[This is Part II of the Tampa Tantrums' adventures at this year's Rocket City Rumble tournament. Check out their bout against the Dixie Derby Girls here.]
If not for the still to be determined Championship bout, Huntsville, AL's Rocket City Rumble could've really ended here. The Tampa Tantrums against the Dallas Derby Devils. A rivalry that had been brewing for years, it had finally boiled over earlier this year at Franky Panky. Here was Tampa's chance to avenge their losses, while Dallas was looking to deliver that one, definitive, "Mamma Said Knock You Out" win to stifle any further challenges. After a bout-long series of back-and-forth jams, Tampa did squeeze out the win (101-104); leaving one to wonder what affect this'll have on their future match-ups.
A more perfect match-up then the one between these two teams would be hard to find. With Dallas' Anita Riot takes the lead, only for Tampa's Sixgun Susie to respond. Dallas doing a great job at holding the Tantrums to playing reactively in the beginning. Jammer Hot 4 Teacher sent to the box? Sixgun Susie power jams for the four points needed to tie things up (13-13).
It continued this way until halfway through the first half, when the teams took a backseat to the penalties. Coming as no surprise considering the history between the teams, both Tampa and Dallas soon started sending blockers to the sin bin on a regular basis. Derby Devil Anita Riot keeping her team afloat with her workhorse jamming, as Tampa's "core" blockers (Frieda Killigan, Punkin, Bettie Kruger) fought to hold Dallas back .
Tampa's blockers gained the edge, eventually allowing jammer Flirtin W. Disaster to push the Tantrums into the lead (22-23). Only to lose it to Hot 4 Teacher when Tampa's squad lost two blockers to the penalty box; giving up a grand slam (30-27). Salvation came in the form of Sixgun Susie (again) when Dallas' pack is reduced to just two blockers: Shocker and Keltic Kamaikaze (30-36). The intensity in this match cannot be overstated as each point became a battle. Strong blocking from Harazzis Mine and Mona Bruiser for Dallas, Bettie Kruger and Leia Flat for Tampa. All while the revolving chair penalty box carried on, giving neither team an advantage, nor even the lead at the half (53-53).
Things changed quickly in the second half, as Little A grabbed an early lead for Tampa (53-58). Miley Virus, caught behind a Killigan, Kruger, Bopabitch wall, could only watch as A and Susie proceeded to extend Tampa's lead (55-70).
Miley gaining her revenge when she brought in seven points; thereby doubling her teams' scoring output in just one jam (69-90). Virus was followed by a Roxie la Roo jam just big enough to scare the Tantrums into calling a time-out (73-92). Who, facing a budding Dallas resurgence, sought to break the Derby Devils' momentum as they were now only 19 points ahead with 11 minutes to go.
Undaunted, Miley Virus continued cutting into Tampa's lead. With Dallas regaining any momentum lost before when Tampa then gave up a power jam (81-92). A power jam that would extend into a fully recharged Roxie la Roo jam; an advantage a skater of Roxie's calibre doesn't need. Roxie taking the lead back for Dallas with just minutes left in regulation (95-92).
With one jam left, penalties again took their toll, as Little A got to enjoy a power jam at Dallas' expense. Proving why she's one of Tampa's most dangerous jammers, Little A scores the nine points needed to seal Dallas' fate. Tampa (finally) over Dallas: (101-104).
This win, while placing the revenge onus onto Dallas, also earned Tampa a place in Rocket City Rumble's Championship bout; against yet another rival, Atlanta.
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