EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Tigers’ losing streak in varsity boys basketball that started in December 2021 has carried over into 2022. Excelsior Springs opened the new year Jan. 7 by falling to visiting St. Pius X of Kansas City 68-46. The loss stretched the club’s losing streak to five games, putting the Tigers at 1-8 entering Thursday’s road meeting with Bishop LeBlond of St. Joseph. For the first three minutes, the Tigers kept pace with the Warriors, trailing 9-6. But that quickly changed. The Tigers struggled to handle St. Pius’ full-court press. St. Pius capitalized by staging a 15-0 first-quarter run. The Warriors led 28-8 at quarter’s end. Excelsior Springs scored the first two buckets in the second quarter to cut the margin to 28-12, but the Warriors outscored the Tigers 17-13 for the quarter to lead 45-21 at halftime. The Tigers started the second-half scoring when junior Brendan Blackburn’s save of a ball g...