Richmond, VA

Back-and-forth game ends with Texas beating Philly for championship

By Megan Enemies

The final game of the WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs in Richmond featured – appropriately – black and blue (uniforms) on the track. At least two skaters made a quick trip to see the medics for minor flesh wounds when Philly Roller Girls (#14, seed #4), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, faced off against Texas Rollergirls (#6, #2 seed), of Austin, Texas.

Pile-ups, apex jumps, and lead changes made this the most exciting game of the tournament. These two battle-tested teams fought for a first place finish, but in the end, Texas came out on top, 253-210. As the second-place team in the tournament, Philly also earned a berth at the November WFTDA Championships in Milwaukee. Philly started out with an early lead, when Fifi Nomenon went to the box on a forearm call, along with teammates Smarty Pants and Molotov M. Pale. Devoida Mercy racked up 10 quick points, to bring the score to 12-0, Philly. Clam Jammer and Vanessa “V-Diva” Sites contributed in the next two jams to give Philly a 26-0 lead.

Olivia Shootin’ John put Texas on the board with a 14-point jam, and in the next jam – when Devoida Mercy got called for a penalty – veteran Texas jammer Bloody Mary brought Texas within four points of Philly, at 43-39. Olivia Shootin’ John added 19 more points in the next jam, when Devoida Mercy went back to the box on a high block.

With such a talented team, it’s safe to say no single skater was responsible for Texas’ win. But the trio of Smarty Pants, Fifi Nomenon, and Polly Gone – who was named tournament MVP – caused a lot of heartache for Philly’s jammers.

Philly blockers had some penalty trouble in the first half, which contributed to a 140-90 Texas lead at the half. But Philadelphia came back swinging in the second half.

In the first jam of the second half, Philly picked up four points. Then three more in the second jam – and after a track cut by Hauss the Boss, the score was 142-140, in favor of Texas. A sweeping hit by Teflon Donna put Olivia Shootin’ John on her back, and she got back up and finished the jam – but not before Devoida Mercy scored two points to tie the game.

Philly grabbed another four points, courtesy of Antidote. And in the following jam, Olivia Shootin’ John earned lead, but as she tried to call the jam, she got called for a forearm. And then Sites – who laid-out a backwards-skating Smarty Pants in this jam – cut the track, went to the box, and set the Texas jammer free. Fast-forward several jams, and Sites had two gravity-defying apex jumps, each time shutting down Texas, 4-0. Shenita Stretcher had some impressive blocks in this half, bumping jammers out and running backwards, forcing them to reenter half a track back.

In jam 17, Bloody Mary, with the help of her tenacious blockers, earned a 215-202 lead for Texas. And in the next jam, Texas surprised everyone when jammer Sarah Hipel handed the star to Smarty Pants. Texas continued to increase the lead, point by point. But a few late-game track cuts for Philly put victory out of reach for the Liberty Belles. After a track cut by Hipel, the monstrous three-wall of Smarty Pants, Polly Gone, and Fifi Nomenon contained Sites until Hipel returned to the track, and Hipel turned to watch the final seconds wind down. The game ended with Texas taking the gold.

Final Score

(4) Philly Roller Girls 210
(2) Texas Rollergirls 253

Texas Rollergirls come in 1st and Phily Roller Girls come in 2nd. Both will compete in 2013 WFTDA Championships in Milwaukee, November 8-10.