(NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX) It did not take long for St. Louis-based GateKeepers Roller Derby to display its overall strength in the opening round of the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) annual tournament.
Propelled by a 33-0 start, the MRDA defending champions topped eighth-seeded Magic City, 250-54, in quarterfinal play at “LoneStar Showdown” Saturday night NYTEX Sport Centre.
Photo Credit: Art Chastain
With the 196-point win, the GateKeepers (10-0) advance to the bracket’s semifinals and faces fourth-seeded Bridgetown Menace Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (Central) where a victory leads to a trophy tussle held later that evening.
St. Louis quickly amassed the 33-0 advantage in the game’s first three jams via a five-point opening strike paced by Magnum P.I.M.P followed by a 15-point power jam from Corey Porter and concluded by a 13-point rotation by David Metcalfe.
Then following Magic City’s 3-2 jam in jam 4, GateKeepers’ 2016 addition Sir Nixalot added a five-pointer at the 20:30 mark to push the lead to 40-6.
St. Louis widened the score to 78-18 with under ten minutes remaining in the half.
The GateKeepers then displayed its hallmark defense, holding Magic City scoreless for the remainder of the period. Stubborn blocking by Spin Diesel, Bled Zeppelin, Percy Controll, The Saint, Monster Jam, Hulk, The Doc, Gnat King Kill and Kyle Stark extended St. Louis’ lead to 115-18 at halftime after a period-ending seven-point rotation collected by ScreechAround.
Photo Credit: Art Chastain
Another GKRD fast sprint launched the second half. Nixalot posted eight on the opener, Magnum added ten in jam 2 and Porter collected a 22-pointer at the 25:00 mark that widened the score to 155-18.
St. Louis passed the bi-centennial mark after Porter posted a nine-point jam with 13:40 left that pushed the advantage to 207-43.
The GateKeepers proceeded to outscore Magic City, 135-32, to pick up the 250-54 win and claim a semifinal slot.
St. Louis’ Sunday morning semifinal opponent, Bridgetown Menace, reached their first-ever entry into the MRDA Champs Final Four with a 163-100 duke over fifth-seeded New York Saturday afternoon.
In the other semifinal game set for Sunday at 9 a.m., second-seeded Your Mom Men’s Derby and third-seeded Texas tangles for the other entry into the gold medal game.
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
STL GATEKEEPERS (250): Magnum P.I.M.P. 73, Corey Porter 65, ScreechAround 50, Sir Nixalot 31, David Metcalfe 29.
Free online coverage of the MRDA Championships is available by going to this link.
Arch City Sports will have continuing coverage on Sunday.
