HIGGINSVILLE – The Tigers avenged a loss before their holiday break.

On Dec. 21, they visited Higginsville, where they had lost to Lafayette County 42-38 on Dec. 7 in the Husker Classic. They won the rematch, 41-35.

Excelsior Springs set the pace in the varsity girls basketball clash, leading 11-6 after one quarter and 17-13 at halftime. The third quarter was a seesaw fight between the teams, with the Huskers finding ways to keep it close. But the Tigers used a late surge to take a 30-22 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Tigers extended their early in the fourth quarter before the Huskers chipped away midway through the quarter. Excelsior Springs staged a late run to hold on for the six-point win.

Junior Mallory Millsap led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points, going 3-for-12 from the field and 9-for-15 from the free throw line. Her stat line also included eight rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal.

Junior Rylie Stottlemyre dropped in 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had an assist. …