RCS Celebrates the Legacies of Student Peter Branson, ‘Coach’ Joe Hendren
photo courtesy of Cathy Breslow/ BreslowImaging
Pictured are many of the alumni present along with RCS Administrators: Assistant Director of Athletics Greg Hinton (far left), Director of Athletics Scott Baginat (center rear), Principal Justin Redemer (sixth from right) Superintendent Emeritus Bruce D Johnson at the right rear.
On November 30, Redwood Christian Schools’ celebrated one of its first graduates before the 46th Annual Peter Branson Memorial Basketball Game and 2nd Annual “Coach” Joe Hendren Memorial Basketball Game.
The Redwood Christian Schools Community came together for the 2nd Annual “Coach” Joe Hendren Memorial Basketball team between the 2024-25 Lady Eagles and alumna women with the 46th Annual Peter Branson Memorial Scholarship Game between the current 2024-25 Varsity Boys and alumni men culminating the Alumni Basketball Games.
Two of the highlights of this year’s Coach Joe Hendren Memorial Game were Lia (Merced, Class of 2000) Gilmore, who was a member of the 2000 State Championship team, and, for the first time in memorial games history, Mom, Christiana (Zipse) Keller (Class of 1998) play against her daughter, Kayla, a member of the Class of 2028.
As the girls’ varsity basketball coach at Redwood Christian High for his first 18 seasons from 1992-2010, Coach Hendren led the Eagles to a state championship, a state runner-up, two Northern California titles, two Section championships and five consecutive NorCal Regional appearances. During the 18-year run, his teams won 306 games while losing only 173. He later came out of retirement to coach at the Middle School and High School so he could coach his granddaughters. He took his team to the playoffs his final year.
Coach Hendren’s success with the girls’ varsity included taking the Lady Eagles to the Section playoffs in 15 of 21 seasons. He was named the ANG Newspapers Coach of the Year in 2000, the year the Eagles won the Division V State Championship. In 2012-13, he was named the California Interscholastic Federation North Coast Section Winter Honor Coach. Coach was inducted into the Castro Valley Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in 2014, the sixth coach in Castro Valley Athletics history inducted.
Peter graduated in 1978 as a member of Redwood’s second graduating class. He was killed in the summer of 1979 after his freshman year at BIOLA University. The school community has kept Peter’s memory alive with the Games that raise funds for the Peter Branson Memorial Scholarship that is awarded annually at Redwood Christian High Schools Graduation. Several hundred past and present school students, parents and supporters gathered this year with even the alumnus’ players paying to participate. Lynn Conley Seuis and Mardele Benton Miller, both from the Class of 1980, were the “most senior” alumnus to attend.
“Through our 55 years of ministry, Redwood Christian Schools has so much to be thankful for, including our current students and their parents, and our graduates. Remembering Coach Hendren and his commitment for two decades was a godly example for all of us. And Pete is easy to do for those of us who knew him as he had the ready smile for everyone and his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” stated his former teacher and coach Bruce D. Johnson, RCS Superintendent Emeritus.
To see many more photos from the event, please visit: https://www.breslowimaging.com/School/2024-2025-School-Year/2024-Memorial-Games-Varsity-Boys-Basketball
