AMBOY – Amboy opened up the Amboy Holiday Tournament by taking on the Lady SoBos from South Beloit. Amboy jumped off to a 20-2 first quarter lead and never looked back. Eight players scored and three scored in double figures.

Abi Payne led the Lady Clippers with 12 points and seven assists. Kyleigh Donna was next with 10 points and six rebounds. Rachel Lachat also had 10 points on five of six field goal shooting. Lachat added three assists. Mallory Powers dropped in eight points, dished out three assists and had three steals. Kelsey Stewart also had three assists and three steals. Ashley Althaus scored six points, grabbed five rebounds and player her usual hustling defense with three steals. Madelyn McLaughlin scored six points on two three-pointers. Breanna Fisher added five points, five rebounds and three steals. Fisher continued her “talk on defense” that helps direct the defense.

The next night Amboy played Somonauk. Amboy started slow but led 19-12 after one quarter. At halftime the Lady Clippers led by a score of 29-19. Amboy exploded for a 23 point third quarter while holding Somonauk to six points. The Lady Clippers went on to a 60-29 victory.

Mallory Powers led Amboy with 16 points on four three-pointers. Powers added three assists and four steals. Abi Payne was next with 11 points while leading with seven assists and six steals. Kyleigh Donna chipped in with nine points and a game high 10 rebounds. Hope Sachs had her best game of the year with six points and six rebounds. Noelle Jones also had six boards with two points. Breanna Fisher and Rachel Lachat each scored six points. Lachat also had three steals and three caroms. Ashley Althaus scored four points and had three rebounds. Kelsey Stewart continued her good passing and had four assists.

Game three was against Indian Creek. Indian Creek had two guards averaging 23 and 17 points a game. The Lady Clippers knew that the Lady Timberwolves could score. Amboy used great defense and the fast break to jump ahead 21-5 after one quarter. Amboy couldn’t put Indian Creek away completely and led by a score of 32-17 at halftime. It was a big three by Ashley Althaus to give the Lady Clippers their 15 points lead. It was the third quarter that put Indian Creek away. Amboy outscored Indian Creek 24-5 in the third quarter. Amboy won by a score of 61-28.

Breanna Fisher had 17 big points on seven of 10 shooting. Fisher was three for four from the free throw line. Fisher also had six rebounds. Kyleigh Donna added 10 points and a game high 11 boards from her post position. Noelle Jones added nine points and four rebounds. Ashley Althaus scored nine points on a perfect four for four from the field. Mallory Powers chipped in with seven points, six rebounds and five assists. Abi Payne dropped in six points and dished out a game and season high 12 assists. Payne also led the team in steals with three.

The fourth night of any tournament can be challenging. Amboy took on the Hall Lady Red Devils for the championship of the Amboy Holiday Tournament. Amboy vs. Hall was a tough game back on Nov. 17 ad the Oregon Thanksgiving Tournament. It would be another close and tough championship game.

Amboy jumped out ahead shooting seven for 11 in the first quarter. Amboy was four for seven from the three-point line. Amboy led 18-8, but they knew Hall would make a run at them. Hall outscored Amboy 15-9 in the second quarter and Amboy still led 27-23 at halftime. Amboy was in foul trouble with both post players on the bench for some of the second quarter.

Hall won the third quarter slightly with a 10-9 margin. So Amboy led 36-33 at the end of the third.

Amboy’s guards decided to pull the ball out and forced Hall to start fouling. Amboy ate up a lot of the clock but Amboy failed to make two one and one’s. But, Amboy continued to eat up the clock. Noelle Jones made two for three and Mallory Powers made three of four free throws. Amboy held onto win 43-49 for the 2018 Amboy Holiday Tournament Championship. It was the fifth time Amboy has won its own tournament since the 2008-09 season.

Mallory Powers led the Lady Clippers with 17 points. Powers also had five assists in the game. Abi Payne had 12 points on four long-range bombs from beyond the three-point line. It was Powers, Payne and Noelle Jones that did most of the superb ball handling in the fourth quarter. Jones only had four points and two big assists late in the game. Kyleigh Donna had a big basket in the fourth quarter. Donna scored eight points and had seven big rebounds in the game. Donna and Breanna Fisher were in foul trouble. Fisher scored two points and had four rebounds.

Amboy’s record climbs to 17-1. The Amboy Lady Clippers will be busy the first two weeks of January:

Jan. 7 – at home with Marquette

Jan. 9 – at home with Milledgeville

Jan. 11 – at Forreston

Jan. 14 – at home with Durand

Jan. 17  - at AFC (Ashton)

Jan. 19 - at home with Eastland

Amboy had three girls make the all-tournament team. They were Kyleigh Donna, Mallory Powers and Abi Payne.