Senior guard Eric Taylor scored 44 points in two games to help the Ballard High School boys basketball team jump out of the gate with two wins to open the season.

His 29 points Dec. 3 against Mercer Island High School would almost have been enough for the victory alone as Ballard cruised to a 56-29 win. The Beavers opened up a 16-5 first-quarter lead in that game and never looked back.

"Eric was just absolutely special on Wednesday," Ballard coach Billy Rodgers said. "Inside, outside, he could just score a ton of ways."

Rodgers said Taylor's energy was huge for the team against Mercer Island, but it was nice to get a more balanced offensive attack against Marysville-Pilchuck Dec. 5.

The Beavers had three players score in double figures that game with junior forward John Barnes' 21 points leading the way. Taylor added 15, including nine in the fourth quarter, and junior guard Kyler Korsmo dropped in 11.

A balanced offense will help Ballard in the future when teams try to take Taylor out of the game with double teams, Rodgers said.

With conference games looming, including a match-up against Inglemoor, a team Rodgers said should be in the top two in the conference, Ballard needs to work on tightening up its defense and improve its rebounding, he said.

But, Rodgers said the team is off to a good start, and if the players can keep playing hard and with the energy they have displayed in the first two games, they can make up for any of their shortcomings.

The Beavers' next game is against Inglemoor Dec. 9 at Ballard High School.

Michael Harthorne can be reached at 783-1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com.