Excelsior Springs broke even in varsity boys basketball at the Twelve Courts of Christmas, a holiday shootout featuring high school boys and girls programs from multiple states.

On Dec. 19, the Tigers lost 60-40 to Bishop LeBlond of St. Joseph. They rebounded by defeating the Kansas City-based Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts 64-39 Dec. 20. Both games took place at Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City.

Excelsior Springs stayed close to LeBlond through the first quarter, trailing 17-15 at quarter’s end. The Tigers led 18-17 early in the second quarter, but the Golden Eagles pulled away with a 21-3 run that quarter.

LeBlond led 51-30 after three quarters. Excelsior Springs edged LeBlond 10-9 the fourth quarter.

Seniors Trevor Stanton, Rakai Gantt and Colson Moore each had eight points. Sophomore Jake Zapata chipped in five points, with senior Brendan Blackburn and sophomore Carson Gholson scoring four and senior Lucas Dillman adding three.

The Tigers committed 19 turnovers.

Those turnovers led to 15 LeBlond points.

Excelsior Springs’ win over Paseo Academy resulted from the Tigers dominating the first and third quarters. An 11-2 opening run propelled the Tigers to a 19-6 lead after one quarter.

The Tigers outscored the Pirates 16-6 the second quarter to lead 35-22 at halftime.

The teams traded baskets early in the third quarter before the Tigers staged a 12-1 run to close the quarter and take a 49-25 lead into the fourth quarter. The Pirates opened the fourth quarter by scoring five points, but the Tigers answered with six of their own and edged Paseo Academy 15-14 for the quarter.

Stanton led the way offensively with 13 points. His stat line also included eight rebounds.

Other contributors were Blackburn and Gantt, who each scored 10 points. Blackburn also grabbed seven rebounds and Gantt pulled down five.

Zapata scored eight points. Gholson dropped in six points. Dillman and sophomore Easton Ryan scored five apiece, senior Damari Wesley finished with three, and Moore and senior Evan Hormell each contributed a bucket.

The Tigers (2-6) are slated to open the new year Jan. 3 at Cameron.