BUTLER TWP - Tony Grenek's five-year plan could be completed a year early.

The Butler County Community College men's basketball coach watched his team jump out to a 9-0 lead, then withstand a second-half run by Franciscan (Ohio) University to post an 80-67 season-opening win Friday night at the BC3 Field House.

The win marked Grenek's first in a season opener during his four-year career as Pioneer coach.

"When I took this job, a lot of people told me it was coaching suicide. They said there was no way I could win here," Grenek said.

"Shane (assistant coach McGraw) and I have poured our heart and soul into this program. The goal our first year was to just survive the season. The last two years, we wanted to fill out a roster with recreational, church league players - anyone we could get.

"We got together this past off-season and decided it was time to put together a 15-man roster of solid players. And that's what we have," Grenek added.

The Pioneers showed that Friday. Franciscan (1-2) averaged 92 points in its first two games but managed just 26 in the first half against BC3.

The Barons wound up sinking just 24 of 76 shots on the night and fell behind by as many as 20 points (50-30) with 16:28 left in the game.

"They jumped on us early and we never recovered," Franciscan coach Jeff Talbot said. "They had more inside than I cared to see. We couldn't stop them in the paint."

The Pioneers sank 33 of 65 shots, including 18 of 30 in the first half. They had a 44-26 lead at intermission.

"I was a little disappointed with our defense and ball handling in the second half," Grenek said.

An 11-0 run pulled Franciscan within 64-56 with 5:41 to play, forcing Grenek to call a timeout.

"I probably waited a possession or two longer than I should have before calling it," Grenek said. "But I like to give our team a chance to work through things like that, especially in the first game.

"After the timeout, I put our best five shooters and ball handlers on the floor, and they took care of business."

The Pioneers suffered 20 turnovers - 12 in the second half - but none in the final 5:27. Moniteau graduate Matt Goettler sank a layup on a pass from Butler grad Joel Rehm right after the timeout.

Rehm sank a free throw and Franklin grad Jeremy Peterson scored a layup off a fast break to give BCCC a 69-56 lead with 4:30 remaining. Franciscan never threatened again.

Youngstown (Ohio) Chaney graduate Matt Lobaugh led the Pioneers with 23 points and added eight rebounds. Peterson had 20 points.

Rehm contributed nine points seven rebounds and four assists, while Moniteau grad Tyler Hempfling picked up nine rebounds off the bench.

"This is a team of no superstars," Grenek said. "Everybody's close to the same in talent and size. It's hard deciding who to give minutes to and our starting lineup may change every night.

"I'm a man-to-man coach defensively, but we've had to play a 2-3 zone the past couple of years because we didn't have the bodies. That's all changed now. Our defense is ahead of our offense."

Dan Johnson paced Franciscan with 25 points. Zack Hohenberg added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Other Butler County products on the BC3 roster this season are Wes Briggs from Knoch, Ryan Rumbaugh and Nick Dolak from Moniteau, and Travis Day and Wil Miller from Butler.

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY (67)

Matt Conrad 3-9 3-4 9, Dan Johnson 8-21 5-9 25, Craig Hollis 0-0 0-0 0, Zack Hohenberg 5-11 3-4 13, Tony Ertel 0-0 0-0 0, Brian Larkin 0-1 0-2 0, Shane Unrein 1-7 4-4 6, Steve McGuckin 2-11 0-0 4, Mark Hartfield 5-15 0-1 10. Totals: 24-76 15-24 67.

BCCC (80)

Kris Harmon 3-7 0-0 9, Wes Briggs 2-5 0-0 4, J.R. Shipley 1-2 0-0 3, Jeremy Peterson 8-12 0-0 20, Matt Goettler 2-5 0-0 4, Matt Lobaugh 10-13 3-3 23, Wil Miller 1-4 0-0 2, Nick Dolak 0-1 0-0 0, Corey Robinson 1-4 0-0 2, Grant Bailey 0-0 0-2 0, Joel Rehm 3-7 3-6 9, Tyler Hempfling 2-5 0-1 4. Totals: 33-65 6-11 80.

Halftime -

BCCC, 44-26.

3-point goals -

Johnson 4; Harmon 3,. Shipley, Peterson 4

Rebounds -

Franciscan 45 (Hohenberg 11), BCCC 41 (Hempfling 9).

Turnovers -

Franciscan 12, BCCC 20.

Saturday -

BCCC @ Jefferson Community College (Ohio)