Salisbury’s girls basketball team has faced some top competition through the early part of the 2016-17 season.

The Lady Falcons’ (4-5 overall, 2-3 Colonial League) five losses have come to teams with a combined record of 31-7. None of the losses have come by more than eight points.

Their most recent and closest loss came last week in the final of the Salisbury Holiday Tournament. And it came against what might be the best team Salisbury has faced all season.

It took Allen (6-1) an overtime period to hold off the Falcons and earn this year’s tournament crown.

After Sarah McGee forced overtime with a late three-pointer, the Canaries size took over in the final period of a 60-58 win.

“We were so pleased with our effort,” said Salisbury head coach Joe Mladosich. “We played very well. Both teams played well.”

Salisbury kept up with Allen despite getting out-rebounded 43-19 in the game.

The Falcons took an early lead but by the second quarter, the teams settled into a tight battle that saw neither lead by more than three points until Allen went up by four (43-39) early in the fourth quarter.

The lead was still four points when McGee hit a foul shot with 33 seconds left to pull it to 50-47. After an Allen turnover, McGee hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left to tie the game.

McGee, a 5-7 junior guard/forward, transferred back to Salisbury after playing at Central Catholic last year. She earned the tournament Most Valuable Player Award after scoring a game-high 35 points in the title game.

“It was probably the best game since she’s been back at Salisbury,” said Mladosich. “We look forward to many more of those.”

The Falcons’ McGee and senior guard Caylin Meikrantz (20 points) accounted for nearly all the their team’s points in the game. Kelly Gardus had a three-pointer in the game and was the only other Falcon to score.

The Falcons head back into Colonial League play this week with games against Saucon Valley (Tuesday), Catasauqua (Thursday) and Northwestern (Saturday).

They’ve already faced two of the league’s undefeated teams in Bangor (6-1, 4-0) and Notre Dame (5-2, 4-0), who they lost to by eight and five points, respectively. Their other losses this season came against a 7-2 Blue Mountain team and Moravian Academy (7-1, 6-1).

“We lost five games and none of them by more than [eight] points,” said Mladosich. “We’re losing some close games and we’re hoping to turn that around in the second half of the season. We’re progressing. We’re getting better and that’s the key.”