Boys basketball: Pennridge's Dean Behrens hasn't changed how he coaches since 2019 playoff run

PERKASIE — What do you do after a once-in-a-lifetime season?

If you're Pennridge boys basketball coach Dean Behrens, you don't change anything from the magical 2018-19 campaign that lasted all the way to the PIAA Class 6A state championship game against loaded Kennedy Catholic to last year's 6-16 season.

"We don't want the kids to get compared to that," said Behrens after Friday's 43-41 overtime victory over visiting Council Rock North. "Every group you have is different. We want to make this experience for everybody that comes through the program — JV or varsity or freshman (team) — a positive experience so when they look back 10 years from now, they can have at least a smile on their face and enjoy that they played Pennridge basketball.

"We have three things that we say — we want you to be a great teammate, have fun and play hard. If you do those three things every day in practice and in games, you're going to have a good season."

Behrens has had plenty of good seasons. In an eight-year span from 2013-14 through 2020-21, the Rams compiled a 152-61 record, highlighted by the 27-6 mark with Sean Yoder and company in 2018-19 and five years with at least 19 victories.

"I was blessed — I had some great guards come through," said Behrens, who is in his 25th year as the Rams' coach, "(like) the Danny Longs, the Sean Yoders, Mike Guldin, Christian Guldin and then we had a couple big kids like Trent Fisher and Max Wagner come through. They won a lot of games for us, but we're not coaching any different than we did then.

"We're still trying to win every single game. I have fun coaching every single game. I'm competitive. Like (Friday), my blood was flowing just like it was in 2019."

This year's team is 11-5 overall (6-4 in the Suburban One League Continental Division) and has won four in a row. The Rams are 6-1 in games decided by eight or fewer points and on track to be one of the 24 schools to qualify for the PIAA District One Class 6A playoffs, sitting at No. 16 in the latest rankings.

On Friday, senior forward Tommy Cramer was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound with 3.8 seconds remaining in a tie game and knocked down both free throws for the OT win. Four Pennridge players contributed at least eight points vs. CR North, led by sophomore point guard Xavier Peters with 11. Cramer added 8, as did senior reserves Gannon Perlini and Ryan Hass.

In Saturday's 60-55 home victory over Perkiomen Valley, six players contributed at least eight points, with Perlini and Cramer tying for top honors with 11. Peters had 10, seniors Matt Campione and senior Caden Fisher contributed 9 apiece and senior Jake Buesing 8.

"I feel like every single game, we're competing," Behrens said. "We're going to take what we have and do the best we can with it."

Holy Ghost Prep bounces back

After starting the season 0-3, Holy Ghost has won eight of its last 13. Tony Chapman, a 1971 HGP graduate and in his 45th year as head coach, attributes the difficult schedule, especially early, as a big reason for what would appear to be something of a turnaround.

Holy Ghost Prep's seven losses have come to teams with a combined 76-26 record (going into Monday), including Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in Class 5A (Radnor and Unionville). Playing quality opponents should help prepare the Firebirds for the 12-team bracket of the District One playoffs. Senior leading scorer Seamus McDermott and Holy Ghost are No. 9 in 5A.

And it also took time for some junior JV players from a year ago to adjust to playing varsity on his senior-laden squad. "Even though we have a lot of seniors, it's not like we all played together last year," Chapman said.

Asked what he likes most about this year's squad, Chapman replied, "They're a nice group to coach. There's no attitude problems and they stick up for each other. As far as mentality, camaraderie and closeness, they're right up there with any team we've had."

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Germantown Academy's soph scoring sensation

Bryce Rollerson is the top scorer in the Inter-Academic League with a 21.7-point average. A 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, Rollerson has scored at least 20 points in 10 games for 7-9 Germantown Academy. He poured in a career-high 33 points in a 64-54 loss to Springside Chestnut Hill on January 10 and added 23 in Tuesday's 52-48 win over Haverford School.

"Bryce has put a ton of time in the offseason to work on his game," said GA coach Matt Dolan. "His ability to create off the dribble, as well as be a three-level scorer, has been impressive to watch. We are excited for his great start and look forward to him continuing to be a scorer and creator for us as we enter the second half of Inter-Ac play."

Rollerson not only leads the Patriots in scoring and numerous other categories — he's a team leader as a 10th-grader because his peers voted him captain. That's really impressive.

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Public school rankings (with record)

1. CB East (14-2)

2. Pennsbury (10-4)

3. North Penn (11-4)

4. William Tennent (11-4)

5. Pennridge (11-5)

6. Neshaminy (9-6)

7. Bensalem (9-6)

8. Abington (9-6)

9. Upper Moreland (11-5)

10. CR North (8-7)

Private school rankings (with record)

1. George School (14-3)

2. Archbishop Wood (6-5)

3. La Salle (9-5)

4. Dock Mennonite (13-2)

5. Holy Ghost Prep (8-8)

Games to watch

Salisbury at Palisades, Thursday (6:45): The 2-12 Pirates host 3-11 Salisbury in a Colonial League clash.

William Tennent at Abington, Friday (7 p.m.): The Freedom Division-leading Panthers visit the Ghosts, who have won five in a row.

Pennridge at Bensalem, Friday (7 p.m.): The Rams play their second of four straight on the road, while the Owls begin a stretch of three in a row at home.

Devon Prep at La Salle, Sunday (3 p.m.): La Salle hosts Devon Prep in a matchup of 9-5 teams.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Boys hoops: Pennridge's Dean Behrens hasn't changed how he coaches since 2019 playoff run