Divided into two teams of five for the first time this year on Thursday, the seventh graders won their first game against visiting Madelia 16-8 on and lost the second 11-10.
Anistyn Dauk and Kenzie Kortuem each scored six points in the first game.
The second set of Clippers were off target early in the second game while the Blackhawks put in a free throw and pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to go in front 3-0. But Hadley Thompson lit up the Clipper side of the scoreboard when she stole and drove the floor for a layup for what was the start of a six-point spurt.
Gretchen Heldberg grabbed a loose ball in the paint and put it up for a bucket, and Natalie Flowers bagged a jumper from outside the lane to put the Clippers in front 6-3.
Madelia scored from the baseline, but the Clippers still led 6-5 at the break.
The Clippers extended their lead in the second half when Flowers bagged a pair of free shots and Thompson put in another layup, but, shooting from outside, the Blackhawks made the next three baskets to lead 11-8.
Heldberg took an inbound pass up and in for a bucket, but that was it for scoring, and the Blackhawks hung on for the win.
Coached by Nancy Heldberg, the Clippers were coming off wins against Martin County West in Trimont on November 26 and against visiting Mankato Loyola on December 2. They hosted St. Clair last Friday and return to the court on Tuesday when they host Nicollet at 3:30 p.m.
Above: Hadley breaks out after making a steal in the first half of game two.
