AMBOY — The Amboy girls’ basketball program got back to school on Jan. 7 and started up with its first game of the new year against Ottawa Marquette. After a slow start, the Lady Clippers dominated the action in a 47-21 victory at the AHS gym.

Amboy trailed 6-4 after the first quarter, but it shook off the rust in the second period and exploded for 24 points while holding Marquette to just five. The third quarter was similar as AHS outscored the visitors, 15-3.

Mallory Powers hit seven of nine shots and led the Lady Clippers with 17 points. She added six assists and four steals. Abi Payne made five of her six field goal attempts and finished with 13 points, while she led with seven assists and swiped three steals. Breanna Fisher topped the team with six rebounds and added four points, while Noelle Jones dropped in five points and Kyleigh Donna and Gabby Jones chipped in with four points apiece.

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The Lady Clippers hosted Milledgeville on Jan. 9 and they coasted to a 60-19 win.

Amboy experienced cold shooting in the first half, including one of 10 from the three-point line, but it still managed to take a 31-10 halftime lead.

Rachel Lachat had a great night on the offensive end with a team-leading 12 points. Noelle Jones was next with eight points and eight boards, while Payne had eight points, six assists and a high of seven steals. Powers (six points, five rebounds, five assists) and Fisher (five points, seven rebounds) also had complete games for the winners. Six more players added to the point total: Donna (six), Ashley Althaus (four), Gabby Jones (four), Kelsey Stewart (three), Hope Sachs (two) and Olivia Dinges (two).

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Amboy traveled to Forreston on Jan. 11 for a rematch of a hard-fought game in December, and after falling behind by double figures in the first quarter, the Lady Clippers rallied for a 41-29 win.

Forreston zoomed out to a 17-5 lead after the opening stanza, but Amboy righted the ship in the second period and outscored the Lady Cardinals, 12-2, to trail by just two at intermission. In the third quarter, Amboy’s defense continued to limit Forreston’s chances and its offense was much better with 21 points to take a 38-27 lead after three. The Lady Clippers ended up holding Forreston to just 12 points over the final three quarters.

Payne pumped in 18 points and dished out five assists for Amboy, while Powers added nine points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals. Also contributing to the victory were Donna (seven points, four rebounds), Noelle Jones (two points, nine rebounds), Lachat (three points) and Althaus (two points, four rebounds).

The Lady Clippers improved to 20-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference.