(BALLWIN, MO) At Saturday’s local seasonal opener for Arch Rival Roller Derby (ARCH) and GateKeepers Roller Derby (GKRD), the respective defending champions recorded dukes and claimed top positioning in their respective league’s standings.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
In the women’s opener at Midwest Sport Hockey, ARCH’s reigning queen pins, the Smashinistas, notched a 177-168 nail biter over the Stunt Devils. Meanwhile in the men’s night cap, “Turf Wars” trophy defenders Central West Friends bested the Raiders of Forest Park 191-123.
The weekend derby duel launched the League’s six-game regular-season docket that continues at Queeny Park on Saturday, January 6, 2018.
ARCH: SMASHINISTAS 177 STUNT DEVILS 168
The women’s defending title holders utilized debuting talent throughout the contest and built up a sizeable advantage early. A late-game push from the daredevils, who were missing two key veterans from the line-up, made the final minutes hand-wringing but the Smashies claimed a final lead jam that secured victory.
“We just told each other (heading in) that we were just going to dig deep and go in there and give it our all,” said Smashinistas’ blocker Cloak N’ Drag-Her after the contest. “I think it all came down to communication. It was a really close but we pulled it off and it was great.”
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Trailing 5-0 after the game’s opening jam, the Smashinistas went on a 40-5 run that resulted in an early cushion. Newcomer Vicious Van GoGo collected jams of 14 and 13 points during the stretch that aided the Smashies’ 40-10 lead with 19:30 left in the period.
Undaunted, the Stunts countered with a 27-1 rally over the next six minutes that shored the differential. A pair of nine-point power jams from PsychoKid D’Freakout highlighted the stretch and the Smashies saw their advantage dwindle to 41-37 with 13:10 left in the half.
The green machine quickly countered as Van GoGo notched an even-strength 19-pointer that pushed the Smashinistas’ lead to 60-37 with 11:25 left.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Propelled by lockdown blocking by Drag-Her, Smarty McFly, Rock Slobster, Spock N’ Roll, Professor Rumbledore, Birdsong, Lola Blow, Hero-Shima, Holliver Fist, Wicked Witch of the Midwest, Girl Fawkes and Outlaw Josie Wheels, the defending champs continued methodical scoring, paced by jammers Bolt Action and Flash, and churned out a 100-65 lead at intermission.
In the second half, the Stunts laid down the foundation for an inevitable comeback. The blocking work of Lethal Dose, Fletch-A-sketch, Hardcore Parkour, Cruella Belle-ville, Nox, Bruise Almighty, Pegasass, Wonder Thighs and Joan of Spark were highlighted by their 29-13 run over the second half’s first seven jams.
As a result, the Stunts whittled the deficit to under 20 points and with Aggie Wartooth’s ten-point strike collected with 20:45 left, tightened the score to 113-94.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
After Bolt Action collected four for the Smashies in Jam 8, the Stunts posted a two-jam, 21-2 collection. With Ultraviolet’s 7-2 tally and D’ Freakout’s 14-point power jam that followed, the daredevils sliced the margin to 119-115 midway through the frame.
The Smashies responded with a 21-4 two jam sprint. Van GoGo’s 13-4 rotation was supplemented by Flash’s 9-4 non-lead power jam that widened the score to 141-123 with 11:30 left.
The back and forth pendulum swings continued as both squads kept collecting double-digit scoring down the stretch. With four minutes left, the Stunt Devils narrowed the score to 162-152 following Ultraviolet’s four-point tally.
Then on the ensuing jam, the Stunts obtained a power jam and D’Feakout wheeled a 10-4 rotation as the Smashies clung onto a 166-162 lead with 2:13 left.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Feeling the heat, the defending champs notched lead in the final two jams to secure an opening night victory. Accented by Van GoGo’s four pointer in the game’s final jam, the 11-6 ending flight resulted in the Smashies 177-168 nailbiting win.
In her ARCH intraleague debut, Van GoGo topped Smashies’ scoring with 83 points followed by Action’s 49. The defending champs (1-0) return to action at Midwest Sport Hockey in February 2018.
“Vicious is pretty much like the bee’s knees,” said DragHer of her teammate’s debut. “She’s a positive person, always gives 110% and gives a lot of great feedback to everyone on the team.”
D’Freakout topped the Stunts’ ledger with 97 points. The squad (0-1) has the opportunity to even their record in a contest against the M-80s (0-0) on Saturday, January 6, 2018 and should see an immediate benefit with the return of jammer Bricktator and blocker Shear-Ra Powers, who both served as non-skating bench coaches for the evening.
“Tonight was about us coming together as a team,” reflected D’Freakout afterwards. “It was playing calm, confident, collective, solid teamwork derby.
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
SMASHINISTAS (177): Vicious Van GoGo 83, Bolt Action 49, Flash 24, Holliver Fist 19, Smarty McFly 3.
STUNT DEVILS (168): Psychokid D’ Freakout 97. Ultraviolet 36, Hakuna Renata 22, Aggie Wartooth 29. Pegasss 4.
For more information on ARCH, go to archrivalrollerderby.com.
Post-game from last night with the Smashinistas’ Cloak N’ Drag-Her and the Stunt Devils’ Psychokid D’ Freakout.
GKRD: CENTRAL WEST FRIENDS 191 RAIDERS OF FOREST PARK 123
In the men’s nightcap, the defending champs displayed all the attributes of a team that seeks a “repeat.” With their 34-0 rally deep in the first half, the Central West Friends snared top-placement in the Turf Wars hierarchy.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Trailing 6-0 after two rotations, the Friends flipped the scoreboard to their favor, 17-6, after jammer Las Rites launched his team’s scoring with a 17-pointer.
With blocking paced by SoGo, Percy Controll, Fruit WallUp, The Great Stromboli, Yoshi, Thrillho and Quadratic Evasion, CWF widened their lead to 33-13 with 20:15 left in the period.
The Raiders countered with eight uncontested points. A. Black’s three-pointer was followed by D. Mouthful’s grand slam that narrowed the score to 33-21 with 17:15 left in the period.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Unfortunately for the Raiders, penalties reared their ugly heads and the Friends capitalized. The miscues resulted in Bower Ranger notching a 25-5 power jam midway through the half and then later added a nine-point strike that made the score 67-26 with 11:45 remaining.
The Raiders re-assembled and aided by blockers Spin Diesel, Atom Bomb, Wrecking Bill, Slammin’ T. Killa, Woolsy Mammoth, Arty Panimal, Carly Slay Jepsen, Mud, Cunningham and Dr. Dredd recorded a 14-0 rally over the next three jams. As Mouthful scored four with 7:30 left in the period, Forest Park shored the score to 67-40.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Once again, CWF capitalized on Raiders’ jammer miscues and produced eye-opening results. A 34-0 two jam run was launched by Bower Ranger’s baker’s dozen rotation that made the score 80-40 with 5:30 left. WallUp added a 21-point fruit jam that widened the margin to 101-40 on the next rotation.
Possessing a 110-50 at intermission, the Friends were all about maintaining the differential in the second period.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The plan was executed to perfection from the early stages as Bower’s dozen-point strike in Jam 2 set the tone as CWF held a122-50 advantage.
To their credit, the Raiders cleaned up play in the second period and actually outscored the Friends in the frame, 73-69. However, the halftime deficit was too much to overcome as CWF rolled out a 191-123 victory.
Bower Ranger finished the night for the Friends (1-0) with 82 points. The defending champs will be idle until February 2018.
Mouthful topped Raiders’ scoring with 58 points. The squad (0-1) returns to action next month in a tussle with the Creve Coroners.
For more information on GKRD, go to gatekeepersrollerderby.com.
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
CENTRAL WEST FRIENDS (191): Bower Ranger 82, Bruno Scars 44, Fruit WallUp 31, Last Rites 21, Yoshi 3.
RAIDERS OF FOREST PARK (123): D. Mouthful 58, A. Black 44, Spin Diesel 10, Mud 7, Arty Panimal 4.
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