgrass said. "We just jumped it up a few hours."

Contests will include 3-point shooting and halfcourt shots.

"We'll have a few alumni players teaming with a current player for a while," Snodgrass said. "We're getting as creative as we can to get the community charged up about basketball.

"Our ultimate goal is to get the students to come to the games. We know our teams have to win to keep them there, but we feel like we have a window here to build enthusiasm and we're taking advantage of it," he added.