If derby were fiction, or faked as it used to be, the story of this weekend would have been one about a group of kids who have struggled to regain the top of the pile over the last few seasons finally coming together and getting the trophy as nine of them were graduating from junior derby this season and would never again have a chance at the prize. But this is not fiction, roller derby is not faked, and that's not the story I get to tell.
Instead I get a raw story, a true story, a gritty story. I get to look in on a tournament of teams struggling against overwhelming odds, teenagers battling fatigue and their own bodies, last minute victories, incredible heart, and heart-wrenching mistakes. It's a story about teams with too few players, players in their last season, players who have struggled personally or as a team to get to where they are. A first season team fighting incredibly hard only to fall just shy, still holding their heads high, confident in the fact that they did something hundreds of others cannot. A team which has fallen from the top, and a team which has risen to new heights, a team solidifying claims to greatness. One which has to look once again to next year, and a team rebuilding their confidence.
In short, it's the story of A team Pacific Northwest Junior Roller Derby. Championships.
6th place - Port Scandalous Roller Punks
All season long, this team struggled along with a short roster. They had, at most, 10 skaters on their team at any one game, They played a brutal double elimination format at Wild West and kept in against opponents outside the area despite being so short handed. But this past weekend, as with most of the ranked games this season, that short team hurt.
They started both games strong, but as the game progressed and their 2 jammer rotation started to show wear along with a blocker rotation which only allowed for 3 of them to rest any one jam, the points stopped coming as briskly, and the other teams were able to capitalize.
In the 5th place bout, they again started out VERY strong, blasting out to an impressive lead, but the Dolls had T-wrecks-Her's number, and she was not able to break free for her usually huge point gains. It was clear midway through the second half that she was beginning to run out of gas. Thankfully, they added in another jammer to the rotation and were able to struggle back to within 25 with less than a minute left and a power jam up! In the end, they fell just short, missing out on 5th place by a mere 15 points. Not bad for a team of 9 skaters!
Tournament results -
Loss to Rosebuds 260-179
Loss to Reservoir Dolls 185-170
My MVP selections:
T-Wrecks-Her
Cookie Dozer
5th place - Emerald City Junior Gems Reservoir Dolls
The Dolls. I have watched some serious flashes of brilliance from them this season which were simply not quite enough to get past the other teams this year. They would put together some impressive runs, but then fall victim to penalty trouble and things would kind of disintegrate for them.
In their first bout, they gave up 8 power jams to a strong Kitsap team. Kitsap was able to take full advantage of those errors. Despite that, they led against the D-Bombers through most of the first game, only to fall victim to penalties in the last 3 jams.
In their second bout, they gave up just as many power jams, but were able to kill the penalties against the Roller Punks with greater effectiveness. That's what I am talking about. The flashes of brilliance were more frequent, and they were really playing as a team. Their defence was tighter and they were able to handle the Roller Punks jammers better. A wild, back and forth affair finally gave way halfway through the second half, and they were able to ward off a late game rally to take 5th in the tournament.
Tournament results -
Loss to D-bombers 211-200
Win vs Roller Punks 185-170
My MVP Selections:
Beautiful Deadly
Neal Cassady
4th place - Rose City Rosebuds
They were undefeated last year. No one could touch them, despite some very valiant efforts. They played strong in the clutch and held off assaults with strong, secure pack play and some incredible physicality. This year they had strong, physical play but there was something missing in a few of their bouts. Against the Roller Punks they showed some of their old form. They were controlling lead jammer and the clock, but gave up power jams in the 1st, 5th, 11th and 13th jams of the half which gave the Punks the lead despite being held scoreless in 7 of the 20 first half jams. The second half against the Punks was really where we saw the team playing their game. 13 scoreless jams for the Punks, capitalizing on power jams, and controlling lead jammer. They were everywhere the Punks were trying to be, hips, shoulders and jammers flying.
In the game vs the Galaxy Girls, it was just plain brutal. Both teams were engaged in a slugging match in the pack and the jammers were struggling to string together points. Most jams on both sides were not only single digit, but most of them were also less than four points. It seemed more that the jammers would throw themselves at the pack with their hands slamming their hips to call off the jam and praying they were able to get past just one opponent before the fourth whistle or before the opposing jammer could close.
It wasn't until halfway through the first half that Galaxy was able to put a 7 jam, 36-0 run together which broke thing open. While points remained hard to come by, Galaxy was able to squeak through for lead and control the points and clock despite the Buds' use of every jammer in their arsenal.
Against the D-Bombers? They were scoreless in 21 out of 46 jams. Power jams were where they were scoring points, but the D-Bombers were playing a physical game to match the best Portland could bring. the Buds found themselves behind for the entirety of the second half. Not a position they were used to, and you could see it in their determination as they fought hard to regain the lead. They finally caught a break in the last few jams, with a massive power 37-4 run bringing them to within 5, but an out of bounds block in the final jam saw their comeback quelled and their jammer in the box.
Tournament Results -
Win vs Roller Punks 260-179
Loss to Galaxy Girls 221-124
Loss to D-Bombers 206-196
My MVP Selections:
Tempest Fugit
Jesus Feist
3rd place - Kitsap Derby Brats D-Bombers
What can I say? This team was the surprise of the season. Virtually winless in ranked play every year, the bottom of the pile in every tournament, but this year? They really brought it together. That's not to say they didn't have their issues, after all they were in fourth place coming into the tournament, but their PF/PA through the season and their performance in the Championships have made me a believer.
And they broke my bracket.
Against the Reservoir Dolls, I mentioned already that they struggled in the first half, but what they were able to put together in a come from behind position was not something they have been able to do in the past; take advantage of the mistakes of their opponents. Down by by 28, they clawed their way back to tie at 172 each at the tail end of the game, then rallied again down by 19 to take an 11 point victory. A site to behold!
Against I5, well... it was another tale. I5 did what I5 does. They locked down the track and scored points. The Bombers were able to throw together some great series of leads jammers, but the I5 blockers seemed to have a homing beacon on the yellow and black star and the best amounted to a 15-0 run over 4 jams.
And then the surprise. This game was just plain awesome to watch. To take on the titans, the team you have never beaten in the 5 years they have been playing tournaments together, and to finally get that victory? There's the payoff of what has clearly been some seriously hard work on the part of the D-Bombers over this last season.
Tournament Results:
Win vs Reservoir Dolls 211-220
Loss vs I5 294-162
Win vs Rosebuds 206-196
My MVP Selections:
Aqua KnockYouOut
T-Pain
2nd place - Seattle Derby Brats Galaxy Girls
This team is wow. This team is agility, flash, brilliance, waterfalling, strategy, speed... everything you could possibly want in an exciting roller derby bout, and they never fail to deliver on that promise. I have watched these girls grow through the years and now, as about half the team graduates from junior derby? I can't help but shed a tear both of sorrow and of joy. Sorrow for what the junior world will be missing, and joy for what the adult world is gaining.
I've already gone through their game against the Rose buds, so let's take on the game against I5. Galaxy led through the entire first half. They came out swinging and had I5 on the ropes, up by 50 until an I5 power jam brought it to within 28... then up by 54 until a jammer was sent back to the bench and I5 clawed back 30 of those points.
The second half saw I5 swinging away and locking down the pack. They gained the lead four jams into the second half and never lost it again. Galaxy managed to threaten in the final couple of jams, drawing to 28 points down, but in a game that tight, 28 points is not easy.
Tournament results:
Win vs Rosebuds 221-124
Loss to I5 285-254
My MVP Selections -
Enurgizer Bunny
Lilly Lightning
Rosie D Kreamher
1st place - I5 Rollergirls
Fundamentals. This team has them in spades. Their flash is in the speed of their jammers, not in the pack. In the pack, it's work time and they do it more effectively than any other junior team out there. They drill hard, they practice hard, they play hard. They work as a single unit and their discipline on the track is undeniable. This season was theirs from start to finish, and they just put the exclamation point on a perfect year. CONGRATULATIONS!
Tournament results:
Win vs D-Bombers 294-162
Win vs Galaxy Girls 285-254
My MVP Selections:
Lex Celerator
Dee Stroir
Hunter
My MVP team from the 2013 NW Junior Derby Championships
Lex Celerator
Dee Stroir
Hunter
Enurgizer Bunny
Lilly Lightning
Rosie D Kreamher
Aqua KnockYouOut
T-Pain
Tempest Fugit
Jesus Feist
Beautiful Deadly
Neal Cassady
T-Wrecks-Her
Cookie Dozer
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