WFTDA 2010 South Central Playoffs Day 2 Recap

Texas and Kansas City Clinch Spots at Championships

After Day 2 of Amber Waves of Pain, #1 seed Texas Rollergirls are headed to Chicago for the 2010 WFTDA Championship Tournament, Uproar on the Lakeshore, and will defend their title as #1 in the South Central Region against #3 Kansas City in Day 3. #5 Nashville and #2 Atlanta will vie for the third spot at Championships.

The second day of Amber Waves of Pain started off with #6 Tampa Bay Derby Darlins facing #9 Hard Knox Roller Girls. The Tampa Tantrums’ pink flamingos flew in and took control, grabbing the greater half of lead jammer status for the first period. They stilted Hard Knox with strong defense, most notably Wild Cherri’s backwards skating and blocking. The jammers for Hard Knox had a tough time breaking through the flock of flamingos, ending the period Tantrums 130, Hard Knox 29. The second period was largely a repeat of the first, with Tampa dominating lead jammer status, despite deviating from their standard jammer rotation. Hard Knox was able to break the half-century mark in the last jam, however, with Goblynn gaining lead jammer status. The Tantrums finished the bout 232 to Hard Knox’s 53.

Dallas Derby Devils (#4) took lead jammer status in only seven of the 20 jams in the first period of Game 8, and experience some jammer penalty trouble, but were able to pull out a 94-60 lead over #10 Memphis Roller Derby's Hustlin’ Rollers. Dallas came out strong in the second period, and capitalized on Memphis’ jammer penalty trouble for the first six jams, spreading the gap to more than 60 points. Memphis jammer Tenacious B started a rally for the Hustlin’ Rollers with two grand slam jams, followed by Rolls Royce’s 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Derby Devils. After Dallas quashed their rally, Memphis failed to get lead jammer until the last jam of the second period, and the point spread kept growing. The bout ended Dallas 205, Memphis 95.

In the first period of Game 9, #5 Nashville Rollergirls were scoreless for the first eight jams, as #1 Texas Rollergirls used the time to rack up 36 points. The Texecutioners got lead jammer status 14 out of the 21 jams for the period, and took advantage of the three power jams the Nashville jammers afforded them. Nashville was held to four points or fewer in every jam of the first half, and ended the period with 16, while Texas scored 89, with Olivia Shootin’ John leading the Texecutioner charge with 36 points. Texas and Nashville split lead jammer status for the first several jams of the second period, and after four jams, Texas called their first of three time outs to make adjustments. Lucille Brawl threw Nashville for a loop when lining up at the pivot line in a push-up position, making Nashville blockers draw several illegal procedure penalties. In the end, Nashville called a time out with the period clock reading 25 seconds to prolong the bout. Maulin’ Monroe took lead jammer, but it wasn’t enough to staunch the already large point spread. The Texecutioners prevailed, 167-62.

With the highest number of jams in a period for the tournament thus far at 25, #3 Kansas City Roller Warriors held #2 Atlanta Rollergirls scoreless for 15 jams during the first period of Game 10. The jammer penalty box stayed empty during the first period, with the exception of the second-to-the-last jam, when KCRW’s Jade Lightning got a major penalty. KC ended the half with 71 points to the Dirty South Derby Girls’ 36. As the second half progressed, the Roller Warriors continued to dominate, breaking up Atlanta’s strong defense. KCRW’s blocker Eclipse had several large hits, some of which ended her in the penalty box, most of which took Atlanta a few moments to recover from. The score remained relatively close, around a 30-point spread, until Kansas City’s Track Rat had a power jam when Demi Gore got sent to the box on a fourth minor. Two jams later, Atlanta tried to build up momentum when Wheelin’ Jennings scored 14 points against the Roller Warriors. Though it was a valiant effort, Atlanta came up short. #3 Kansas City upset #2 Atlanta, 145-75, securing their place at WFTDA Championships in Chicago at Uproar on the Lakeshore.

Game 11 started with a dance-off of epic proportions between #6 Tampa Tantrums and #7 Houston Hard Knocks; it was a throw down for the right to wear the black and pink, yet with no clear valor after the dance-off, the teams took it to the track for some fast-paced roller derby. The first period featured several jammer/penalty box switch-outs between both teams, however. Tampa was able to edge Houston out for the first period, 76-51. During the seventh jam of the second period, Tampa’s Ram Em’ Noodle had a beautiful leap through the front of the pack to capture lead jammer status, but a major landed her in the penalty box, giving Babyface Assassin of Houston a chance to clear the penalty box and pick up 13 points. Houston suffered a tough loss when jammer Wicked Sweet’s plate broke, taking her out for the rest of the bout. The point spread stayed minimal throughout the second half, but Houston wasn’t able to catch the flamingos. Tampa Tantrums took it, 144-129.

Pershing Arena filled with anticipation as the hometown team, #8 No Coast Derby Girls’ Mad Maxines, took on #4 Dallas Derby Devils for the final bout of the day. The Dallas Hell Razors beat #10 Memphis earlier in the day for the opportunity to skate against the Maxines, who had the day off to rest up after winning one and losing one during Day 1 of the tournament. Two significant lead changes marked the first period. From the first jam whistle, No Coast held a narrow lead until the fifth jam, when Roxy La Roo had a 14-point jam. In the fifteenth jam, however, No Coast jammer Flash Gloria scored nine points to surpass Dallas. The action-packed period ended with No Coast 52, Dallas Derby Devils 40. During the second period, No Coast continued their reign, keeping Dallas Derby Devils scoreless for nine jams. Unfortunately for Dallas, they were not able to bridge the point spread, especially as ThickaThanAhSnicka played smartly throughout the period, giving her jammer assist after assist. The No Coast jammers brought in 87 points in the second period, to end the bout 139-71.

Day 2 Results

• Tampa Bay Derby Darlins (#6) 232
  Hard Knox Roller Girls (#9) 53
  • The Tantrums advance to play #7 Houston Roller Derby in Bout 12 later in the day; Hard Knox moves on to skate against Memphis on Sunday.
• Dallas Derby Devils (#4) 205
  Memphis Roller Derby (#10) 95
  • Dallas Derby Devils advance to play #8 No Coast Derby Girls in Bout 11 later in the day; Memphis moves on to skate against Hard Knox on Sunday in Bout 13.
• Texas Rollergirls (#1) 167
  Nashville Rollergirls (#5) 62
• Kansas City Roller Warriors (#3) 145
  Atlanta Rollergirls (#2) 75
  
  • The Texecutioners will defend their #1 spot in the South Central Region against the Kansas City Roller Warriors in the championship round; Nashville will skate against the Atlanta Rollergirls on Sunday in Bout 16 to determine third and fourth place in the tournament.
• Tampa Bay Derby Darlins (#6) 144
  Houston Roller Derby (#7) 129
• No Coast Derby Girls (#8) 139
  Dallas Derby Devils (#4) 71
  • Tampa will play No Coast Derby Girls to determine fifth place in Bout 15; Houston will play Dallas to determine seventh place in Bout 14 on Sunday.

Get more info at www.amberwavesofpain.com.