(BALLWIN, MO) Entering its new season within the Arch Rival Roller Girls’ 2015-16 local campaign Saturday night, the M-80s stormed the flat-track at Midwest Sport Hockey with a freshened line-up, unique derby apparel, updated “nom the skates” and a newfound attitude overall.
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
The pre-season modifications made by the team that was out of ARRG’s championship complexion last season yielded substantial returns as the M-80s topped the Smashinistas, 185-139, in Round 2 of the six-game regular season rotation.
The squad, who sported newly-christened red-and-black checkered flannels this weekend, logged the 46-point duke and lumber jacked the league’s overall hierarchy with victory.
The M-80s’ hard-charging first period over the then-undefeated Smashies, illustrated by a 37-point half time lead, defined the narrative.
“We definitely talked about starting strong,” reflected M-80s co-captain Lumberjam following the contest. “The Smashies are an amazing team and we figured that if we came out and got some points on the board first, then we knew that the game would be going towards our favor.”
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
Those familiar with the M-80s (1-0) might have had to do a double-take when watching Saturday as almost half of its returning roster sported new skater names. However, it did not take long for the firecrackers to make the first initial cut against the Smashinistas (1-1).
The M-80s sprinted out to a 25-0 lead within the first six minutes as jammer D’Manda Flapjack (formerly Annie Swanson) notched a game opening four-point tally and later added a 13-point strike in jam 3 to give the M-80s an early 17-0 advantage. Newcomer Snotface posted a five-point jam on the next rotation to push the lead to 22-0 and Flapjack collected three at the 24:30 mark to guide the M-80s o a 25-0 edge.
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
The Smashinistas countered the opening sprint with a 35-0 scoreboard-flipping rally over the next six minutes. EnYa Nightmare broke the goose egg with a seven-point tally in jam 6 and Flash added a pair of points to narrow the score to 25-9 at the 22:15 mark.
The camo-clad troopers notched their first power jam of the evening on the next rotation, resulting in a 23-point scurry by Harmony Killerbruise that resulted in a 32-25 lead change with 20:05 left in the period. Hakuna Renata’s four-point pass with 18:30 left in the period finished the uncontested run as the Smashies sported a 35-25 edge.
The lead was short-lived as Flapjack gained lead for the M-80s and notched 19 points via the power jam, resulting in a 44-35 edge for the M-80s with 16:20 left in the half.
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
Undaunted, the Smashies, paced by blocking from co-captains Shimmy Hoffa and Cloak N’ DragHer, Chewblocka, Fletch-A-Sketch, Party RockHer, Girl Fawkes, Party McFly, Bad Mutha T and KannabisKorpse, responded with a 16-1 streak over the next three jams.
It began with Flash’s 10-point strike at the 14:55 mark that resulted in the Smashies snagging a 45-44 lead change. Killerbruise followed with four on the next rotation and Nightmare’s 2-1 jam at 12:45 pushed the lead to 51-45.
The script was flipped immediately by the M-80s in jam 14 as Flapjack capitalized on a power jam and collected a 19-2 buzz saw to give the red-and-black flannels a 64-53 lead with 10:35 left in the half. An ensuing power start on the next rotation netted 13 points for Let’s Get Beard (formally Tupac Shank-Her) to push the score to 77-53.
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
As the period continued, the M-80s’ blocking schema, paced by Lumberjam, Oak, C’mon!?!, Lone Pine, Warpath O’ Jen, Bad Adze, Arcane Sugar, Jenforcer, Quicksandz, Trigger Happy Jackie and Yoko Low Blow, stymied the Smashies and helped the team collect a 24-11 run down the stretch. A 13-0 late-period rally, launched by Paul Funyun’s five-pointer scored with 4:50 left, inevitably resulted in a 101-64 lead at intermission for the M-80s.
The late-half momentum carried over into the second period as Flapjack notched a 15-pointer to launch the frame and push the score to 116-64.
The Smashinistas tried to shore the score as the period progressed but could never tighten the differential within forty points. Trailing 139-82 heading into jam 10, the Smashies valiantly went on a 17-0 run over the next four rotations and whittled the score to 139-99 with 13:50 left in the game.
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
The M-80s’ Lone Pine, who formally skated with ARRG as Smarty McFly, squashed the streak with a 14-pointer collected at the 12:20 mark that pushed the lead to 153-99.
Clock management, and stubborn defense, secured the M-80s’ victory. Flapjack’s baker’s dozen scored on the game’s penultimate jam punctuated the effort and the ensuing 185-139 woolens’ win.
Flapjack finished the night with 109 points for the M-80s, followed by Beard’s 35. The loggers return to action on January 2 at Midwest Sport Hockey to face the Stunt Devils (0-1).
Photo credit: Bob Dunnell
“We had really strong communication in our last scrimmage,” said M-80s co-captain Lumberjam. “I said in the locker room (tonight) that if we communicated like that, we would win.We did that and we won tonight.”
The Smashinistas were paced by Killerbruise’s 55 points while both Nightmare and Renata both collected 30-point-plus outings. The squad will be idle in Round 3 of the six-event regular season but will return for Round 4 in a match-up against the Stunt Devils on January 23.
“We’ve got a lot of new girls on our team,” said Smashies’ co-captain Shimmy Hoffa after the game.”There was a lot more communication and control than we had in our first game of the season, but the M-80s had a really great game tonight and we couldn’t stay out of the penalty box.”
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INDIVIDUAL SCORING:
M-80s (185): D’Manda Flapjack 109, Let’s Get Beard 35, Snotface 15, Lone Pine 14, Paul Funyun 12.
SMASHINISTAS (139): Harmony Killerbruise 55, EnYa Nightmare 34, Hakuna Renata 34, Flash 16.
