The 2024-25 season saw the Salisbury boys basketball team reach the Colonial League and District 11 playoffs, but thanks to Saucon Valley, the Falcons also exited in the first round of each tournament.

The Panthers defeated them both times, including in overtime in districts, and took them down twice during the regular season.

Needless to say, the season’s 14-10 record would have been even better without the presence of their rivals.

“Saucon’s size was an issue for us,” said Salisbury head coach Jason Weaver. “They had two players who were both 6’5” and were factors in the post and on the glass. With our focus on them, we gave some of their other guards easier opportunities. We battled and gave everything we had at the defensive end against them and perhaps that wore us down offensively over time.”

The 14-10 mark equaled the Falcons record from the 2023-24 season but that doesn’t mean that the team failed to make any progress since that team had six seniors that were lost after the previous season.

Even with a less-experienced team that grew as the season went on, Salisbury finished with a respectable record.

“I am very happy with how the team performed this year,” said Weaver. “We had some varsity experience coming into the season, but not a lot. Our guys played as a team, worked hard and got better every week. It was a tough way to end the season with the overtime loss to Saucon, but I know that the majority of the team is coming back and the hunger to improve and compete is only going to get stronger.”

While there is only one senior to replace for next year’s team, it is a key loss. Josh Holler, who was the team captain and a key part of the growth of the team, will graduate this spring and attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.

“He was a steadying influence for us,” said Weaver. “Josh worked hard and was a great leader. He gave everything he had to the program and worked hard to improve his game each year. We wish him well as he prepares to graduate.”

With some work to do over the summer, the younger players will likely continue to develop and make the team stronger coming into next season. Key players like Steven Lozada, Drew Petrie, and Bryan Gonzalez will return for their senior season to give the Falcons experience and leadership from their upperclassmen.

Julian Makhoul had a nice sophomore season and was one of their most effective players against Saucon Valley as he twice scored 15 points against the Panthers.