ES girls hoopsters split MRVC West games to start 2021
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Tigers started the 2021 half of their varsity girls basketball season by splitting two Missouri River Valley Conference West Division games last week.
Excelsior Springs opened the new year with a 64-42 Jan. 4 road loss to Pleasant Hill, then on Jan. 7 avenged an early season loss to Warrensburg with a 41-33 home win.
Looking to avenge an MRVC Tournament loss to Pleasant Hill, Excelsior Springs jumped out front early and led for much of the first quarter, but the Chicks took the lead late in the quarter and were up 11-10 at quarter’s end. The teams battled back and forth in the second quarter, with Excelsior Springs taking a short-lived lead with about two minutes remaining and Pleasant Hill responding with a quick run to lead 29-24 at halftime.
The Chicks took control by outscoring the Tigers 14-9 the third quarter, then finished it off by outscoring Excelsior Springs 21-9 the fourth quarter.
Junior Mallory Millsap led the Tigers with 14 points. Millsap’s…