On Dec. 19, Excelsior Springs seemed poised to get its first win this season in varsity boys basketball.

That night, the Tigers led visiting Odessa at halftime. But a game-changing third quarter led to them falling 55-43.

Excelsior Springs grabbed the opening lead 35 seconds into the first quarter, as junior Jake Zapata scored off an inbounds play. The Bulldogs answered with a layup to make it 2-2. After trading a few baskets with Odessa, Excelsior Springs staged a 9-0 run to take a 13-5 lead. But the Bulldogs answered with a 10-3 run during the final two minutes to trim Excelsior Springs’ lead to one (1615) at quarter’s end.

Excelsior Springs led 22-21 at halftime. The Tigers nudged their lead to five during the third quarter. Sparked by a three-point bucket about midway through the quarter, the Bulldogs staged a 10-2 run to cap their 17-8 quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Excelsior Springs cut Odessa’s lead to six (38-32), as Easton Ryan hit a two-point bucket off an inbounds play. T…