Saturday nights bout between the Jet City Rollergirls (Everett, WA) and Emerald City Roller Girls (Eugene, OR) had all sorts of important implications on the line for both teams. For Jet City (currently ranked #7 in the WFTDA western region), they were looking to solidify a spot in the WFTDA western regional tournament in Portland this coming September. And the visiting ECRG (currently #12 in the western rankings) was looking to stamp their ticket to Portland with a win over the higher ranked Jet City.
Early on, Jet City blasted out of the gates looking like they wanted the game done right then and there. After eeking out to an early 4-0 lead through the first two jams, Marilyn Gun-Hoe donned the jammers cap for the Bombers and went on a 14-0 scoring spree. Really, Jet City totally dominated the first 12 minutes or so of the bout as they saw themselves sporting a dominating 37-2 advantage after the 8th jam.
But Emerald City seemed to get their legs under them and their strategy under control after those first eight jams. Their defense came together and clamped down on the Jet City jammers (allowing the Bombers to score only 7 points over the next 10 jams) while their jammers slowly chipped away at their deficit on the scoreboard. They never scored more than 8 points during that 10 jam stretch (an 8-0 scoring run by Katarina Van Rotten in the 11th jam). But jammers Bullet Brains, Assista Suicide, Betty Aim Fire, Katarina Van Rotten and Surly Q put points on the board consistently during that stretch, eventually finding themselves down by only 13 points once it was over.
During the final three jams of the first half, Jet City certainly finished a lot stronger than they had been playing the previous 15 minutes or so by skating home with a 13-9 edge over those final three jams. At halftime, Jet City was holding on to a 57-40 lead.
The Emerald City start to the second half was the total opposite of how they began the game in the first half. Bullet Brains (3-0 in the first jam) and Surly Q (8-0 in the third jam) helped pull ECRG even closer with an 11-3 scoring run during the first three jams of the second stanza that cut the Jet City lead down to single digits at 9 points. Beelzebabe got Jet City briefly pointed in the right direction with a 7-0 lead jammer run in the 4th jam. But once again the Emerald City squad both grounded the Bombers scoring attack while their jammers inched the Skatesaphrenics ever closer on the scoreboard. After Surly Q's 5-2 decision in the 8th jam, Emerald City was within striking distance down by only 7 points.
That, however, was as close as Emerald City would get in this match.
After a time out to discuss things, Jet City started playing a lot more like the team that began the game. Starting in that 9th jam of the second half, the Bombers defense surrendered only 9 points over the next 10 jams. Meanwhile, Ivanna Hercha rekindled the seemingly dormant Jet City offense with by stamping a monster 15-0 decision on the scoreboard in that 9th jam. And throughout the rest of the game, usual jamming suspects Precious & Metal and Ivanna Hercha along with a not-so-suspecting jammer in Trixxxie's Trash'n 'Em posted small but steady gains on the scoreboard for Jet City.
Emerald City's Bullet Brains did finish the game in strong fashion for the Skatesaphrenics with a 20-4 decision in the final jam of the game. But it was too little, too late as the Jet City Rollergirls were able to hold on to a 112-93 win.
Three Stars
3. Marilyn Gun-Hoe. I have her leading Jet City in blocking stats in this one as she collected 8 blocked jammers and dished out a big hit. She also had that first really big jam for Jet City in the early stages of this one.
2. Ophelia Melons. Emerald City had their ups and downs in this one, but Ophelia seemed to be the most consistent player on the track not only for her team, but in the entire bout. According to what I saw, she earned the most blocking stats on the night in this one with 8 blocked jammers and 3 hole-opening blocks to help her jammer breeze by a little easier.
1. Ivanna Hercha. She led the game in scoring (43 points in 14 jams run - 7 with lead jammer status). But it was definitely her momentum changing 15-0 jam in the second half that helped her team regain their composure and aim them in the right direction.
Key Jam of the Game
I would have to go with the 9th jam of the second half. With everything seemingly going Emerald City's way, Ivanna Hercha and the Bombers pack got back to serious business and pounded ECRG with that 15-0 scoring run. After that happened, Jet City pretty much controlled almost every aspect of the game up until the final jam.
Bad Girls of the Game
From my vantage point it was kind of hard to see the penalty box in this one so I already know I missed a few trips to the box by both teams. But I have Jet City's Trixxxie's Trash'n 'Em and Precious N Metal down for 6 trips to the box each.
Stats
Jamming
Jet City (Jams - Lead Jammer - Jams in Box - Points)
Precious N Metal (8-5-2-23)
Ivanna Hercha (14-7-2-43)
Marilyn Gun-Hoe (4-1-0-19)
Beelzebabe (5-2-0-10)
Trixxxie's Trash'n 'Em (5-4-0-14)
Photon Pixie (2-1-0-1)
Ally Kazaam (1-1-0-3)
Deadline (1-0-0-0)
Emerald City (Jams - Lead Jammer - Jams in Box - Points)
Bullet Brains (13-7-1-38)
Katarina Van Rotten (8-1-2-12)
Betty Aim Fire (5-3-0-14)
Surly Q (10-2-0-24)
Assista Suicide (3-1-0-5)
Frankie Facebreaker (1-0-0-0)
Blocking
Jet City (Blocked Jammers - Open Holes - Big Hits)
Marilyn Gun-Hoe (8-0-1)
Connie Torturous (2-0-0)
Photon Pixie (2-0-1)
Trixxxie's Trash'n 'Em (6-0-0)
Teeny Bopper (7-0-0)
Beelzebabe (4-1-0)
Ally Kazaam (2-0-0)
Morticia Militia (4-0-0)
Devilynne Syde (2-0-0)
Ivanna Hercha (1-0-0)
Precious N Metal (4-0-1)
Edith MyDust (5-0-0)
Emerald City (Blocked Jammers - Open Holes - Big Hits)
Rex Havoc (2-1-1)
Assista Suicide (0-1-0)
Whip-her Snap-her (6-0-0)
Ophelia Melons (8-3-0)
Krazy Kurlz (5-2-0)
Ariel Strike (4-2-0)
Blue Ruin (4-0-0)
Bullet Brains (1-0-0)
Frankie Facebreaker (5-2-0)
Katarina Van Rotten (1-0-0)
Rocka Rolla (2-1-0)
Penalties
Jet City (PIM)
Marilyn Gun-Hoe (4)
Photon Pixie (3)
Trixxxie's Trash'n 'Em (6)
Teeny Bopper (5)
Beelzebabe (1)
Morticia Militia (1)
Ivanna Hercha (2)
Precious N Metal (6)
Edith MyDust (2)
Emerald City (PIM)
Whip-her Snap-her (1)
Ophelia Melons (4)
Krazy Kurls (1)
Ariel Strike (1)
Blue Ruin (1)
Bullet Brains (1)
Frankie Facebreaker (1)
Katarina Van Rotten (1)
Rocka Rolla (5)
Complete Guide to Elwood's Stats
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The next time you can catch the Jet City Bombers in action will be June 24th at Everett Community College. That night they will be playing the Kansas City Roller Warriors (currently ranked #1 in the WFTDA south central region). Also on the bill that same night in Everett will be the Rat City Rollergirls (currently ranked #6 in the WFTDA western region) playing the Atlanta Rollergirls (currently #5 in the south central rankings).
Then the very next night (June 25th), Jet City will be playing against Atlanta. You can buy tickets for either one or both bouts by visiting this link at Brown Paper Tickets.
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Just to note once again - usually I have someone helping me with the penalty tracking. But last night I flew solo with that along with everything else I do. The penalty box was clear on the other side of the building and it was also kind of dark in their. So I'm absolutely positive that I didn't get every single trip to the box down. So please don't scream at me too loud if I didn't get your penalty.
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