(17) Detroit Outlasts Brewcity, 159-122
MILWAUKEE, WI -- A messy start for the Brewcity Bruisers (6NC WFTDA) gave the Detroit Derby Girls all the margin they needed to win a game marred by 20 total jammer penalty minutes. The bout was so penalty plagued that ten of the bout’s 38 jams went the full two minutes.
The 159-122 final was Detroit's one win in a tough opening weekend for their 2012 season. They came into the game ranked 17th in the world by DNN and 4th in the North Central by WFTDA, but earlier on Saturday, they suffered a loss to 8NC Arch Rival, 186-130; on Sunday, they were badly routed by 2NC Minnesota, 234-74.
After a 0-0 opening jam, the Bruisers’ Scooter was whistled for the first of four consecutive penalties that left the door open for Detroit. Thirty-two points went Detroit’s way before Brewcity shortened the lead to nine, 32-23, on Detroit’s own jammer miscues. In jam six, Detroit’s Yo-Yo took a hard shot from Milwaukee’s Romaniac that put her out of the game, but insulte was added to injury as Yo-Yo was called for a counter-directional major.
The teams traded jammer penalties for the rest of the half and sent plenty of their other players to the penalty box as well, but Detroit was able to rebuild their lead back to 37 at halftime, 83-46.
The power jam duel continued into the second half; 15 points for Brewcity, 18 for Detroit, and 18 back Milwaukee’s way. The Bruisers were within 12 points, 110-98, with 20 minutes remaining when a fourth minor on Racer McChaser momentarily narrowed the margin even more as Romaniac racked up a grand slam before earning her own fourth. Detroit came out ahead 16-11 in a messy jam that exemplified much of the match.
Remarkably, both teams avoided the penalty parade for the last 15 minutes with the exception of a 15-point power jam for Detroit’s Ally Sin Shoverland. Those 15 points accounted for forty percent of the final quarter’s total scoring, which went 25-13 for Detroit. In the end, Detroit won by 37, 159-122.
Detroit has no other regional action scheduled before the end of the second quarter; their next game is against the East's Dutchland (#22 DNN, 9E WFTDA). Brewcity takes on the Chicago Outfit (5NC WFTDA), who had a shaky performance at Brewhaha when they barely held off 16NC Burning River, 181-164.
