The Pennridge Boys Basketball Team’s hard work paid off on Tuesday, Feb. 4th when they won the division title against Central Bucks East. It’s with no doubt that a huge portion of the team’s success is due to the coach’s dedication to the team. Coach Dean Behrens of varsity and Coach Jeff Bishop of junior varsity connect with the players more than on a game level, but also on a personal level. 

From court, to personal issues, the coaches have the players backs. Coach Behrens says that, “if they [the basketball players] ever need anything they can always call me.” The coaches’ individual relationships with the players is due to the hard work that is put in daily by the coaches and players. Coach Bishop says that, “Seeing the same group for two hours a day you get to know a lot about each individual player.”

With the game comes commitment which involves sacrifice from the players and the coaches. Coach Behrens, a guidance counselor at PHS, and Coach Bishop, a physical education teacher at PHS, both contribute a significant amount of time to the game that they love. Bishop describes wherever the team is located is his, “home away from home.” Coach Bishop also says that his wife is, “very supportive despite the time commitment.” The coaching staff could be at school from 6-7 A.M. and not go home until 9 P.M.

Coach Behrens has been there through it all and his dedication to Pennridge Basketball has been going for over 20 years. In 2004, the team won their first playoff game with Coach Behrens. However, after this he says, “The team struggled with only one win a year.” In 2010, Michael Guldin, brother of varsity starter Christian Guldin, started on varsity. Behrens says, “New talent started coming in. Colleges were looking now. During Guldin’s senior year we won 18-19 games. We have won six divisions in the past ten years.” Needless to say, without Behren’s commitment throughout the rough years with almost no wins, who knows what the team would look like.

Coaching basketball is more than just playing around with some basketballs for a few hours after school. Senior varsity starter, Christian Guldin, says that an average practice will include, “Shooting around for 15 minutes, Coach coming out and stretching on the baseline, fly-man-weave drill, ball handling, five-on five game, and either watching film or lifting.” Guldin emphasizes the importance of each coach and their unique roles during practice by saying, “Bishop and Love work with players one-on-one and say what you need to look for as a player. Behrens talks to the team as a whole.”

The varsity team is now preparing for playoffs which will take place in the weeks to come. They are aiming to take home that championship that they were so close to winning last year. This team is made up of extremely dedicated players and extremely committed coaches and because of this Pennridge High School will keep cheering the boys on!