With the two biggest summer tournaments up next, the Salisbury boys basketball team looked to ready itself for the stiff competition that awaits in the Stellar and Sportsfest tournaments beginning this week.

Austin Uhl, Eddie Sanchez, and Bryce Fairclough combined to lead the Falcons to a 42-31 win over Pleasant Valley last Tuesday night at Muhlenberg College.

In a back-and-forth first half, the three Falcons traded baskets to give Salisbury a slim 22-19 lead at halftime.

After the Bears took a 23-22 advantage early in the second half, the Falcons found a rhythm and never trailed again.

"I think the key was our patience on offense," said head coach Jason Weaver. "Obviously, Austin is a factor inside, and if we can get looks to him inside, it will open up everything for everyone else.

"Having the patience to not make one pass and take a shot was the key offensively for our run. We took the time and reversed the basketball and got good looks."

Uhl (20 points, six rebounds) and Fairclough (11 points, 10 rebounds) were tough to contain inside for the Bears. They found themselves open with easy looks at the basket and were there to clean up any missed Falcons shots.

After trailing 23-22, Salisbury went on a 20-8 run over the final 15-plus minutes to end the game.

With some regular players missing due to baseball, the Falcons have found ways to stay productive and competitive. Younger players are stepping up, which is always a good sign.

"I think Austin [Uhl] is really stepping up and scoring for us well," said Weaver. "I think the best thing is just getting younger guys some playing time. Justin [Aungst] has played two or three games, and [Brad] Vangeli has played one game, and those are guys that we're going to be expecting a lot from.

"A lot of guys are stepping up. Bryce [Fairclough] has had a really good summer with his improvement. As long as he stays confident he can be a factor. Our guys are getting a lot of good experience."

Weaver also noted the good showing down at a DeSales University camp two weeks ago, where the Falcons were able to play seven games in a weekend, as signs of improvement.