Excelsior Springs looks to end a twogame losing skid in varsity girls basketball as 2024 gets going. The Tigers finished 2023 with backto- back losses: a 45-43 heartbreaker Dec. 18 to visiting Fort Osage and a 6032 thumping Dec. 22 in Kansas City by McDonald County. Excelsior Springs led at multiple points against Fort Osage, an Independencebased school. A first-quarter lead got erased by Fort Osage, which led 12-11 at quarter’s end. The Tigers jumped ahead midway through the second quarter, but could not hold onto the lead. Fort Osage staged a late run to lead 25-22 at halftime. A run late in the third quarter gave the Tigers a 35-34 lead entering the fourth quarter. Excelsior Springs and Fort Osage then traded baskets before the Tigers went into a scoring drought. Foul shooting hurt Excelsior Springs. The Tigers went 9-for-23 from the line. Baylee O’Dell led Excelsior Springs in scoring with 19 points. The senior’s stat line also included nine rebounds. O’Dell was one of two…