KANSAS CITY – Excelsior Springs enjoyed the taste of an early lead Feb. 4 at Center. The taste did not last long. And the Tigers went on to drop the Missouri River Valley Conference West Division varsity boys basketball meeting 80-25. Excelsior Springs claimed the lead on a three-point basket by junior Brendan Blackburn from the right wing. Center answered with two free throws, then tagged the Tigers with a 19-0 run over the next five-plus minutes. The Yellowjackets led 28-7 after one quarter. Excelsior Springs junior Colson Moore opened the second quarter by driving for a layup. The Yellowjackets answered that with an 11-point run. They outscored the Tigers 17-6 for the quarter to lead 45-13 at halftime. Center’s offense exploded again in the third quarter, with the Yellowjackets outscoring the Tigers 23-6 to make it 68-19 at quarter’s end. They finished off the 55-point win with a 12-6 fourth quarter. The Yellow...