2017 D2 Playoffs Game 5:
Oklahoma vs. Naptown

Oklahoma Victory Dolls (#5) vs. Naptown Roller Derby (#12)

The fifth game of the 2017 International WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs Pittsburgh Naptown Roller Derby (#12) of Indianapolis, IN, U.S. displayed a strong comeback after trailing the Oklahoma Victory Dolls (#5) of Oklahoma City, OK, U.S. for most of the first half of this upset. Naptown earned the win with a score of 235-174.

Oklahoma started the game strong with a quick five point power jam for Emma C. Hammer. Jammer penalties continued to be a problem for Naptown early in the game when Naptown jammer Maiden America went to the box on a track cut, allowing Oklahoma to rack up a 9-0 point jam. Maiden America left the penalty box before she was released and was sent back, giving Trigger Trixie of Oklahoma a power start with only two Naptown blockers to face. Trigger Trixie was quickly sprung from the pack and completed a fast lap for 5 points, ultimately going 12-0 against their rivals, bringing them to a a 33-7 lead.

Naptown started to chip away at the deficit, however. After taking a hard hit at the start of jam eight, Naptown’s Nuck L. Sammie busted out of the pack to earn the team’s second lead jammer status of the game, scoring against Oklahoma 8-2 in Naptown’s highest-scoring jam thus far in the game.

Naptown’s defensive walls, supported by Cherry-oto-Fire, Mutant Jean, and ViviSection, played a significant role in the team’s win. With Maiden America sent to the box in jam 11 on a track cut penalty, Naptown’s blockers were able to hold Oklahoma jammer Shanksta for the majority of the jam and away from her pivot for a full minute-and-a-half, at which point Maiden America re-entered the track and quickly made up points for an 11-4 jam.

Indianapolis managed to kill another power jam just minutes later; Oklahoma jammer Fatal Inferno didn’t make a break from the pack on her initial pass until about a minute into the jam. She was able to score five points and then call off the jam as Nuck L. Sammie came back onto the track and completed a quick initial pass, taking the score to 45-30 for Oklahoma.

The tides changed in Naptown’s favor in the penultimate jam of the first half, when Oklahoma jammer Emma C. Hammer got a track cut shortly after being awarded lead, giving a power jam to Darth Blue. Darth Blue racked up twenty-three points in the jam in contrast to Emma C. Hammer’s 17, giving Naptown an 82-75 lead in the game and a momentous lead change. The final jam of the half had Trigger Trixie in the box as Oklahoma’s jammer, allowing Naptown’s Scorpiopathic to collect 19 points on the jam and bring their lead to 101-75.

Naptown rode this momentum for the rest of the game, holding Oklahoma scoreless for six jams in a row and outscoring Oklahoma 81-0, which included a 20-point run for Naptown jammer Scorpiopathic. Oklahoma’s Trigger Trixie took lead in the following jam, at which point the team tried to run the jam and make up some much-needed points, but a back block sent Trixie to the penalty box. She re-entered the track with a vengeance and scored a quick nine points, but Naptown’s Nuck L. Sammie was able to run up points as well, taking game score to 147-92 in favor of Naptown.

Naptown jammers saw more penalty trouble as the half went on, but the team’s tight defense was able to prevent Oklahoma from capitalizing on opportunities enough to take the lead back. Naptown was able to take advantage and add to their growing lead. A power start for Maiden America as the end of the game drew near provided the opportunity for her to score 10 unanswered points before Emma C. Hammer was released from the penalty box, at which point Naptown walls held the jammer for an entire minute, forcing a star pass to Oklahoma pivot Bone Apple Tea, who was able to put eight points on the board for her team as Naptown ran the clock down. Maiden America scored twenty-five, bringing the game score to 206-138.

Back to back penalties by Oklahoma jammers in the final minutes gave Naptown’s Cherry-oto-Fire the chance to get a 15-point jam her first time out with the star. Naptown ended the game with a win of 234-174.

Naptown moves on to play Jet City Rollergirls (#4) of Everett, WA, U.S. at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Oklahoma will face off against Auld Reekie Roller Girls (#1) at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight.

FINAL SCORE

Naptown Roller Derby (Seed #12, WFTDA #53) 234
Oklahoma Victory Dolls (Seed #5, WFTDA #45) 174