Galxy Girls win squeaker over the Rosebuds

Photo by Danny Ngan

Whenever two of the top ranked teams in the world meet, you can be assured that the results are going to be good.  When those two teams are also within the most competitive, most highly skilled region, playing some of the best roller derby out there, you know the results are going to be amazing.

Last night, the Seattle Derby Brats’ Galaxy Girls and the Portland Rosebuds met in a clash containing everything a fan would want: strong competitors, awesome moves, great tactics and strategies, and playing the game they clearly all love.  When that happens, the final score almost doesn’t matter, especially when that score could have so easily gone the other way.

It could be argued that I watch a LOT of junior derby, and that I have watched these two teams play against each other more than a few times over the past 3 years.  That argument would be accurate, and I can say without a doubt that last night was one of the most exciting bouts I have seen since the championships last summer.

Things started fast for Galaxy as Portland jammer, Little Bo Weep found herself off her feet and cooling her heels in the penalty box nearly right out of the gate.  The Portland blocker corps stood firm, only allowing 8 points in the power jam, a serious accomplishment against two powerhouses like Flyin’ Hawaiian and Beatin’ Bam!!B.  The Galaxy Girls shot ahead 28-0 in 5 jams before the Portland bench called a time out to regroup.

The 6^th jam saw them with Portland’s first power jam of the game, but Seattle wasn’t going anywhere.  The blockers held the speeding Little Bo Weep to 9 points, but her compatriot Painbow Fright slapped on the star and slapped up a 9-2 decision, pulling the Buds to within 12.  Over the next several jams, Bam!!B, and Flyin’ battled hard on the jammer line against Anaphylactic Shock and Little Bo Weep, Seattle clawing ahead in one jam, Portland clawing back in the other until Tempest Fugit donned the star and brought the Rosebuds to within five points, 44-49.

The rest of the half saw some incredible blocker prowess.  Twice the Galaxy Girls had the power jam and twice they were held to single digits (5 and 2), but their own blocking was holding just as firm as Portland only managed to score twice in the last eight jams of the half.  When the whistle blew, Seattle had managed to extend their lead to 20 points, 72-52.

But this is Junior derby, and these two are teams of titans.  They.Will.Not.Give.Up!  All it took was a single cut track by DisLykeHer, some great pack management by Portland  and a power jamming Tempest Fugit to close that pesky 20 point gap and tie the game in the first jam in the second half.  Quickly following it up with a ten spot of her own to finish out the power jam was Little Bo Weep and Portland had their first lead of the game!

You could almost hear the hearts of the Galaxy fans drop as the screams and cheers of the Buds’ supporters filled the Southgate Roller Rink.  Those cheers were quieted and the Seattle fans had reason to add to the din as tSAMnami snatched the lead right back in the next with an 11 point power jam before heading to the sin bin at the conclusion of the jam for a back block, advantage Portland!  Painbow Fright took the lead back, 87-83.

The Rosebuds extended that lead to eight points before Lilly Lightning and Bam!!B gave a one-two punch and brought a 12 point lead back to their bench!

Enurgizer Bunny found herself the beneficiary of an error on the part of Scream Cheese and battled her way to a 14 point score, expanding that lead to 22 points, 117-95.  But once again, folks!  These teams just don’t know the meaning of the word quit.  A-shock took the star in the box for a fouled-out Cheese and took every advantage of Bam!!B’s only error of the night, throwing up a 20 point power jam to pull within 6.  Strong blocking and quick jamming by Mal Intent and and Bunny kept Tempest Fugit to 2 points and Rainbow Dash to 4, but they were blanked themselves and Portland’s lead stood at seven as Dash found herself the victim of the referees and was sent to the box for a low block.

A chant went up as Seattle took a time out and Lilly Lightning took the star and a 15 point power jam, calling it off just as Dash was standing in the box.  Enurgizer Bunny put up a 10-0 decision of her own on the back of withering Galaxy blocking.  The Galaxy Girls again had a double digit lead of 18 points. And again, this one wasn’t over!

Lilly Lightning and Jesus Feist on the jammer line.  The whistle blows and the jammers begin to fight through the pack.  Lilly is called for cutting and Feisty runs up 15 points!  She calls the jam with 26 seconds left on the clock!  The 30 second rundown starts with Lilly still in the box and the teams lining up.  The Seattle fans are holding their breath as the clock winds down and the Portland fans are screaming for a time out!  No time out call comes from the bench, the final whistle blows and the Seattle fans let out their breath in a howl of victory as the final tally stands at 150-147!

Amazing bout!

Three cheers for the Galaxy Girls:

Mal Intent – in years past, I have seen Mal Intent mainly as a jammer, and a damned fine one at that.  Towards the end of last season I began to see her blocking really solidifying, and last night it came forward in an amazing fashion. Throwing up 4 assists, 2 stopped jammers and 2 big hits, she earns the first cheer!

Beatin’ Bam!!B -  Holy wow, this girl was awesome last night!  55 points across 10 jams and a 90% lead jammer rate.  90%!  That more than earns her the second cheer for Seattle!

Flyin’ Hawaiian – I love watching this girl skate!  While didn’t find a lot of success on the jammer line, coch Betty put her out on the floor as a blocker, and she definitely showed her power.  With 5 jammer stops, three big hits and an assist she earns that third cheer!

Three cheers for the Rosebuds!

Tempest Fugit – Not only a terror on the jammer line with 38 points across 10 jams, she also earns a double threat badge with three big hits, a jammer stop and an opening.  Definitely a cheer is deserved here!

Jesus Feist – Far and away, she’s one of the best.  She showed why she’s an All Star last night with 23 points, 3 big hits, an assist and an opening.  Second cheer for her!

Scream Cheese – While she may have fouled out of the game, she did manage to score an impressive tally as a blocker, putting up stop after stop and laying down some shattering hits.  She proved why she is one of the most respected blockers in the NW junior game.  Third cheer for Scream Cheese!

Blocker StatsAnd now, the blocker stats! A blocker has three categories: jammer stops, open holes and big hits. 

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!

Galaxy Blocker Stats
Stella Mental  S-2, A-1
Mal Intent  B-2, A-4, S-2
Poison Izzie  B-2, A-1, O-1
DisLykeHer S-2, A-1
Lilly Lightning S-2, O-1, A-1
Rosie D Kream-Her B-3, S-2, A-1
Tina Angst S-2, A-1
Rockin' Red S-2, A-1
Brutiful Beast S-1, A-2
Enurgizer Bunny B-2, A-3
Flyin' Hawaiian B-3, S-5, A-1

Rosebuds
Scream Cheese B-2, S-4
Painbow Fight B-1, A-1
Lemon Stinger A-1, O-1, S-1
Annaphylactic Shock S-2
Lemon Stinger A-1, O-1, S-1
Medula Oblongotchya B-1, S-4, A-1
Tempest Fugit B-2, S-1, A-1, O-1
Mackenzie B-1, A-2
Root of All Evil S-1