BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College basketball will take on a different look this season.

Gone are the rebounding strength of 6-foot-5 Garrett McHenry and 6-4 Jake Anderson on the men's team, the inside dominance of Julia Baxter on the women's side.

Longtime Pioneer coach Dick Hartung returns to guide both squads, however, and promises two things.

“We will play hard and we'll stand for the national anthem,” Hartung said. “After that, it's a crap shoot. I don't know what we're gonna get.”

After playing exhibition games at Penn State-Greater Allegheny Friday night, both BC3 teams will begin the regular season at home Tuesday night against Allegany (Md.).

The theme of the Pioneer men's team is short and to the point this season: Bombs away.

“We usually run a four-guard offense. This year, we'll run a five-guard offense,” Hartung said. “All of these guys can shoot the three's.

“We don't have the rebounding strength of last year, but outside shots often result in long rebounds. That could play to our advantage.”

The Pioneers had 172 more rebounds and 45 more blocked shots than their opponents last year.

Four Butler graduates will be in the BC3 starting lineup. Sophomore point guard Kaden Rock drained 50 treys last year. Justice Lewandowski, who at 6-4 is the only starter taller than 6-1, sank 21.

Joel Stutz sank 70 treys for Butler last year and twin brother Jace hit 21 treys. Grove City graduate Brendon Record hit 41 treys for the Pioneers last season.

“All of those guys can bring the ball up the floor,” Hartung said. “We should be pretty quick with the ball in our hands.”

Knoch graduate Josh Knochel, at 6-3, brings size off the bench. Also in reserve are Karns City graduates Ian McElroy and Noah Pollock, Butler grad Alijah Robinson, Knoch grad Josh Campbell and Mohawk grad Jordan Sager.

BC3 finished 9-20 last season.

“This team has some depth,” Hartung said. “Those Karns City kids can hit the three, too. It's going to come down to finding the open man and hitting shots.”

The Pioneer women finished 16-9 last year, but Baxter, the program's first-ever NJCAA All-American, is gone. She averaged 25 points and 16 rebounds a year ago in becoming the team's first 1,000-point scorer.

Counted on heavily to fill a good part of that void is Karns City graduate Mackenzie Craig. She averaged 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Gremlins a year ago and was part of four successive District 9 championship teams there.

“She is like a miniature Baxter,” Hartung said. “She is a hard-nosed player who will fight for rebounds.”

The lone returnee to the women's roster is sophomore point guard Lydia Roth from First Baptist Christian School in Butler. A former FBCS teammate of hers, guard Caitlyn Mueller, is a freshman with the Pioneers this season.

Another key inside player will be Knoch graduate Carly Burdett, who stands 5-10.

“At first, I thought our cupboard was pretty bare,” Hartung said of the women's squad. “But this cupboard isn't bare. Craig, Roth and Burdett are a good nucleus we can build around.”

Others looking for playing time will be Madeline Schnur from St. Joseph, Darlene Yates from Slippery Rock and three Butler graduates — Kelly Kriely, Brooke Dingel and Amara Dorcy — who didn't play for the Golden Tornado last season.

“But they'll be playing for us,” Hartung said.