Nashville, TN

By Lexistential Crisis

In a rematch of last year’s Championship final game, Gotham Girls Roller Derby (Sacramento Seed #1, #1) once again defeated the Texas Rollergirls (Evansville Seed #3, #5). Despite a strong effort by the Texas defense and offense, Gotham was able to continue their winning streak and make it back to the semifinals.

Photo by Derby With Recess

The game began with Bonnie Thunders earning lead for Gotham and scoring six hard-earned points against a dynamic wall of Smarty Pants, Luce Bandit, Barbara Ambush, and FiFi Nomenon. Both teams struggled to get their jammers out of the pack, especially in the sixth jam. Bonnie Thunders almost broke out of the pack to gain lead jammer status for Gotham, but Smarty Pants and Barbara Ambush recycled her back into the pack. Olivia Shootin’ John faced a similar struggle when Gotham blockers Roxy Dallas, Mick Swagger, Puss ‘n Glutes, and Fisti Cuffs maintained a slow, braced wall to keep her in the pack as well. Neither jammer broke the pack for the entire two minutes, and it was the first time Gotham didn’t earn lead jammer status in the game.

Texas turned that defensive strength into offensive momentum as Hauss the Boss took advantage of a forearm penalty on Gotham’s jammer to score 23 points and take a lead of 32 to Gotham’s 19. Texas held that lead for seven jams until Gotham was able to tie the game at 43. With nine minutes left in the half, Suzy Hotrod snuck through the Texas blockers to bring Gotham’s total to 47 while Texas remained at 43.

Photo by Joey Miller

Their lead didn’t last long, as Texas took advantage of Gotham’s jammer penalty in the next jam. Sarah Hipel found small holes in the Gotham wall to score nine points and take the lead back for Texas. They added to their small lead in the next jam, but Gotham once again took the lead back in the final jams of the half. Gotham ended a close first half with their largest jam of the game as Miss Tea Maven scored 18 points. Gotham led at the half with a score of 74-58.

Gotham’s jammer began the second half in the box while FiFi Nomenon lined up as a jammer for the first time in the game. The Texas blockers helped her and Hauss the Boss bring their score closer to Gotham in the first two jams of the half, but Gotham didn’t give up the lead for the rest of the game. With under 15 minutes left in the half the score was 117-98.

Smarty Pants pushed her way to the largest jam of the second half after Gotham’s jammer was sent to the box for a cut. Gotham’s lead was cut down to only eight points with eight minutes left in the game. Gotham quickly stopped the momentum and prevented Texas from scoring again in the game. Mick Swagger, OMG WTF, Fisti Cuffs, Sexy Slaydie, Violet Knockout, and Bonita Apple Bomb worked seamlessly together and with their other teammates to hold back the Texas jammers for the final jams of the game. Meanwhile, Bonnie Thunders and Suzy Hotrod scored 38 more points to bring Gotham’s final score to 163 while Texas was still at 117.

Photo by Donna Olmstead

Bonnie Thunders scored 73 total points for Gotham and Suzy Hotrod added 45 points. Hauss the Boss and Smarty Pants led scoring for Texas with 41 and 38, respectively. Gotham will play either London Rollergirls or Victorian Roller Derby League tonight at 8:30 pm CDT.

Final Score

Gotham Girls Roller Derby (Sacramento Seed #1) 163
Texas Rollergirls (Evansville Seed #3) 117