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Dec 18, 2023 By Rob Burchianti 3 min read

Brownsville’s girls basketball team took its lumps last season in Section 4-AAA.

The Lady Falcons had a young squad with two freshmen working their way into the starting lineup and wound up 5-15 overall and 0-10 in the section.

Ninth-year coach Patty Columbia is confident her team will fight its way back into the playoff race in 2023-24, though.

“We took our lumps last year and we know it’s a tough section,” Columbia said.

Waynesburg Central finished in first place for the second year in a row and the section also includes South Park, Charleroi, McGuffey and Yough

“I still think that Waynesburg and South Park are going to be hard to beat,” Columbia said. “Waynesburg was very dominant in the section but we did give them a great game the last game of the season.

“I think teams are going to see a difference in us this year. I think we’re going to compete with everybody.”

Brownsville had plenty of returning players, including those two freshmen – Skyler Gates and Ava Clark – who are now sophomores. Also back in the starting lineup will be junior Zhariah Reed and seniors Megan Velosky and A’Zyia Dade.

“Zhariah is our point guard again,” Columbia said. “A’zyia, although she doesn’t score a ton of points, had a phenomenal weekend to start the season. She’s really our leader. She’s show that in practice and has been there all summer. She’s really stepped it up.

“Her defense is top notch. She brings speed and intensity yet also has a calm demeanor. She has the ability to find the open girl. All those things that a very difficult to teach just come naturally for her. She’s our step-up-and-take-charge leader.”

The 6-foot-2 Gates gives the Lady Falcons a matchup nightmare for opponents inside.

“Skyler has really grown a lot between last season and this season,” Columbia said. “She has a lot of talent, a lot of athletic ability for a girl her size. Teams will key on her and we’re trying to help her understand that they’re going to be double-teaming her. But unless you’re 6-foot-2, it’s going to be very difficult to guard her and stop her.”

Clark will be counted on to provide offense against also.

“Clark is one of our better scorers,” Columbia said. “She’s another one who’s very calm out there, especially for a sophomore. She’s going to put the ball through the hoop and Gates is going to put the ball through the hoop, and Zhariah is, too.”

Columbia had an eight-player rotation early in the season when the Lady Falcons opened with three wins in their first four games.

“We have three girls coming off the bench right now,” Columbia said. “They are Lizzy McCune (sophomore), Ciara Horabik (sophomore) and Lydia Geary (junior). That’s our top group right now.”

Columbia will again be assisted by Christina Clark and a welcome new addition in former Brownsville boys basketball star C.J. Gaddis.

“He’s made a world of difference,” Columbia said of Gaddis. “He played here, he played at Fayette Campus. His knowledge of the game is phenomenal and the way he conducts himself, the way he interacts with the girls, they absolutely love him.

“Sometimes I just sit back in awe of how much he knows and how good he is and feel really fortunate we had the opportunity to add him to our staff.”