BUTLER TWP — Mackenzie Craig will be back in a Butler County Community College basketball uniform Thursday night.

The Karns City graduate's return to the Pioneers means one thing.

Impact.

“We didn't have her for our opener (last Friday) because of volleyball and we lost 96-47 to Penn State-Greater Allegheny,” BC3 men's and women's coach Dick Hartung said. “If we have Craig, we probably win that game.

“She makes that kind of difference. It's not just her game. She makes everybody else on the court better, too.”

Craig averaged 31.9 points and 23.1 rebounds per game last season as the Pioneers finished 5-19. She averaged 5.4 points and seven rebounds more than any other player in all of NJCAA.

Craig needs 306 points and 127 rebounds this season — she tallied 765 and 554 last year — to break Butler graduate Julia Baxter's program records.

“She's going to smash our record book,” Hartung said. “She has the potential to become the best basketball player we've ever had at this school.

“Craig is a go-getter, simple as that.”

Knoch graduate Carly Burdett, who averaged 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds as an inside player last year, is moving out to a wing. Slippery Rock High grad and BC3 freshman Jenna Heitzenrater, the team's tallest player at 5-foot-11, will replace Burdett inside.

“Burdett doesn't realize how good a player she can be. She's better suited for the wing,” Hartung said.

Knoch graduate Casey Kretzer will be the point guard. The remainder of the roster — sophomores and Butler graduates Amara Dorcy, Kelly Kriley and Brooke Dingel, along with Mars grad and freshman Linda Lee — are battling for the fifth starting spot.

“Our girls have a chance to be a good team this year,” Hartuing said. “I like the talent we have. We're better than last year and that will make Craig that much more effective.”

The Pioneers play a men's and women's doubleheader Thursday night at Allegany (Md.).

BC3's men were 4-24 last season and will be playing without a post player this season.

“That makes it tough,” Hartung admitted. “Our tallest guy is 6-foot-3 and Allegany has a front wall of 6-8, 6-9 and 6-6. They're monsters.

“We have a good outside shooting team, though. We're gonna have to hit a lot of 3's to be competitive this year. Get the ball in and back out, that's our philosophy on offense.”

Butler graduates and sophomore guards Jace and Joel Stutz return. Jace Stutz will man the point.

Other starters are Knoch graduate and sophomore forward Josh Knochel, Butler grad and freshman Andrew Yonker and sophomore guard Jordan Sager from Mohawk.

Bench players include freshmen and Butler grads Jake Slomers, Luke Haas and Matthew Nichol, along with Knoch grad and sophomore Josh Campbell.

“We led the country in 3-point shots attempted last year and were second or third in 3-pointers made,” Hartung said. “I liked the way we played in our 120-91 loss to Penn State Allegheny the other night. That's a very good team and we hung with them.

“We're a small team, but we're scrappy. I like the group.”