SHOES SQUEAK against the polished wood of the basketball court, and the swoosh of a ball passing through the net is barely heard over the audience’s cheering. Tim Behrendorff proudly watches from the sidelines as the West Middle School boys basketball team scores another goal.
This spring marked the end of Behrendorff’s fourth year as head basketball coach, a position he sought because of his love for kids and basketball. He describes coaching as a more intense version of teaching.
“You get to work with the kids closely. You get to know them a little bit better,” Behrendorff said. “Hopefully, teach them something about the sport of basketball, but also maybe a little bit about life as well — try and point them in the right direction.”
His efforts paid off this year, as the West Middle School basketball team won the regular-season conference and the area tournament and then placed second in the region — one of only four regions in Tennessee.
“Us coming in second in the region means that we were one of the top eight teams in the state this year,” Behrendorff said. “That was something that West Middle School hadn’t done previously, so that was pretty special.”
The team was very talented and had a strong group of eighth-grade players, but that wasn’t the only reason they excelled. Behrendorff said the eighth graders knew what was expected on and off the court and embraced that.
Photos submitted by Sharp Linz
“We had good leadership within our group,” Behrendorff said. “We also had a really good group of eight seventh-graders who were able to push those eighth graders daily in practice.”
While the seventh graders may not have played as much on the court, the team would not have made it as far without them. Practices were very competitive — something that Behrendorff said he was really proud of. The students grew together, learning how to get the most out of each other and where each player excelled. They also held each other accountable on a day-to-day basis and built each other up.
“They’re good students. They’re leaders of the school, and they do the right thing on and off the court,” Behrendorff said. “Anyone that’s been around team sports knows it’s not just about having the athletes, it’s about everything else that goes along with it, and that’s something that this group definitely had. We had a group of really good character, and that helped us go as far as we did.”
This year was a particularly fun season, and Behrendorff said he missed going to practice and hanging out with the team after the season ended.
“When you’re working together as a team, and when you’re doing all the right things, you’re going to have fun doing it,” Behrendorff said.
It isn’t just West Middle School that has that experience. Basketball all across Tullahoma is in a good place, Behrendorff said, with excellent teams at West and East Middle schools and Tullahoma High School. The sport’s future looks bright.
“Tullahoma should be really excited about that — about what we’ve got going on — and look to continue, and continue building on what we’ve got,” Behrendorff said. “We have had success, and I think we can continue to be successful.” GN
