River Valley Roller Girls Start Season with Slam

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 was an exciting evening for sports fans, what with the lights going out at the Superdome during Super Bowl XLVII and the track rope coming up at the River Valley Roller Girls (RVRG) season opener in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Unlike at the Super Bowl, entertainment was provided to fans while the track was secured, by none other than Oklahoma City Lightning Broad’s jammer, Anne Bashaway #227, in the form of an impromptu dance routine – on skates.

The River Valley Roller Girls Rough Cuts from Fort Smith, Ark. took the track against the Oklahoma City Roller Derby Lightning Broads at Wheels in Motion. The game proved to be fast paced and aggressive as both teams adjusted to the newest Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby rules, taking advantage of the “no minor penalties” clause to amp up the full contact nature of the sport.

The first quarter was intense, with both teams trading leads several times, and showcasing the hard work they put into strategy and game play during the off season.

Missy Helliot #1224, of RVRG’s Rough Cuts, proved exceptionally exciting to watch, as she slammed into the opposing team’s players and kept right on skating as if she was completely unaware of the destruction she was leaving in her wake. In the true fashion of her namesake (Missy Elliott), Missy Helliot is known for her hits and there is no doubt that she knows how to “Bring the Pain.”

Eighteen minutes into the first half, the Lightning Broads took the lead, racking up 65 points to the Rough Cuts 31 by halftime. During the short, ten minute halftime break, both teams took the opportunity to rekindle their drive to win. When the second half started, the players on both sides fought hard with the aggression and skill necessary to win such a fast paced contact sport on skates.

In the end it was the Lightning Broads who took the win, 145-84.

As is tradition, each team voted for the opposing team’s most valuable players for the game, a courtesy that highlights the true spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that surrounds this fast growing sport.

The MVP’s for the evening were the Lightning Broads’ “Rolln’ w/the Homies” #18, and “Ti-Na-T” #80, and the Rough Cuts “Cosmic” #1946, and “Lynn Z Lowslam” #1620.

As one fan so passionately put it, “If this is what RVRG calls it’s B-team, then this is going to be one heck of an exciting derby season! I can’t wait to see the A-team play.”

Story courtesy of one of our Roller Derby Field Correspondents, Vicious Vagenda and photos courtesy of Adam Brandt Photography

For more information about roller derby in general, visit wftda.com.  For more information about River Valley Roller Girls, visit rivervalleyrollergirls.com, or find us on Facebook, key word “River Valley Roller Girls”.