Richmond, VA

After early lead, Naptown falls to Texas

By Megan Enemies

Naptown Roller Girls (#13, #3 seed), of Indianapolis, Indiana, started out strong against Texas Rollergirls (#6, #2 seed), but the Austin, Texas, team capitalized on several power jams in the second half to earn a 295-136 victory.

Olivia Shootin’ John got lead and scored a quick four points for Texas in the first jam. But in the second jam – despite being pummeled by the triple-team of Texas blockers Smarty Pants, Sarah Hipel and Luce Bandit – G-Rocket got lead and picked up five points for Naptown.

David Van Deman

The two teams traded lead jammer status throughout the first half, with Texas getting lead 12 times and Naptown getting lead 11 times. Naptown’s blockers excelled at working offensive plays for their jammers, and Naptown held onto a marginal lead for several jams. But Naptown spent five minutes more than Texas did in the penalty box in the first half, and that resulted in easy points for Texas jammers.

Jam 15 ended with Naptown leading 41-40. But in the next jam, G-Rocket struggled to get by a brutal two-wall of Smarty Pants and Polly Gone, and Texas ended on top, 59-41.

The Texas defenders weren’t easy to break-up, and they often stopped jammers in their tracks, or sent a stealthy blocker like Fifi Nomenon or Barbara Ambush up front to catch an opposing blocker off guard with a well-timed hit.

Asian Sinsation smashed into Texas walls to help her jammers, but she went to the penalty box twice in two jams, and by the end of the first half, had accrued six penalties. She and teammate Cereal Killer both fouled in the second half. Naptown was able to reverse quickly and force track cuts on veteran jammers Bloody Mary and Olivia Shootin’ John. Going into halftime with a score of 104-64 in favor of Texas, it seemed like victory was still a possibility for either team. But Naptown began losing ground in the second half, as their jammers kept going to the penalty box. In the second half, Naptown started out strong, with Maiden America scoring 10 points in jam 2, Pushy Cat getting six in jam 3 and G-Rocket getting 10 in the fourth. Maiden America and G-Rocket added 23 more points collectively in the next two jams, when Texas jammer Fifi Nomenon went to the box, along with tough Texas blocker Polly Gone.

Texas blockers were able to quickly reverse and force two consecutive track cuts on jammer Pushy Cat. After serving her second minute in the box, Pushy Cat came back and got called for a multiplayer block. Texas made the most of those penalty minutes, running up the score for a 90-point lead to end jam 9 – 216-126.

Majestic, in her first time jamming in this game, picked up three points. But in the next jam, G-Rocket cut the track. Bloody Mary got called for a back block, but G-Rocket cut the track again and went right back to the box. With seven minutes to go, Naptown was down 240-129, and they were unable to increase their score by much before time ran out.

Final Score

(2) Texas Rollergirls 295
(3) Naptown Roller Girls 136

Naptown could still take third place at WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Richmond, if they win against #1 seed Angel City Derby Girls at 4 p.m. Sunday. Texas will play #4 seed Philly Roller Girls for the Richmond championship title at 6 p.m. Sunday.