Tucson, AZ

By PyRo Blaze

Game 7 of the Tucson’s D1 Playoffs, featuring Team United Roller Derby of Des Moines, Iowa, vs Arizona Roller Derby (AZRD) of Phoenix, Arizona, was from start to end a fun, fast-paced game played with determination and energy. After losing their bouts yesterday—AZRD falling to Mad Rollin’ Dolls of Madison, WIsconsin, in Game 2 (171-221); Tean United falling to Arch Rival Roller Girls of St Louis, Missouri, in Game 3 (76-241)—both teams brought renewed focus, teamwork, and heart to the track for the first bout of day 2 at the Tucson D1 Playoffs.

Photo by Donna Olmstead

From the start, both teams fielded strong, nimble jammers and controlled formations. The deciding factor in this game seemed to be execution. Their first showing at the D1 Playoffs, Team United showed their right to be here with strong formations and smart offense. In the first half, Team United jammers Je NE Sais Quoi, EnerGEEzer Bunny, and Lolo Gunz pushed, jumped, and rammed their way through AZRD’s formations, carving out a lead with jams of 4-5 points. Their edge was helped by AZRD’s jammer penalty trouble and frequent trips to the box by jammers CarBomb Ya and Déjà Déjà Vu. Team United ended the first period with an excellent jam by Je NE Sais Quoi, cementing a solid but not insurmountable lead of 123-80 when the whistle blew.

The first jams of the second period looked like more of the same, starting off with Team United’s Lolo Gunz winning a grand slam over AZRD’s jammer Luz Chaos. Team United nickel and dimed their way to an even broader point gap, inching their score up to 199.

Then, fans got a touch of that derby magic we all know and love.

Photo by Donalee Eiri

AZRD’s first game of the tournament was marred by disintegration of play in the last quarter of the bout. First blockers, then jammers were benched for penalty after penalty during Friday’s gameplay. Today, the opposite happened. AZRD’s jammer R2DEATH2 won lead in Jam 14, followed in the next jam by Luz Chaos, that nimble-footed demon of determination, picking up 13 points in a power jam advantage. The streak went on for four, five, six straight jams as AZRD’s jammers fought to close the gap. Eight minutes from the end, 90 points separated the teams, with a Team United lead of 199-109. Three minutes later, the gap had narrowed to 199-135, jolting fans from both sides with a shot of electricity.

The end of the game brought no real surprises. AZRD’s heartwarming rally was too little, too late. Team United ended strong, winning a grand slam in a power jam situation and skating to a score of 208-140. Team United blocker Vyolent Grimm summed up the incredible determination showed by both teams in this satisfying display of derby play: “Today we had a great team dynamic that I thought was lacking yesterday. We refreshed and regrouped, and it looked like Arizona did the same.” Team United fought hard to make their first appearance at D1, and they will certainly not go home empty handed.

FINAL SCORE

Team United Roller Derby (#6) 208
Arizona Roller Derby (#8) 140