Braswell, Barbosa are great players, great friends and now district champs
Ray Barbosa and Darnell Braswell have a lot in common.
They were both standout high school and college players who even in their 30s continue to play as often as possible in area adult tournaments.
They were also District 11 champions as players at Allen playing for Doug Snyder in the 2000s and have led teams to district titles as head coaches.
They also live in the same west Allentown home.
And, they’re also good friends who have respect for each other and admire what each has been able to accomplish in their lives.
One more thing they have in common is that both would love to get their respective teams to the final week of the PIAA boys basketball tournament but face daunting challenges Saturday.
Barbosa’s Executive Education Academy Charter School visits District 4 champ Loyalsock in Williamsport in a Class 3A quarterfinal, while Braswell and Allen host nationally-ranked Archbishop Wood in a 6A quarterfinal at Sewards Gym.
No matter what happens, each will be checking on the other’s score as soon as their game is over.
“It’s going to be an uphill battle for us and a tough task, but we believe in our own greatness and in what we can do and bring to the table,” Braswell said. “We’re going to go out there and give it our best shot.
“We have a state playoff game on our home court. We’re going to make the best of the opportunity.”
Braswell also believes that Barbosa’s Raptors will give it their best shot in trying to get to the state’s final four.
“Me and Ray don’t just consider ourselves friends, we consider ourselves family,” Braswell said. “When I first moved to Allentown at the age of 9 and one of my best friends was Ray’s cousin.
“I got to know Ray back then and we’ve been close ever since. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
Barbosa reciprocated the same feelings about Braswell.
“We are family,” he said. “I am so happy for his success. When he first got the job at Allen, we talked about both bringing district titles to the same house. We ended up doing it, which is fun. We have a tremendous bond. We’re always doing family stuff together and playing pickup ball.”
They don’t often get to see other at this time of year, but when they do the conversation eventually gets back to basketball. “We bounce a lot of ideas off each other,” Barbosa said. “Being his roommate and being a part of each other’s lives has been great. I’m always rooting for Darnell because he’s a great person. I was at their last couple of games and I think he’s going to a tremendous job at Allen.
“He has a great basketball mind and works well with kids. He has a great deal of focus and knows what he wants.”
Snyder, now an analyst for Service Electric Cable, is proud of both of his former players and happy they are still connected to the game of basketball. He also believes they are perfect leaders and role models for the kids they coach.
“Being the great high school and college players that they were, they are so authentic in their teaching with young people because they can personally demonstrate offensive moves and techniques and basketball plays with their players,” Snyder said. “A young man will certainly have instant respect for his coach who can shoot, dribble, pass, etcetera at a high level like the two of them can. That ability makes Darnell and Ray more relatable as well.”
Snyder, who coached at Allen for 23 years, said that when you start out, you’re often like a big brother to your players and then you become more of a father figure and then an old uncle or grandfather.
“But make no mistake, both of them can still take their ‘sons’ out on to the court and show them a few things,” Snyder said.
Braswell said that he and Barbosa, who also had a pro career in Puerto Rico, didn’t talk about coaching one day while
their careers were still going on.
“Coaching just kind of fell into place for me,” he said. “I think it did for Ray too.”
Braswell, who was a member of Allen’s 2006 district title team, said he remembers the 2002 district final when Allen and Barbosa beat Emmaus and future Pitt and NBA standout Aaron Gray in an all-time thriller.
“I was in eighth grade and at that game because I was part of the Little Canaries youth program,” Braswell said. “At that time I was still not sure where I was going to go to high school, but that game and my respect for Ray went a long way in making me an Allen basketball player.
“Without him, who knows what would have happened.”
Barbosa and Braswell are headed for long, successful careers together whether it’s always at the high school or possibly in college.
The ingredients for both are the same — hard work, preparation and education.
“Ray’s always prepared and works hard and does his research,” Braswell said. “He uses his personnel to the best advantage. People don’t always see that, but I do and those are things I try to apply in my career.
“We are both very competitive and driven. For me, getting to know him so well has been a blessing.”
PIAA 6A Quarterfinal
Who: Archbishop Wood (17-0) at Allen (11-4)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
What’s next: Winner plays District One champ Lower Merion or Abington in Tuesday’s semifinals.
Coaches: Archbishop Wood, John Mosco (eighth season, 145-55); Allen, Darnell Braswell (first season).
Archbishop Wood probable starters: Rahsool Diggins (6-3
Sr. G) 16.8 ppg; Daeshon Shepherd (6-5 Sr F) 15.2 ppg; Marcus Randolph (6-4, Sr. G) 13.1 ppg; Jaylen Stinson (6-0, Sr G) 13.1 ppg; Muneer Newton (6-5, Sr. F) 11.3 ppg.
Allen probable starters: Mel Copeland (6-0, Sr. G) 12.0; Nate Ellis (5-9, Jr. G) 17.3 ppg; Manny Ozuna (5-10, Sr. G) 10.4 ppg; Eli Vigo (5-11, Jr. G) 6.4 ppg; Evan Wilt (6-3, Sr. F) 5.3 ppg.
Keith Groller’s pick: It has been a great season for first-year coach Braswell and great careers for seniors Copeland and Ozuna, among others, but it’s likely to end here. Wood simply has too much of everything for Allen and probably for any other team in the state. Archbishop Wood 82-62.
PIAA 3A Quarterfinal
Who: Executive (20-4) at Loyalsock (22-1)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
What’s next: Winner play either District 12 champ Math, Civics, Sciences or District 3 champ Lancaster Catholic in Tuesdays semifinals.
Coaches: Executive’s Ray Barbosa (3rd season, 55-20; 120-41 counting three seasons at Becahi). Loyalsock’s Ron Insinger is in his 47th season and is the state’s all-time win leader with 1,062 victories. He has won 24 District 4 titles.
Executive probable starters: Jevin Muniz (6-5, Sr. G-F)
21.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 68 3s; Rylan Muniz (5-9, Fr. G) 5.6 ppg,; Jalil Schenck (5-10 Jr. G) 14.3 ppg, 51 3s; Kobe Magee (6-4, Jr. F) 14.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.6 steals per game; Jeremiah Bembry-Morcos (6-5, Jr. G) 13.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg; 4.4 apg.
Loyalsock probable starters: Idris Ali (5-11 Sr. PG) 18.8 ppg; Eli Gair (5-11 Sr. G); 11.9 ppg; Saraj
Ali (17.9 Jr. F); 17.9 ppg; Dominic Jennings (5-10 Sr. G); 11.4 ppg; Sean Jensen (6-2, Sr. F 7.2 ppg). Also may start, Julian Wilson (6-8 Sr. F) 6.0 ppg.
The pick: As Palmerton and Notre Dame-GP found out the last two years, this is a difficult assignment traveling to Williamsport to face Loyalsock. But the Raptors are road warriors and are used to playing against tough teams in hostile environments. This one will be entertaining and intense. Executive will need to play one of its best games. 72-68.