Falcons coach Ramsey not afraid of change
Most basketball coaches have a certain style they prefer to play and they try to mold each of their players to fit their system.
Then there’s Rob Ramsey.
The former Geibel Catholic star who played at California University of Pa. isn’t opposed to change as he enters his third year as Brownsville’s boys basketball team.
He made that clear right off the bat when assessing his 2024-25 team.
“The last two years were pretty much the same but this year we seem to have so much more speed that I’m thinking of letting us run a little bit more than I have in the past,” Ramsey said.
Then there’s his defensive strategy. Most coaches prefer either man-to-man or zone.
Ramsey is fine using both.
“When I first started coaching like 10 years ago I was like I’m going to play man. I’ll never play zone, I don’t like zone,” Ramsey said. “I came from (former Cal men’s coach) Bill Brown who always played man. But when I was in high school and played for Coach (Ken) Misiak we played mostly zone. I’m probably leaning more to Coach Misiak than Coach Brown at this point.
“Ever since I’ve been at Brownsville we’re probably like 50-50 with zone and man. My first season when we upset Yough and Washington we were in zone. There were also games where we played man and held teams under 40. So I just adjust what defense we use to who we’re playing that night.”
Ramsey himself has adjusted to being at Brownsville with two years there under his belt.
“I feel a lot more comfortable now,” Ramsey said. “Now I’m getting to know not only the players that I have but also the faculty and staff and students.”
Ramsey is also comfortable with the team he brought into the 2024-25 season.
“We have good young guys coming back,” Ramsey said. “Max Dieodonne and Jaiden Praster are returning starters. Praster is our point guard. He’s a junior who made a great big leap. He’s a much better player than he was last year, offensively and defensively and he’s running the team very well.
“Jaiden and Max are going to be expected to pick up the scoring we lost with the graduation of Trent Wible.”
The Falcons were without one of their other top scorers early in the season.
“Kaden Wimmer has a MCL sprain,” Rasmey pointed out. “He should be coming back around mid-December. He’s a junior.”
Ramsey doesn’t name team captains but did say that Wimmer is a great team leader.
“Preston Rosado and Devan Wood, our only two seniors, are leaders and also Wimmer,” Ramsey said. “Everyone looks to Kaden for leadership. I expect when he comes back to average 15-20 points a game. He had a double-double in six of the last seven games last year. He and Cam Phillips are our top rebounders.
“Cam is a junior who saw some minutes last year and is another guy that made a really big jump in the offseason. We’re expecting him to start for us at the four and the five positions. I think when Kaden comes back he and Cam will be a great pair down low.”
Ramsey sees Wood’s role increasing this season.
“Devan will have an opportunity to start some games,” Ramsey said. “He didn’t play a whole lot last year but he’s one of the hardest workers we have. He’s another guy who’s shown significant improvement.
“Rosado is a transfer from Toledo, Ohio who’s a great kid and a great worker. He’s about a 5-10 guard who’s still learning. We also have Exzavier Vargas, a junior who plays great defense and does everything you ask him to do.”
Freshmen Silas Patterson, Alex Remington, Lorenzo Adams, Austen Marshall and Quin’C Vance could all see action from time to time, according to Ramsey.
“Adams is 6-1, 300 pounds but for his size he has good speed and feet. He’s a project, probably a year away,” Ramsey said. “Marshall and Vance are getting better everyday. I think Patterson will get some playing time. Remington is a really good shooter but he’ll miss the first few weeks of the season with an injury as well. He’s really been working hard for us, too.”
Brownsville went 8-14 overall and 3-9 in Section 4-AAA last year. The Falcons are in the same section again although gone are Yough, Washington and McGuffey with Ligonier Valley and Southmoreland moving in. Holdovers in addition to the Falcons are Mount Pleasant, Charleroi and Waynesburg Central.
Ramsey’s assistant coaches are Harlan Davis, Greg Johnson and Cody Castor.