Saturday, March 17, 2012, Exhibition Hall at the Allliant Energy Center

Windy City Rollers Double Crossers 150, Mad Rollin’ Dolls Reservoir Dolls 91

The Reservoir Dolls and the Double Crossers have a long history of private scrimmages, but their March 17th meeting in Madison was the first in front of an audience.

The Double Crossers came to Madison beat up, and even with four guest skaters on the roster, only managed to suit 12 players.  None of that seemed to matter to the visitors, who broke open a contentious first half to dominate the second period for a comfortable 150-91 win.

Despite winning lead jammer status 6-3, the Double Crossers only managed a 39-34 lead after 20 minutes of play.  With five minutes left in the half, the Double Crossers defensive core, anchored by Sunshine N Painbows, knocked down Sprout’n A Tail four times during a full two minutes.  Karmageddon grabbed 14 points and a 60-34 margin.  The Res Dolls had a chance to strike back in the period’s final jam, at one point running with a 3-1 pack advantage. Cruel Whip saved the jam with a hit on Res Dolls jammer Kill ’ems, whose 9 points closed the half with the score 60-48.

The first five minutes of the second half were big for Windy City, who outscored Madison 21-6.  Sunshine N Painbows traded the pivot stripe for the star in the second jam for 11 points while the Reservoir Dolls pack offered little help to their jammer Charlie Hustle, who had to fight through the Chicago four-wall on her own.

The real hammer blow fell on the Res Dolls in the middle of the second period when Lady Who-ha found the penalty box on three consecutive jams. In that third jam, the Res Dolls put only three blockers on the line and at one point the Double Crossers pack advantage was 4-1. Team Captain Abbey racked up 19 points for her side to increase the lead to 118-63.

Reservoir Dolls star Mouse almost swung the game back in the ensuing jam, with a big power jam on a 2-4 pack advantage.  Mouse was on her fifth scoring pass when she was forced out in front of the benches and she stepped back in for the major track cutting penalty.  A vociferous crowd, happy to have a big play, was just as loud when she swung around the track on her way to the box.  Mouse had put up 23 points, but the lead remained 120-86.

The Double Crossers cruised through to the end on a 30-5 scoring run, much of that on a last jam 14-point power jam from Painbows as she burned time while Mouse sat out another penalty.  To her credit, Mouse came back to the track and fought her way to the front despite time running down and Painbows in control of the clock.

The night’s initial jammer pairing of WCR veteran Athena DeCrime, skating just as “DeCrime,” and Res Dolls second year player Lady Who-ha served as an apt microcosm for the game as a whole.  DeCrime took lead in five of their seven face-offs for a point differential of 21-6.  The Double Crossers won lead jammer status 22 to 11 for the night, and dominated the defensive game, leveling the home side with 115 attacks to 79.

Mouse’s 23-point effort accounted for over half of her team’s scoring in the second period.  She finished the night with 41 points, while Kill ’ems added 14 points and Lady Who-ha 11.

The Double Crossers’ jammer scoring was even all around and reflected their big-jam opportunities.  Athena DeCrime won seven leads, but never had that power jam opportunity fall her way.  She finished the night with 32 point, while it was Sunshine N Painbows who led Windy City’s scoring with 39 points.  Karmageddon and Abbey added 26 and 28 points respectively.

by Geoffrey Saucer