Excelsior Springs is looking to get back into the win column in varsity girls basketball when 2023 begins.

The Tigers, a Class 4 team, finished 2022 with back-to-back losses to larger schools. On Dec. 19, they fell 67-25 Fort Osage, an Independence-based Class 6 program. Then, on Dec. 20, they fell 62-26 to Lawrence, a Kansas Class 6A program, in the Twelve Courts of Christmas, a holiday shootout featuring schools from multiple states staged at Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City.

Fort Osage used a 25-10 first quarter to take control, then outscored Excelsior Springs 16-8 the second quarter to lead 41-18 at halftime. The Tigers were outscored 26-7 the second half.

Turnovers hurt Excelsior Springs. The Tigers committed 29 of them, which led to 34 Fort Osage points.

Alani Price led Excelsior Springs in scoring with nine points. The junior’s stat line also included three rebounds and three steals.

Other contributors included junior Baylee O’Dell with seven points and seven six rebounds; Josie Casler, a firstyear high schooler, with four points; Madeline Andreasen, a sophomore, with three points; and Bella Loeffert, a first-year high schooler, with two points.

Like Fort Osage, Lawrence took control early, leading 20-8 after one quarter. The Lions outscored the Tigers 17-2 the second quarter to lead 37-10 at halftime.

Excelsior Springs edged Lawrence 10-8 the third quarter, but the Lions outscored the Tigers 15-8 the final quarter.

Again, turnovers hurt Excelsior Springs. The Tigers committed 25 of them, leading to 33 Lawrence points.

O’Dell led the way offensively with nine points.

The Tigers are 2-7 entering 2023.