BUTLER TWP — Dick Hartung has a tough act to follow in his second season as head men's and women's basketball coach at Butler County Community College.

His own.

Hartung took the reins of both programs last year and led the Lady Pioneers to a 17-11 record and first Region XX championship in the eight-year history of the program. BC3 wound up sixth at the national tournament.

The BC3 men's team won four games — four more than it won in the previious two seasons combined.

“I like where we're at right now,” Hartung said. “Our women's team has the potential to be good again if we put it all together and, on paper, our men's team is better than last year.”

Both Pioneer teams open the 2011-12 season Friday at the BC3 Fieldhouse against Harford (Md.). The women play at 6 p.m., the men at 8 p.m.

The women's team did lose Region XX MVP and Butler product Katresa Savisky, along with fellow Golden Tornado graduate Rachel Doutt and Karns City grad Ashely Campbell. Savisky is playing basketball at Point Park this year while Campbell is on the volleyball team there.

“Those are three pretty big losses,” Hartung admitted. “But we've got three of our top six girls back and I like the newcomers who are here.”

The three returnees are all Butler graduates — point guard Casey Fleeger, swing player Emily Wise and Erica Schultheis, the top player off the bench last year.

“Fleeger played every minute last year. She's the one who brings the ball up,” Hartung said. “Wise is a shooter who will get us points.”

St. Joseph's graduate Jacqueline Diaz was one of the top scorers in the WPIAL last season and figures to start. Samantha Sharpless, a Linesville product who played for the BC3 volleyball team, and Knoch graduate Heather Cooper provide depth.

Hartung said the women's team has seven players and “if we figure it out, we'll be pretty good.”

On the men's side, Knoch graduate Corey Miller returns at point guard and Antawane Davis, a Michigan product who averaged 13 points per game, returns at the No. 3 position.

Also expected to start are 6-foot-2 shooting guard John Tyler from California (Pa.), 6-6 Bill Smith from Butler and Slippery Rock High graduate Alec McDeavitt.

“These guys all play hard and they're playing well together,” Hartung said.

Josiah Kenyon, a 6-3 forward, comes from First Baptist in Butler. Beaver Falls product Phil McCargo is the Pioneers' backup point guard.

“Those are our top seven and we have a couple of guys who will be eligible around Christmas,” Hartung said. “We'll have about an 11-player roster.

“We're a little bigger and more athletic than last year. We're still not thick, though. We don't have the space-eaters, but we're working hard. I think the program will continue to improve.”