Jan 19, 2015 | Bout News

Rockits upset Bombshells 128-117, Ma’am

By Fire Wally

The Rockits upset the Atomic Bombshells during the first bout of Saturday’s Slam Jam Thank You Ma’am event, winning 128-117. After the Bombshells led in the early jams, the Rockits came back to gain the lead which they would defend, narrowly, for the rest of the game.

The night started out the way the Atomic Bombshells wanted, with Fannie Tanner, L’exi Cuter (recently returned from the birth of Bjorny Cuter), and Freeze Baby all earning lead jammer consecutively and Freeze taking advantage of a power jam to put up 20 points and make the score 30-0. The Rockits answered back on the next three jams, however, narrowing the Bombshells lead to 39-23 with 11 minutes left in the half.

On the next jam, Harmony Killerbruise burst through the inside line to claim lead jammer, then Rockits blockers Madrad, Abbie Mischeif, and KillaHertz forced a track cut on the Bombshells’ jammer to give Harmony a 30-second power jam opportunity. Harmony used the time alone to score 25 points, including a spectacular spin-move around the outside line for a quick five. That gave the Rockits their first lead of the night, which they would expand throughout the rest of the first half, making the score 68-48 at halftime.

The Rockits lead hovered around 20 through the start of the 2nd half, but with about 9 minutes left in the game the Bombshells went on an impressive defensive stand, allowing just 2 points over 5 jams while slowly increasing their own score. The score stood at 111-99 Rockits with just 3 minutes left on the clock, then after Harmony and L’exi traded quick grabs at lead jammer, the Rockits lead was just 115-104 with 28 seconds left on the clock, a significant, but far from comfortable margin going into the last jam.

On that last jam, Fannie Tanner lined up for the Bombshells and earned lead jammer almost immediately while Rockits’ jammer Harmony Killerbruise was stuck in the pack, but blocker penalties on the Bombshells left only Naughty Kitty to try to hold back Harmony, who escaped from the pack as Fannie finished her first scoring pass. Despite having the lead jammer advantage, the Bombshells were unable to contain Harmony who scored tit-for-tat along with Fannie, giving the Rockits a 128-117 victory.

The Rockits win gives them great momentum going into the playoffs, but it did not upset the Bombshells from the top position in the standings. Since the Rockits and Bombshells both finish the regular season with a 2-1 record, the Bombshells’ better point differential throughout the season will earn them the top playoff seed.

Bout Highlights

First Half 17:00 – Bombshells’ jammer Freeze Baby gets pushed to the infield by Madrad and Betsy Wrecksie, but gets back in play fast enough to beat them to the inside line, earning lead jammer. Then on her first scoring pass, Freeze dances up on one skate to slip around the outside line for an easy 5.

First Half 14:00 – Rockits jammer Rhea Volt is slowly but deliberately advancing through the Bombshells’ pack. Right as she thinks she pased the last blocker, Skullateral Damage blind-sides her and knocks her out of bounds. Then a power jam gives Volt a chance to earn 15 points. Then Volt commits a track cut. Then her teammates Surly Bird and Salvador Brawlie force a track cut on Madame de Stompadour to neutralize Volt’s penalty. Derby is an emotional roller coaster.

First Half 4:00 – Buzz Tightrear has already won the ScutiePie Hot Pants Hot Shot award this year, and is therefore ineligible for the rest of the season, but slamming Fannie to the ground to make way for Obscene Sheen to get lead jammer would otherwise have put her in contention.

First Half 2:00 – Two jams later, BOOMbay Safire shows that it’s not just Buzz who can put a hurt on someone. She cleans Rhea Volt’s clock right at the opening whistle.

Second Half 18:00 – Obscene Sheen had a number of acrobatic moves for us in this bout, but my favorite was at the start of this jam when she went up on her toe stops and tap-danced right around the Bombshells’ wall, earning herself lead jammer.

Second Half 6:00 – Sometimes patience is just as important as speed for a successful jammer. Fannie Tanner knows that Harmony Killerbruise likes to be sneaky with a “follow” when Harmony’s opponents have the back wall position, so instead of bolting through the orange wall right away, Fannie helps block for a moment, then carefully steps through and lets Bombshell blockers Messi Jigler and Diamond Rough shut the door and keep Harmony behind them long enough for Fannie to get lead jammer and 4 points.

Second Half 5:00 – MeshugEnough and Scarmen Hellectra both take turns hitting Freeze Baby out of bounds and drawing her back, then team up to prevent any forward motion with textbook positional blocking.

Bout Awards

Pizza Luce Player of the Game – Obscene Sheen
Derby for All Game Changer – Freeze Baby
ScutiePie Hot Pants Hot Shot – Smoka Hontas