Salisbury guard Eddie Sanchez wasn't satisfied with the way he played in the team's season opener against Blue Mountain.

After watching the tape from that game, Sanchez noticed he wasn't as aggressive as he would've liked to be in his offensive game. He understood that had to change for the Falcons going forward.

During the Falcons' Colonial League opener against Saucon Valley, Sanchez made the necessary adjustments and it paid dividends.

Sanchez poured in a game-high and career-high 19 points, Justin Aungst added 14 points and the Falcons defeated the Panthers 61-50 on Friday night at Salisbury High School to open up league play.

"With the Blue Mountain game, I played pretty pathetic in my opinion," Sanchez said. "I look at myself to be one of the leaders on this team, and contribute at a high level for this team.

"I was hesitating a lot [against Blue Mountain]. I think it was the first-game jitters. I put a lot of pressure on myself to play great. I was just hesitating a lot, and not attacking the basket when I could."

The Falcons, who led Saucon Valley by 12 early in the fourth quarter and held a 50-41 lead with 2:13 to play, saw that lead diminish rather quickly. The Panthers went scored seven of the next nine points, including a layup by Keith Kosher that brought them to within four with 1:34 remaining.

Salisbury's Brendan Reichenbach, however, proceeded to hit two free throws, and Sanchez was able to avoid pressure from the Panthers and find Aungst cutting to the basket for a layup that all but sealed the victory.

"They were pressing us during the second half, and we kept turning the ball over," Sanchez said. "I drove the ball up the court. They trapped me, and Justin cut so I gave him the ball. I believe it was an and-one. It was a great play."

It didn't take long to notice Sanchez's aggressive style against the Panthers. He opened the first quarter with eight points, and helped the Falcons secure a 14-12 lead after eight minutes.

Sanchez, who took 12 shots from the field, including three three-pointers, also had four assists for the Falcons.

"I just played my game, which is attacking the basket," Sanchez said. "I can score. I can get my teammates involved and penetrate and kick. I just wanted to be aggressive."

"I think the way Eddie started out for us, hitting some shots and attacking the basket, was a great way to get us moving to start the game," Salisbury head coach Jason Weaver said.

The Falcons held a six-point lead at halftime and increased that lead to 10 points on a number of occasions in the third quarter.

"It's a huge win in the league," Weaver said. "Last year, we were 12-4 in the league and we went all the way down to the last game just to make sure we had our spot in the final four. I think at home it's a game we have to have."

Austin Uhl, who recorded nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks against Saucon Valley, and Aungst both got into early foul trouble for the Falcons. Aungst picked up his second foul midway through the first quarter and got his fourth early in the fourth quarter. Uhl was called for his second with 5:15 to play in the first half.

While both big men had to sit for extended periods of time for the Falcons, Bryce Fairclough stepped into the lineup and filled the void both offensively and defensively. Fairclough recorded seven points, but more importantly had two key blocks in the second quarter.

"The minutes that Bryce Fairclough gave us were huge," Weaver said. "He didn't make mistakes. He rebounded. He had a couple key blocks, and he played really solid defense."

Mike Kane finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Connor Simpson tallied 14 for the Panthers.

The Falcons were scheduled to face Notre Dame (Green Pond) on Tuesday evening, after Press deadline. They will travel to play Wilson on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wilson's Johnson Gym.