Atlanta (#6) unseats Kansas City (#2) for a trip to Championships

By Shelly Shankya

Game 10 of South Central Playoffs would determine the second team to get a guaranteed spot at Champs, and Atlanta Rollergirls (#6) came out hungry for a win against the Kansas City Roller Warriors (#2).

Photo by Taura Horn Photography

Despite having several jams with a 2-4 pack advantage, Kansas City was unable to successfully grab lead jammer, or, if they did, their blockers were unable to hold the Atlanta jammer for a substantial amount of time to do any real point damage. When Kansas jammer Enigma went to the box for a major back block, Bruze Orman threw 10 points on the scoreboard and started an Atlanta point-run that had them up for the majority of the period.

Atlanta blocker Wild Cherri, with the help of Alassin Sane, owned the Kansas City blockers, at one point never letting Kansas City jammer Mary Lou Wretched out of the pack. For Kansas City, blockers Annie Maul and Bella Fire did their fair share of jammer holding; Bruze Orman spent nearly an entire jam getting pin-balled around the pack. Atlanta jammer Hollicidal ended the second-to-last jam of the first half with a forearm major, giving Kansas City the chance they needed. Jammer Track Rat scored a 19-point power jam, ending the half with Kansas City 64, Atlanta 66.

Everything Kansas City gained in the last jam, Atlanta took right back in the opening of the second half, stretching the gap back out to nearly 30 points in four jams. Kansas City jammers had a difficult time ever making it through the pack and only captured lead jammer status three times in the second half compared to Atlanta's 16. Kansas City gave Atlanta two power jams, and Atlanta gave them back. However, Atlanta scored a total of 45 points during their power jams, whereas Kansas City only scored 34.

"Communication is key for us," Atlanta's Wild Cherri said. "We use it to keep our walls even stronger."

The pack play was tighter than a gnat's ass stretched over a rain barrel for Atlanta, and they were able to keep the Roller Warriors to only 58 points in the second period. They played fast when necessary, and swarmed Kansas City jammers bringing them to a near stand-still when appropriate. The blocking prowess and jammer strength--Merchant of Menace scoring 76 points alone--made the win possible for the Dirty South Derby Girls, securing them a shot at WFTDA Championships in November, in their home town of Atlanta. Atlanta unseated #2 Kansas City and will play Texas on Sunday for the South Central Championship.

"We've worked so hard to get where we are," Cherri said. "We've worked in sweltering heat with no air conditioning, busting our butts to get where we are. And we've really come together like glue in the last six to eight months."

Kansas City goes on to play Tampa Roller Derby for 3rd Place and the third spot at Championships.

Atlanta Rollergirls (#6) 192
Kansas City Roller Warriors (#2) 122