Freedom's girls basketball coach Ron Garza noticed his team was making a habit out of starting games slow this season and made a point to mention that on the trip to Salisbury to play Hatboro-Horsham Saturday afternoon.

Garza hoped that by voicing his concerns about how the Patriots have been beginning games he would see a better start, although, it didn't work out that way.

Freedom struggled offensively early, needing 3:30 to score its first points, but still managed to earn a 39-32 victory over the Hatters thanks to a hot start to the second half by Hailey Silfies in game one of the Salisbury Girls Basketball Holiday Classic.

The local team in the second game, the host Falcons, didn't experience any of the troubles Freedom had getting started, jumping out to an 18-2 lead and going on to top Oley Valley 53-33.

Salisbury and Freedom will meet 3 p.m. Monday in the championship game with Oley Valley and Hatboro-Horsham facing off at 1 p.m. in the consolation game.

The Patriots (5-3, 3-2) began to find some offensive flow at the end of the first quarter scoring two buckets with less than a minute left a shot by Kyra Jefferson and a three from Mackenzie Herman as time expired giving them their first lead of the day.

That advantage evaporated quickly as Hatboro-Horsham's Hannah Mallon opened the second quarter with a three-pointer.

Freedom trailed but not by more than three for much of the second quarter before taking the lead for good early in the third.

"[At the half] we told them that we probably played our worst half of the year and it was 16-15 so we're still alive," said Garza. "So we said we come out here, we have 16 minutes, see what happens and we were lucky."

The Patriots may have received a little luck to be able to live to tell about their rough start, but they also got a lot of help from Silfies.

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Freedom, Salisbury girls winners in first day of Salisbury Basketball Holiday Classic