Tonight, Red Level will face Flomaton for the third time this season and boys coach Fred Kelley knows just how important this game is.

So far, the Tigers (9-9, 2-0 in Class 2A, Area 1) have played Flomaton on the road and at home this season. The most recent game came on Dec. 31, 2009, at the 12th annual Red Level Christmas Invitational, where the Tigers fell to the Hurricanes in the championship game, 60-55.

Red Level earned a 51-45 win over the Hurricanes at Flomaton’s Thanksgiving tournament last November. However, neither of those games counted toward either team’s area records.

Kelley said his team enjoyed a great weekend after last week’s area win over Mobile Christian.

“Coming off the area win, it was a good weekend for us,” he said. “We had a great second half that propelled us to get to 2-0.”

Kelley said tonight’s area game is going to be a big one.

“We played them twice already in tournaments and we beat them at their place and they beat us at ours,” he said. “The games that really count are (tonight). We know there’s a lot at stake.

“It’s good to be in this position,” he said. “We’re going to have to play a great ball game. They have a very talented club.”

One negative that came from last week’s win over Mobile Christian was that Red Level guard Tyler Paulk injured his knee.

Kelley said he is waiting to see how serious the injury is.

“That’s going to weaken us a lot more with our depth,” Kelley said about Paulk’s injury. “Our bench is coming through for us, but we’re slim with people we utilize. With three-deep on the bench and the way we play (getting in foul trouble), it’s going to be tough.”

Tonight, Kelley said it is essential that his team execute well on transition and apply enough pressure to win.

Tip off tonight for the B-team is at 4:30.