I-5 All Stars take out SDB Galaxy Girls 255-172

Photo by Axle Adams

When serious rivals meet, you know they are going to be giving it their all.  They will push a little harder, give a little extra, and fight a little longer.  All of the is true whenever the I-5 All Stars and Galaxy Girls meet, but was especially true last night.  From the opening whistle to the final second of the final jam, these two teams fought this one out. 

Right off the line, Lex Celerator of I-5 and Flyin' Hawaiian of SDB had to fight through an incredibly tough pack.  Hits were delivered, openings found and closed with an incredible rapidity, and two very smart jammers found themselves in a rolling scrum.  Lex managed to pop out first for lead jammer status, but Flyin' was only about a quarter of the track behind.  Lex took some rough treatment through the pack on her scoring pass and had to call it off with only three points.

The second jam was scoreless as Lilly Lightning and Dee Stroir quickly made their way through. Lilly couldn't gain any separation and was forced to call it off as they raced for the back of the pack on their scoring pass.  The third jam had a quick four and out giving Galaxy the lead.  They would hold that lead for all of two jams before Lex Celerator finally broke free for a 22 point tear.  Flyin' Hawaiian grabbed the lead back, putting up 15 points in a power jam while new I-5 Skater, The Archer, sat idle in the box. 

This one looked to be a back and forth burner with both packs holding strong.  I-5's precision blocking and solid pack-work against the ebb and flow SDB was setting up between their offensive and defensive blocking.  There was some awesome strategy at play with Galaxy moving from the back to front of the pack, leading their jammer through an opening while they set up their four wall to force I-5 back.  I-5 countered with some very solid walls of their own and breaking apart the SDB's defense with some incredibly solid offense of their own. 

It wasn't until the 12th jam, about halfway through the first half that Lex was able to break out for 23 points and her fellow jammers added a few more to outscore SDB 28-0 over three jams and take the lead for good at 72-50.  While the Galaxy Girls held strong after that run and outscored I-5 14-12 over the final 9 jams of the half, they didn't seem to be able to catch the strong breaks they needed to close the gap.  Halftime stood at 64-89 in favor of I-5.

Photo by Frank Blau

The second half saw the Galaxy Girls come out swinging for the fences.  They were clearly moving to a very physical game, looking to wear down I-5 and create opportunities for their jammers.  Unfortunately, they were up against some very intense discipline in the person of a very precise I-5 pack, and SDB began to get a bit sloppy.  Blocker after blocker was sent to the box creating advantages in the pack for I-5 which they took full advantage of.  By the 8th jam, I-5 had extended their lead to 59 points, when a perfect storm hit. 

SDB had a full penalty box with Lex Celerator lined up against Flyin' Hawaiian.  Hawaiian was sent off almost immediately, as was another blocker... while a third blocker was standing in the box leaving a single blocker and no jammer on the track for SDB.  This continued, with blockers coming in to add to the pack for SDB, but being sent off almost as quickly.  Flyin' Hawaiian came racing in after her time was up, but cut the track and was sent directly back off.  Meanwhile, Lex Celerator was skating pass after pass only having to get by one or two Galaxy Girls to score another grand slam.  By the time the jam timer ended it, Lex Celerator stood with a NW Junior Derby ranked play record 40 point jam putting I-5 on top 179-80 with about 15 minutes to go.

The rest was back to the knock-down drag out derby.  While Lilly Lightning, DisLykher and Tina Angst put up some solid numbers, I-5 would answer back immediately.  There were some questionable plays on both sides (and the pictures exist to show just how questionable some of it was), and injuries began to pile up.  Flyin' Hawaiian was taken out by a high block to the throat, Voodoo lady Googoo was involved in a pile-up and came out of it with a broken nose, and Rosie D Kreamher was taken out of the penalty box to be checked out by the athletic trainers.  It was a tough one, and in the end I-5 stood tall with a 255-172 win.

Three cheers for I-5

Lex Celerator - It almost goes without saying that this girl is a superstar.  Adding a 40 point jam to her long list of accomplishments simply cements her in the annals of junior derby even more firmly.  To top it off, she had six double digit jams and scored 180 of her team's points.  Simply amazing.  Oh, and don't worry.  She's young yet, she'll be around the junior circuit for a few more years!

Hunther Down - With two big hits, three jammer stops, an assist on another big hit and an open hole, Hunther Down was a beast in the pack.  She firmly directed the action, sometimes even physically moving her teammates into a position to make a big play.  Her smart pack play more than earns her the second cheer.

Dee Stroir - With all of the excitement around Lex, it is sometimes easy to forget that I-5 has another speed demon on the track.  With 55 points of her own and two double digit jams, Dee added to her team's success in a big way.

Three cheers for Galaxy Girls

Lilly Lightning - If there is one thing to be said about Lilly, it is that she absolutely, positively, will not give up.  All through the game she put up numbers, capping it off with a 29 point power jam in the second to last jam of the bout.  With 72 of her team's points, Lilly is very definitely living up to her name and her reputation.

Enurgizer Bunny - 6 clean stops and two open holes had Bunny leading the jammer stats for SDB.  And if she had been clean on several more of thos, she would have had big hits and even more stops on her record.  An incredibly agile skater, Bunny is very definitely a force to be reckoned with in the pack.

Flyin' Hawaiian - This girl is a joy to watch.  A strong, physical jammer, she has an ability to lay down her own big hits, create her own opennings and even had a jammer stop with the star on her own head.  Watch for her, she's going places!

Yes, I am "borrowing" the system of the great Elwood Bruise. As he has said "have at it!" I am not feeling all too guilty. basically, a blocker has three categories: jammer stops, open holes and big hits. Jammer stops have to keep the jammer from getting through the pack in a significant way.
B - Big hits are, well, big hits, but they have to be clean and they have to be significant.
S - Jammer stops have to keep the jammer from getting through the pack in a significant way.
O - Open holes are awarded for creating an opening for your jammer to get through.
A - Assists are awarded if you contribute significantly in a play which gives your teammate the ability to make a big play.
Remember, this is only based on what I can see. If I missed a big hit for you, I am sorry!

Blocker Stats I-5
Gory Locks B-2, S-2
Liv Vicious O-1
Audrey Headburn B-1, S-1
Short Fuse S-1, O-1
Lex Celerator B-1
Sierrated Blade B-2, S-1
The Archer O-1
HuntHer Down B-2, S-3, O-1, A-1
Death by Beth O-1
Kitty Clawberator S-3

Blocker Stats SDB galaxy Girls
Stella Mental B-1, S-3, O-1
Mal Intent O-1
DisLykeHer S-2
Tina Angst B-1, O-1
Rockin' Red B-1, S-1, O-1
Rosie D Kreamher B-1, S-2, O-1
Brutiful Beast S-1
Voodoo lady Googoo B-1, S-2
Enurgizer Bunny S-6, O-1
Evil Mac'Nevil B-1, S-1
Evil O S-3

Ejections
Enurgizer Bunny fouled out at 4 seconds remaind