Salem, OR

Rat City falls to Atlanta in semi-final game

By Shelly Shankya

Even though Atlanta Rollergirls (2 seed, rank 7) scored first in their game against Rat City Rollergirls (3) (W12), Rat City used a power jam to shift momentum in their favor, scoring 23 points in the second and third jams. The points continued back and forth throughout the game, each team capitalizing on power jams and scoring opportunities, but Atlanta came out ahead, securing a trip to WFTDA Championships, after a narrow victory over Rat City, 220-186.

Rat City, the hometown favorites of the tournament, took an early lead over Atlanta’s Dirty South Derby Girls, extending the point spread to 18 points. In the seventh jam, however, Atlanta’s blocker Alassin Sane held Rat City jammer Carmen Getsome back, giving Jammunition a chance to pull down 10 points and tighten the gap. A jammer do-si-do in the ninth and tenth jams found Atlanta with the upper hand, as Rat City blockers made a parade to the penalty box. The two jams showed negligible gains for either team.

“We’ve prepared for this tournament all season long,” Atlanta captain and blocker Wild Cherri said. “It took lots of focus, lots of effort, with on-skates and off-skates practices. In the end, it was our teamwork that helped us win tonight. As soon as we play together—all together at the same time—we play our best games.”

Bob Ayers

Atlanta worked at a momentum shift during the final six jams of the period, outscoring Rat City 83-30. In the three power jams of the half, Atlanta scored 74 points, whereas Rat City fell short by 15 points with 59 points. Atlanta’s blockers Agent Maulder, Ozzie Kamakazi, Scout Snipeher, and Queen Loseyateefa consistently kept the Rat City jammers back, bridging forward and backward in the pack to make a pass nearly impossible. In fact, those skaters held Rat City jammer Jukestapose while Merchant of Menace scored 15 points on grand slams; Jukestapose eventually went to the box in the jam, giving Atlanta the power jam going into the last jam of the period. The half ended at 143-99, in favor of Atlanta.

The second half of the game showed a 40+ point differential in Atlanta’s favor, despite some strong power jam opportunities for Rat City. When given the chance to jam unopposed, Rat City had the support of the crowd as those in attendance at Salem went crazy for any advantage favoring their Rat City Rollergirls. Atlanta played the cleaner game, making it more difficult for jammers to clear the pack and score points. Rebel Yellow and Wild Cherri spent their time in the pack laying a hurt on the Rat City jammers, while Full Nelson and Glitter played in a large number of jams, working to hold back the Atlanta jammers.

Rat City broke the 40-point score differential in the second-to-last jam of the game, but it was too little and a little too late. Atlanta Rollergirls advance to play in the first place game of the tournament and lock in their ticket to WFTDA Championship in Milwaukee. The final score was 220-186.

“Moving on the Championships is amazing,” Cherry said. “We’re gonna play it one game at a time, staring with our next game tomorrow.”

Final Score

(2) Atlanta Rollergirls 220
(3) Rat City Rollergirls 186

(2) Atlanta Rollergirls advance to play (1) B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls in the Championship game on Sunday at 6 pm PDT. (3) Rat City Rollergirls have to battle it out with (4) Detroit Derby Girls for a chance at third on Sunday at 4 pm PDT.