After nearly three decades on the sidelines, Dean Behrens knows no two basketball seasons are ever the same. Now in his 27th year as the Pennridge Men’s basketball coach, Behrens continues to lead a program built on consistency and long-term success. His teams have produced a winning record, multiple division titles, and many postseason runs, highlighted by a 2019 PIAA Class 6A state runner-up finish.
Pennridge has captured division titles six times under Behrens, including in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2020. The Rams also earned a Suburban One League Championship title in 2020. One of the program’s strongest seasons came in 2018-19 when Pennridge went 27-6 overall, finished 11-1 in conference play, and reached a No. 24 ranking in Pennsylvania. “Every season takes its own identity,” Behrens said. “It depends on the players. Every year, you get a new senior group, and the personality of the team comes from them.”This season has been a mix of learning moments and competitive performances for the Rams as they navigate a demanding schedule and adjust after graduating six players from last year’s roster.
Last December, Pennridge suffered a 65-50 loss to Central Bucks West, a defeat that dropped the Rams to 10-10 and marked their second straight loss. Central Bucks West extended its home winning streak to four games with the victory.
The Rams answered with a tightly contested 55-52 win over North Penn, their second victory of the season after also winning 51-41 last December. The win improved Pennridge 10-8 before a narrow 53-49 loss to Central Bucks South on January 31st earlier this year. Early last season, Pennridge posted an impressive offensive effort in a 67-54 win over Faith Christian Academy. The Rams’ season-high point total helped move their record to 9-7 and reflected steady improvement on both ends of the floor. Preparation remains at the center of Behrens’ coaching approach.
“Practice is everything,” Behrens said. “In the preseason, it’s all about getting in shape and working on fundamentals. Before games, we look at film, figure out who we’re playing, and talk through what they like to do.” Beherns said the team is focusing on cleaner offense, particularly shot selection and ball movement, while maintaining a high level of energy.
Several experienced players have helped anchor the lineup. Ryan Schwind and Rownan Smith are three-year varsity contributors, while Ryan Flood and Connor Murray return for their second and third varsity seasons. Behrens also expects Jacob Dietl to play a significant role, with Tim Croyle and Ryan Kuntz providing key minutes off the bench. Jackson Beard, Dillon Prebis, and Spencer Ziga round out the rotation. Closing out close games has been a point of emphasis. “You’ve got to understand time and score,” Behrens said. “Taking the right shot at the right moment matters, especially late in games.”
Croyle, a first-year varsity player, set the team’s embrace of its depth and motivation as the season began. “My goal is to come off the bench and give us a spark,” Croyle said. “Whether that’s hitting shots or bringing energy, I just want to help the team.” He added that last season’s missed playoff opportunity still resonates. “We missed the playoffs by one game,” he said. “That’s definitely giving us a chip on our shoulder.” Despite Roster turnover and a competitive league, Behrens remains optimistic. “We play against a lot of good teams,” he said. “But the guys are practicing hard, they’re excited, and that’s a good place to be.”
Sources:
https://suburbanonesports.com/preview/content/pennridge-boys-basketball-preview-00115908
https://www.maxpreps.com/pa/perkasie/pennridge-rams/basketball/media/news/
