Salem, OR

Boston chooses to "Trust in Justin," defeats Sacred City for seventh place

By Shelly Shankya

Both teams used their official reviews during the first half of Game 14: Boston Derby Dames (6 seed, rank 23) for a review of jammer Maya Mangleyou’s forearm major, and Sacred City Derby Girls (7 seed, rank 28) for a review of blocker Cash Money’s insubordination penalty. That’s how important it was for each of these teams to have all of their skaters on the track during the scuffle for seventh: every call counted as the points reflected a precise attention to clean skating.

Boston Massacre found themselves in a pinch when, after starting the half with a hefty lead over the Sacrificers, they finished the half with a slim lead, merely 19 points ahead of Sacred. Points fell into Boston’s lap as Sacred’s jammers Daddy’s Girl and Slapjack spent time in the penalty box. During the first 15 jams Boston managed to hold Sacred City to single-digit gains while the Boston skaters lobster-clawed their way to a solid lead. Boston scored 82 to Sacred’s 34.The tide changed for Sacred in the fifteenth jam, when Colt 45 picked up 19 points for the Sacrificers, followed by 15 more from Axel Breaker on a another power jam.

Jules Doyle

In the second-to-last jam of the period Sacred City had tied things up, 87-87, but a power jam for Boston allowed the Massacre to skate away with 19 points of their own. Boston blocker Ginger Kid forced a track cut on Sacred’s jammer Axel Breaker on a crushing hit to the outside in turn 2, setting the Boston power jam in motion. At halftime Boston had the lead 106-87 over Sacred City.

“At halftime we knew we had to focus our play, work on teamwork, and skate clean,” Boston jammer Space Invader said. “We reminded each other that when we skate together, we always skate better.”

In as many ways that Sacred City gave Boston a run for their money in the first, Boston returned the favor, plus some, in the second half. A noticeable difference in the second was Boston’s ability to grab lead jammer and extend the time of each jam by running down the clock, taking most jams to their natural conclusion after two minutes. Jammers Flyin’ King and Space Invader led the Boston Massacre in points with Maya Mangleyou and Lil’ Paine with double-digit games in the second. While Sacred was able to score 71 points in the second, Boston scored nearly three times as many points, 211.

“It’s a long tournament, and we decided to play out long jams, hoping that our jammers and skaters were less exhausted than the other skaters,” Space Invader said.

On top of the full jam strategy Boston used in the second, several official timeouts made the game last longer than expected. The officials reminded blockers repeatedly to watch low blocks and leading with the leg after several low blocks sent skaters from each team to the box. Sacred City felt the sting of penalties in the second, however, as blockers Axel Breaker, Annie Anklebiter, and Slapjack fouled out. Boston blocker Ginger Kid was expelled from the game for an egregious low block.

Donalee Eiri, Photography by D.E.sign

With 40 seconds remaining in the game, Sacred jammer 4Closer grabbed lead jammer status and 15 points, but it was far from enough points to bridge the spread. Boston Derby Dames, sporting shorts reading “Trust in Justin," defeated Sacred City Derby Girls 317-158, and ended the tournament in seventh place, having dropped one seed.

“We wore ‘Trust in Justin’ today because it’s our manager Justin’s last game with the Boston Massacre,” Space Invader said. “We’ve been saying ‘Trust in Justin’ since ECDX in 2012, when he suggested we use the running out the clock strategy at the end of the game with Arizona. He does so much for our team, so much more than we probably even know.”

Final Score

(7) Sacred City Derby Girls 158
(6) Boston Derby Dames 317

Sacred City finished the tournament in eighth place, one seed lower than that their seventh seed start to the tournament. Boston also finishes one slot below their six seeding slot.