Blair Ary has been preaching to her team the importance of starting fast.

Taylor has struggled at times this season with slow starts and having to come back in games. It nearly cost them earlier in the week when they had to overcome a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to Paetow.

But games like that are a learning lesson, and learn is exactly what Taylor (19-5, 7-1) did, using one of its best starts of a game they’ve had this season on Friday en route to a 77-63 win over Tompkins (15-11, 6-2).

“It’s something we’ve talked about for a while, a big focus is starting games faster and stronger,” Ary said. “It takes some time for everything to click with new, younger kids, but they’re understanding the importance of starting a game better than we have sometimes. They’re starting to get it and that fast start was crucial today against a team like Tompkins that has so much talent where you can’t have an off night.”

The Mustangs jumped out to an 11-0 lead to start the game and led 21-7 after the first quarter in what turned into a big win for the Mustangs. The two teams came into the day with both needing a win to stay tied for the lead in district and it was Taylor that managed to do it amid a dominant display.

“We wanted to get out and make our presence felt right away,” said junior guard Kolbi Cairns. “This was a game we couldn’t have any let up and for us to get out to that lead really helped us put the game away later on.”

Kara Heart led the way for the Mustangs with 29 points in a strong performance from the low post, while while Casey Scherpereel had 18 points and Cairns had 10 points as Taylor had three people with double digit points. Hart was a steady presence for the team, coming up with timely buckets when Tompkins went on runs, taking the ball up court when Tompkins tried a full-court press and being a presence in the rebounding game as well to help lead the Mustangs to the win.

“Watching Kara grow into the player and leader she is has been one of greatest blessings I have ever had as a coach,” Ary said “She’s so calm and steady and our team really goes as she goes. Her mentality is so important to us and I don’t think we could have the success we are having this year without her.”

The Mustangs continued their offensive onslaught throughout the game, leading 40-27 at half and 61-44 after three quarters before sealing things in the fourth. They did it with a balanced offensive attack where they found the open man, made extra passes and played selflessly, always finding the right person to get the ball in the hoop. It’s a tactic that has worked all year for Taylor and is how they have found so much success, with teams being unable to hone in on any one player.

“We have players that can do everything and that’s such an asset,” Hart said. “We just find the weakness of another team and that’s what we attack because we have players who can attack anything. Having players that have different things they can do with their game makes everything easier on the court.”

Now the goal for the Mustangs is to keep this level of performance up throughout the rest of district in what has become a very tight race not just for the district title, but for the playoffs. The top three teams in district are all separated by one game, while fourth through sixth all have winning records for the season as well and could go on runs in the second half of district. For Taylor, the importance will be focusing on every individual game as the team tries to claim the district crown.

“Anything can happen in the second round with the teams in this district,” Ary said. “Mayde Creek is on fire, Paetow is playing teams well. The four teams at the op can all beat each other on any given night. Anything can happen, but we have prepared for that. We knew how tough this district would be from the beginning and so our focus is very intentional on focusing on only the next game. That’s the only thing you can do. There can’t be any looking ahead of that.”

District 19-6A

Taylor 77, Tompkins 63

Points: (TA) Kara Hart 29, Casey Scherpereel 18, Kolbi Cairns 10, Callie Schmaltz 8, Addison Middleton 6, Tyarie Jack 6; (TO) Sascha Coughran 27, Kate Hopkins 9, Elsa St. Rose 8, Kali Stiger 6, Kayli Jensen 6, Chika Okwonna 3, Haylie Panter 2,Natalie Kitts 2;

Halftime: Taylor 40, Tompkins 27; 3-Pointers: (TA) Scherpereel 2, Cairns 2, Middleton 2, Schmaltz; (TO) Coughran 4; Records: Taylor: 19-5, 7-1; Tompkins: 15-11, 6-2;