Just as the temperatures are starting to rise, the Salisbury boys’ basketball team is heating up in the Stellar Summer Basketball League.

The Falcons capped last week’s play with two more wins in the league’s Small School Division to improve to 6-1. Led by a game-high 17 points from Jaxon Costello, Tuesday’s 47-36 win over Northern Lehigh kept the Falcons’ momentum going as the midway point of the season approaches.

Much like their game against the Bulldogs, offense hasn’t been an issue through seven games. More of head coach Jason Weaver’s focus this summer will be on the defensive end.

“Losing Dylan [Belletiere], [Chad] Cooperman and Tev [Weber], those are three guys that really played solid defense, positional defense and help defense,” Weaver said. “We have to keep working on that.”

Weber, who set the tone for Salisbury’s defense last year, will be a key piece to replace as the Falcons move through the summer in preparation for the winter season. Costello figures to slide into that role.

And after 15-7 spurt for Northern Lehigh to close the first half and take a one-point lead at intermission, the crowd saw glimpses of what the Falcons can be when their minds are more focused on the defensive end.

“That’s one of those things, I said at halftime that there’s no glory in playing defense,” Weaver said. “But it’s certainly going to translate into wins. We have to get those guys to buy into it.

“I think this team is pretty talented offensively and we can score. But our defense has to get better. That’s what I’m preaching. I want to see guys boxing out. I want to see guys on weak side help. I want to see guys not turning their back to the ball.”

Salisbury, led by its defensive pressure, turned a 26-25 deficit into a quick five-point advantage. That lead grew to 43-32.

Another main question mark for Salisbury will surround the ball-handling duties. Belletiere held much of that responsibility a year ago, but incoming-junior Jack Reichenbach (11 points against the Bulldogs) expects to have the ball in his hands more in the coming months.

The duo of Patrick Adams and Sean Snyder could provide solid play at the point guard position.

“Pat didn’t play at all for us last summer,” Weaver said. “He’s been coming to open gyms and coming to games. Obviously he’s still playing soccer, but there’s more of a commitment from Pat, which is going to be helpful for us. He sees the floor well.”

Shooting guard Blake Jones is ready to enter his senior season and is off to a solid start this summer. He scored nine points against Northern Lehigh. So is senior-to-be Ryan Slutsky, a forward who can score both inside and out.

Costello and the Falcons were at it once again two days later with a 46-31 win over Kutztown. Costello scored a game-high 18 points.