Before Friday’s District 11 Class 4A third-place game, Salisbury head coach Jason Weaver found a photo that he wanted to show his players.

“I pulled a picture from one of our old programs when these guys were in seventh and eight grade,” Weaver said, referring to this year’s juniors and seniors. “I said we’re playing for these guys tonight, for that family that’s been together for so long.”

The Falcons responded with a 51-42 win over North Schuylkill Friday to keep their season alive and advance to the state playoffs.

“We had a heartbreaking loss in the district semis and it kind of fueled us,” said Salisbury senior Bryan Gonzalez. “We didn’t play our best that game, so we felt that we could come out here and prove we’re a really good team, a tough team. I think we proved that.”

After falling to Central Catholic in the district semifinals last Tuesday, the Falcons needed a win to seal the third and final PIAA playoff berth as three teams from Class 4A qualify for the state playoffs.

Salisbury built big lead in the first half with its defense and rebounding.

The Falcons allowed just two Spartan field goals in the first quarter and none in the second when 0-for-7 shooting resulted in all of North Schuylkill’s five points in the quarter coming at the foul line.

“We came with a chip on our shoulder after losing a close one to Central,” said junior Garret Leiner, who had seven points and three rebounds in the first quarter. “We practiced hard for the next couple days, especially preparing for [North Schuylkill’s] big guy. We executed and came out with a really hot start.”

Salisbury outrebounded the Spartans and contained 6-foot-6, 225-pound Xavier McNally, who had just one rebound in the first quarter but gathered five in the second. The Falcons pulled down 17 boards in the first half with North Schuylkill getting 11.

“That was the best we’ve rebounded the basketball in a long time,” said Weaver. “Especially coming off Tuesday where Central had 21 offensive rebounds.”

Salisbury’s biggest lead came when a Julian Makhoul three-pointer made it 40-20 with 3:53 left in third quarter. Makhoul had a pair of blocked shots in the first quarter to help set the tone defensively.

The Spartans cut the lead to 15 points before a Keaton Frye basket with no time left in the third quarter made it 44-27 heading into the fourth.

North Schuylkill started the final stanza with a 6-0 run to cut its deficit to 44-33 early in the quarter.

An 8-0 Spartan run a few minutes later cut the lead to 48-41 with 52 seconds left in the game before Salisbury sealed the win at the free-throw line.

“We got our lead up to 20 and we got a little lackadaisical,” said Weaver. “They never make it easy on me.”

The win gives the Falcons (23-4) their first 23-win season since Weaver’s 2012 Colonial League Championship team.

“They’re great kids,” said Weaver. “They work hard. They’ve done exactly what I ask them to do.

“I just feel so happy for these guys that have fought and persevered. When they were freshmen, they were 5-17. To get to this point, to get to states is awesome.”

Steven Lozada led Salisbury with a game-high 19 points against North Schuylkill. He also pulled down eight rebounds, had two assists and a steal.

Leiner scored 14 points for Salisbury in the game, while Gonzalez and Makhoul, who missed time in the first half with foul trouble, finished with seven points each.

McNally led the Spartans with 16 points, with 13 of that coming in the second half.

Salisbury advanced to the state playoffs and will face District 12’s second-place team Friday in the first round. It marks the first time in 15 years the team Falcons have qualified for the state playoffs.

The Falcons will travel to take on the District 12 second-place team, the West Philadelphia High School Speedboys (21-7), at their gym Friday at 6:30.