(ST. LOUIS) When the Smashinistas won its first Arch Rival Roller Girls’ local championship one year ago, they didn’t receive recognition of its victory until the day after the bout was formally played. After an official scoring review post-bout, an overnight adjustment to the final score was made, resulting in a two-point win for the Smashies.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Far removed from the flat-track when the decision was rendered, there was no official Smashies’ trophy celebration last year. Sure, they had netted a championship, but the significance was somewhat lost because the victorious skaters couldn’t proverbially “live in the moment.”
Friday night at Chaifetz Arena in front of 2,000, the Smashinistas decided to take control of its own destiny outright.
Paced by a triple-digit performance from jammer Brickyard and a stifling defense, the defending champions topped the M-80s, 157-145, at the ARRG 2014 Local Championships.
“We’re super stoked,” said Smashies’ co-captain The Forecloser following the 12-point win. “We’ve focused, we’ve talked to each other, we’ve communicated, we’ve grown together…and now we’ve won together.”
Both teams kept each other at bay early. Twelve minutes deep, the M-80s possessed a 22-13 lead.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The Smashinistas fired its first cannon-shot of the trophy tilt with the next rotation as Brickyard steamrolled a mind-numbing, 35-point jam that flipped the scoreboard, 48-22, in favor of the defending champs.
The M-80s countered with an 18-8 run over the next five jams and whittled the margin to 56-40 with 6:50 left in the first period.
The Smashies went into lockdown mode over the next five minutes, resulting in a 22-0 rally that extended its lead to 78-40 following the period’s penultimate jam.
At that point, play seemed controlled for the camo-clad rollers, but things suddenly went out of control with the final jam of the half. A Smashie jammer penalty resulted in a power jam for the M-80s. Molecular Mayhem collected 25 points in the late-period push and narrowed the Smashinistas’ lead to 78-65 at intermission.
To make matters worse for the leaders, the M-80s’ power jam carried over to the first rotation of the second period. A 13-point strike from May Require Stitches tied the score, 78-78, with 28:10 left in the bout.
The red roll of uncontested points continued as the period progressed. IDA the Living Dead punctuated a 27-0 second-period rally with nine points scored at 24:05 that helped the M-80s sport a 92-78 edge.
The double-digit margin was maintained heading into the final stretches of the title bout. With 10:35 left, the M-80s led 123-112.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Then with 9:45 left, another M-80s’ jammer miscue resulted in a bout-shifting power jam for the Smashinistas. Brickyard collected 19 points in the rotation, which put the defending champions back on top, 131-123.
Down the stretch, intensity and strategy from both teams were raised to high-stakes levels. Comparable points were scored as both squads’ set of blockers maintained their physical play.
“We had amazing, amazing walls,” said Smashinistas’ co-captain Sly Davanita of the late-bout tussle. “We had great jamming too, but the walls were awesome.”
The Smashies outscored the M-80s, 26-22, in the final five jams to pick up the 157-145 championship win and back-to-back ARRG trophy lifts.
Brickyard paced the Smashinistas (4-1) with 123 points, followed by The Educator’s 34.
For the M-80s, the setback at Chaifetz was hard to swallow. However, there was nothing but praise from the team’s brain trust following the exhausting bout.
“Those girls played their heart out, just like they have with every game this year,” said M-80s’ bench coach Specs Offender. “It’s a tough loss, but when you lose a bout by 12 points, that’s still very close in this sport. I love those girls, love that team and I am very proud of them even though we didn’t get the ‘W’ tonight.”
Mayhem and IDA scored 56 and 52, respectively, for the M-80s (4-1).
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
In the evening’s opening bout for third place, the Stunt Devils topped Rebel Skate Alliance, 148-116.
Leading 91-54 at intermission, the Stunts utilized a 21-0 rally midway through the second period to secure the 32-point win. Jammer Mighty Mighty Boston paced the Stunt Devils (2-3) with 106 points.
With ARRG’s local season concluded, focus is now affixed on its interleague travel team schedule. The Arch Rival All-Stars, currently ranked #20 internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), hosts #31 Mad Rollin’ Dolls of Madison, WI on Saturday, April 12.
The event, held at Queeny Park’s Midwest Sport Hockey, also features a B-team bout with ARRG’s Saint Lunachix against MRD’s Team Unicorn.
More information on the Arch Rival Roller Girls can be found at archrivalrollergirls.com.
