Head coach Jason Weaver has been around long enough to know that defense will be the staple of a team’s ability to compete for championships. That remains true for this year’s Salisbury boys’ basketball team as Weaver enters his ninth season with the Falcons.

While Salisbury graduated its top two scorers from last year’s team that qualified for the state tournament, plenty of offensive firepower returns in 2017. The biggest question is if the Falcons will buy into Weaver’s request of amplifying their defense to a championship level.

“We have been working hard since practice began on November 18,” Weaver said. “If we come together as a team and continue to get better on defense, we feel we can compete with anyone in the league.”

Salisbury went 15-2 in the Colonial League last year before falling to eventual league champion Bangor. The Falcons then finished third in District 11’s Class 3A field and earned a trip to the PIAA tournament.

Former Falcons Dylan Belletiere and Tevon Weber, both Colonial League Second Team all-stars, each averaged 12 points per game last winter. Chad Cooperman, a sharp-shooting guard, also graduated after posting seven points per game as a senior.

Fortunately for Salisbury, four of the top rotation players from last year are back with a combined 30 points per game. Ryan Slutsky (6 per game) and Jaxon Costello (6 per game) will occupy the forward positions, a strength that is expected to lead this group in the upcoming months.

“We can score and have senior experience from [Blake] Jones, Slutsky and Costello,” Weaver said. “Our size will help us inside and with rebounding.”

Jones returns as Salisbury’s top 3-point shooter after scoring eight points per night last season. And junior Jack Reichenbach, the Falcons’ top returning scorer at 10 per game, figures to do a majority of the ball handling.

While Jones, Reichenbach, Slutsky and Costello all saw significant varsity time last year, a number of other players experienced a summer league championship that will hopefully give them confidence for the winter season.

Senior forward Eric Frankenfield and junior guard Joey Galantini were two of the top players off the bench last year and will take on larger roles this season. Other newcomers to the varsity stage expected to have an impact are: Oliver Stewart, Sean Snyder, Collin Trainer, Dan Snyder, Ronaldo Hernandez, Bobby Kulp, John Blackledge and Nathan Caraballo.

“The summer league wins gave us confidence and it always helps to play together,” Weaver said. “It also showcased what we need to work on and get better at if we want to compete for championships.”

And if the Falcons want to get over that hump of winning a championship (their last in either leagues or districts came in 2012), it starts and ends with their defense.

“Our defense needs to get better,” Weaver said. “We need to communicate defensively and make sure that we are boxing out. We also need to share the ball of offense.”

Along with Salisbury, last year’s champion Bangor, Saucon Valley, Notre Dame (Green Pond) and Southern Lehigh expect to be among the top teams in the Colonial League landscape. Saucon Valley, Jim Thorpe and Bethlehem Catholic figure to headline Class 3A in District 11.

Salisbury opens its season on Friday at Blue Mountain with a 7 p.m. non-league contest. The Falcons will then travel to Bangor on Monday to open Colonial League play.