STITCHES’ 75 POINTS HELP M-80s SEW UP THIRD PLACE!
by the Grand Poobah
(BALLWIN, MO) Just nine months ago, the expansion Rebel Skate Alliance, an intergalactic counter-clockwise coalition consisting of derby veterans, transfers and rookies, took to the flat track for their first team practice. Sure, they were familiar with each other. Individually, there was plenty of talent to be found.
But the questions had to be asked by the critics. How would this group perform as a cohesive unit?
The result exceeded its own humble expectations.
Paced offensively by three scorers who notched over 40 points apiece, RSA defeated two-time defending champions the Stunt Devils 131-53 to win the 2011 Arch Rival Roller Girls Championship Saturday night at Midwest Sport Hockey in Queeny Park.
With the win, RSA finished their inaugural campaign undefeated, winning all six bouts they competed in.
In ARRG’s third place bout, rookie May Require Stitches scored 75 points to help the M-80s score a 127-107 victory over the Smashinistas.
The double-header of ARRG derby action, making its debut at a new venue in front of a crowd of 1,000, put the finishing touches on a successful intraleague season.
2011 CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT: RSA 131 STUNT DEVILS 53
When these teams last faced each other in December, Rebel Skate Alliance won a three-point nailbiter.
But things were different heading into the rematch.
First, RSA jammer Party Foul, who was sick for the December head-to-head battle, would be in the starting line-up. For a team that routinely utilizes a three-jammer rotation, her offensive presence was necessary.
More importantly, the Stunts were forced to make a change in their jammer rotation due to injuries. Starting Stunt blocker Dannika Doom would be out of the line-up after an injury in last month’s playoff round. That, added along with early season losses of blockers Grave Danger and Whipped Scream, resulted in a blocking schematic that needed some veteran help.
The Stunts strategy was to use Artemischief, a high-scoring jammer by trade, to fill the role up front. The Stunts’ smallest player did everything possible to keep the powerful RSA blockers at bay.
But the depth of RSA veterans, and the steady improvement of younger talent, proved overwhelming early for the two-time defending champs.
Following a bout-opening three-pointer scored by the Stunts’ South City Shiner, RSA went on a 21-0 run. A four-pointer by Starry Starry Fight was followed by a 15-pointer scored by Party Foul. RSA’s Smarty McFly would finish the streak with a two-pointer to extend the RSA lead to 21-3 six minutes in.
Unfortunately for the Stunts, RSA was just warming up. Party would notch another 10-pointer midway through the half to extend the lead to 46-10.
RSA would continue the attack as the half progressed, resulting in a 36-10 run in the last ten minutes of the half. Thanks to McFly’s nine-point tally and Fight’s 13-pointer to conclude the first half, RSA sported an 82-20 halftime lead.
The Rollin’ Rebs would put the mothership into cosmic cruise control for the remainder of the title bout.
The jamming trio of Starry Smarty, Party – thanks to the unstoppable RSA blocking up front – would maintain the cushion in the second half, never allowing the Stunts within 70 points.
“They are consistent, reliable and powerful,” said RSA co-captain Chewblocka of the triple-tiered offensive attack. “That’s what we wanted in our jammers.”
RSA would outscore the Stunt Devils 49-33 in the second half to coast to the 78-point margin of victory, and in the process give the expansion franchise an undefeated championship season.
“I was one of the first people who stepped up and wanted to be a part of this team because I knew it was going to be awesome,” said RSA blocker The Bevo Kill. “Guess what? It was awesome.”
“We worked really, really hard for it,” added RSA jammer Starry Starry Fight, who finished with a team high with 47 points. “We were known as underdogs this season. We weren’t expecting to win. It’s really gratifying.”
RSA’s Party Foul contributed 43 while McFly added 41.
But all three jammers will be quick to point out the MVPs of the bout, the blocking battalion consisting of Chewblocka, Domme E. Nation, The Bevo Kill, Stabby McCutcha, Sue She and a whole host of others.
“I couldn’t have imagined it if I didn’t have those people out there,” said Party Foul. “They did all the work for me.”
“They made our job easy,” added Fight. “They were really focused on shutting down their jammers, but they were out to help us out as well.”
Morgan LeFaetal finished with 21 points to pace the Stunt Devils, while South City Shiner added 17.
If you ask any one of the Rebs about the undefeated inaugural season, you’ll find that the key to success was to take each bout one at a time…and to not get cocky when things fell into place.
“I think it’s amazing but we’re all still pretty humble about it,” said Fight. “We won’t go into next season any different.”
Yet, the feeling of a trophy hoist Saturday night is still euphoric.
“Oh my god, it is so great,” said RSA’s The Bevo Kill. “The sense of relief and the sense of ecstasy is overwhelming.”
UNOFFICIAL SCORING
REBEL SKATE ALLIANCE: Starry Starry Fight 47, Party Foul 43, Smarty McFly 41
STUNT DEVILS: Morgan LeFaetal 21, South City Shiner 17, Mighty Mighty Boston 15
THIRD PLACE BOUT: M-80s 127 SMASHINISTAS 107
Going into this bout, both teams knew full well that a loss would just not suffice.
For the Smashinistas, it would mean a tough finish to a season that held so much promise. The memories of a four-bout winning streak in the 2010-11 campaign would be all but erased.
For the M-80s, it would mean a big goose egg in the win column altogether for the season. And for a team that had in prior ARRG history held back-to-back championships and an eight-bout winning streak of their own, a season that contained nothing but defeat would be devastating.
With so much pride on the line, a third place win was what both teams needed.
Following dead-locked jams off the start, the M-80s built an early lead six minutes in. Science Friction’s four-pointer scored at 24:00 mark gave the ladies in red an 8-0 advantage.
The M-80s continued to add onto the lead with three consecutive lead jams. Munchausen by Foxy, The Siege and May Require Stitches would collectively add 10 points to the tally. At the 19:30 mark, the M-80s stretched the lead to 18-3.
Smashinistas co-captain Downtown Dallis would counter with a grand slam on the next jam, pulling the score to 18-8.
Then at the 16:00 mark, something rare for the M-80s – and for that matter the league in 2011 – occurred that began to shape the bout’s outcome.
The “firecrackers on quads” – and more specifically May Require Stitches – capitalized on a powerjam, as well as additional Smashie penalties, to gain a huge advantage. The rookie cranked out a 30-point mega jam, resulting in a 48-8 M-80s lead midway through the first half.
The Smashies, to their credit, retaliated effectively following a necessary timeout, going on a 28-4 run in the next eight minutes. Dallis’ triple set of four-pointers and a 14-point powerjam pulled the camo-clad troops to 52-36 with 7:00 left in the first half.
The M-80s would counter the Smashies streak with a 14-0 run of their own. Black Market Baby’s 5-pointer would be followed by Foxy’s nine point tally to extend the lead back to 66-36.
Dallis scored three for the Smashinistas to round out the first half scoring. Nonetheless, ARRG Nation was still surprised to see the M-80s, a team that had not tasted victory in quite a long time, in command with a 66-39 halftime lead.
But the best was yet to come from the ladies in red in the second half.
Following, an opening two-pointer scored by the Smashies’ Punches PileUp, the M-80s would go on a 30-0 run. In the process, a 13-pointer scored at the 27:00 mark by BMB was followed by Stitches’ 14-point jam, extending the lead to 96-41.
With the M-80s cruising 109-50 midway through the second half, it seemed that the third place bout was all but decided.
Well, not quite.
With 13:50 left, the Smashinistas began a 39-0 streak with the bout’s next three jams.
The Educator posted a 17-pointer, Dallis followed with 13 and Educator returned to score nine. When the dust had settled, the once comfortable 50+ point margin by the M-80s had been whittled down to 113-89 with under 10:00 remaining.
But the M-80s would never let the Smashies get closer than twenty points down the stretch, culminating in a 127-107 vcitory to claim third place.
“It felt really awesome,” said M-80s co-captain Black Market Baby. “It was really great to see everybody step up. With only ten skaters on our team, I saw that everybody wanted to make it work and they did.”
May Require Stitches finished with a career high 75 points to put an exclamation point on her first full season for ARRG.
Downtown Dallis scored 66 points to pace the Smashinistas while The Educator added 39.
For the M-80s, a team that had faced numerous obstacles throughout the season, the lone win of 2011 proved not only satisfying, but perhaps provided ARRG Nation a glimpse of the future.
“A lot of our team saw this year that they had to step it up,” said BMB, who finished with 21 points. “They’ll do it more next year. I feel that we’re going to demand more responsibility out of each player next year.”
And for Joanie Rollmoan, one of the founding members of the M-80s, the “W” might mean the start of a new tradition.
“The M-80s are back,” said Rollmoan. “This is the first of a new consecutive win record….hopefully.”
UNOFFICIAL SCORING
M-80s: May Require Stitches 75, Black Market Baby 21, Munchausen by Foxy 19, Science Friction 8, The Siege 4
SMASHINISTAS: Downtown Dallis 66, The Educator 39, Punches PileUp 2
ARRG ROOKIE RIVALS TRAVEL TO COLUMBIA SATURDAY!
The future of ARRG steps onto the flat track this weekend.
The ARRG Rookie Rivals - ARRG’s developmental squad consisting of rookies and unrostered skaters – will face the CoMo Derby Dames Wreckoning Crew this Saturday in Columbia, MO.
The bout is the opener of a doubleheader that also features the CoMo Derby Dames All-Stars vs. Springfield (MO) Roller Girls at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia. First bout is at 6 pm. For more info, GO HERE!
What’s great about the ARRG Rookie Rivals is that it gives us a preview of who could potentially be an ARRG starter next season. Since its formation last season, the Rookie Rivals have featured the talents of current ARRG stars prior to their official flat-track careers. Skaters such as May Require Stitches, Munchausen By Foxy, The Forecloser, Hydrogen Bombshell and The Punctuator saw their first full bout play with the Rookie Rivals last year.
The Rookie Rivals are 1-0 as a franchise following a 112-80 victory over the St. Chux Derby Chix on June 11, 2010.
To make this story come full circle, a featured skater for the CoMo Wreckoning Crew is former St. Chux Derby Chix P. Diamond, a top-notch skater from St. Charles County who transferred to CoMo during the off-season. In September 2010, Diamond notched a 110-point bout for the Chix against the team she mentors now. She serves dual roles as skater/captain for the Wreckoning Crew.
She also remembers the 32-point loss the Rivals personally handed her last season. Expect a bit of retribution to be on the mind of the Crew’s leader.
Best of luck to the ARRG Rookie Rivals this Saturday in Columbia!
ARRG TO APPEAR AT RANKEN TECH’S CAR SHOW SUNDAY!
This Sunday, the Arch Rival Roller Girls will be a part of Ranken Technical College’s 8th Annual Car Show and Alumni Reunion, held this Sunday at Ranken’s campus (4431 Finney Ave., St. Louis, MO).
The event runs from 9 am- 4 pm, is open to public and free for all spectators.
There will be plenty of activities at the car show, including food vendors, live DJ music, a huge raffle….and yes, appearances by St. Louis’ hottest on quads!
You can still register your ride for the car show, even up to Sunday morning! Registration is $10 per vehicle. The first 100 entries will receive a dash plaque for entering.
For more information about this event, GO RIGHT HERE!
ARRG is proud to be associated with Ranken Technical College this season and are appreciative of their support! To see if you’re Ranken material, GO RIGHT HERE!
NEXT WEEK IN THE ARRG NEWSCENTER: The ARRG All-Stars take a trip to Evansville, IN to battle Demolition City, one of the newest additions to the WFTDA North Central region on April 23. A win is imperative to plant the seeds for a potential 2011 WFTDA post-season berth. Along with that, the Saint Lunachix - ARRG’s developmental squad – face the Demo’s rookies on the undercard. We’ll preview a double dip of ARRG travel action in the Hoosier State.
The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information.
