EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Starting the varsity boys basketball season against a team that came out hot from outside the three-point line was not something the Tigers were expecting. But that is what happened during Excelsior Springs’ 59-39 loss Dec. 1 to visiting Richmond. Coach Chad Wright’s team got hammered by seven three-pointers during the first half of the non-divisional Missouri River Valley Conference meeting. Richmond started the scoring with a three-point bucket to take an early lead and hit two more treys en route to leading 11-8 after one quarter. The Spartans then hit two more treys and a bucket to open the second quarter and extended their lead to 17-11 within the first four minutes. Richmond went on to outscore Excelsior Springs 19-11 and lead 30-19 at halftime. Richmond outscored Excelsior Springs 12-4 the third quarter to take a 42-23 lead into the fourth quarter. The Spartans edged the Tigers 17-16 the final quarter. Senior Jalen Soria led the Tigers in scoring with…