Excelsior Springs has its first win of the varsity boys basketball season.

That victory came on Jan. 2, when the Tigers held off visiting Cameron 53-51.

“The kids have really shown up and did everything as a team tonight and stayed consistent all four quarters, and that was the key to the win tonight,” coach Ian Burch said.

The Tigers overcame an early deficit – and then resisted a late Cameron surge – to secure the victory. Cameron bolted to a 5-0 lead, but the Tigers outscored the Dragons 14-3 the rest of the first quarter to lead 14-8 at quarter ’s end.

A three-pointer pulled the Dragons to within three early in the second quarter. About midway through the quarter, Excelsior Springs began a 12-5 stretch that helped the Tigers lead 30-20 at halftime.

Cameron and Excelsior Springs traded buckets early in the quarter. The Dragons edged the Tigers 13-11 for the quarter.

Excelsior Springs’ 41-33 lead entering the fourth quarter was enough of a cushion to withstand an 18-12 quarter by Cameron a…