#24 Ohio Handles Madison, 154-128

By Geoffrey Saucer

Reprinted by kind permission of DerbyNewsNetwork.com

MADISON, WI -- In a rematch of their meeting at last October’s North Central playoffs, the Ohio Roller Girls proved their upset of Madison was no fluke, downing the Dairyland Dolls on the road in Madison, 154-128.

For Madison, in a new venue – an ice-free hockey arena – and on their own sport court, it was a chance for redemption that they nearly capitalized on. The game was closely matched throughout, with Madison holding a 32-27 lead at the 16 minute mark. A pair of Madison jammer penalties gave Ohio a 26 point lead at 62-36, but the home side closed out the half on a 30-10 run to leave the score 72-66 at half.

The tug-of-war continued into the second, with the point difference never exceeding seven points early on. Madison broke to a 11-point lead, 104-93, behind a 12-0 turn from Mouse with 16 minutes to go, but Ohio quickly turned the table with 10 points from Loraine Acid followed by a 19-3 power jam from HellionBoi.  Madison earned three jammer penalties in the last 13 minutes, two of them resulting in lost leads.  Still, they managed to close the gap to 15 and remain within striking distance until the visitors pulled away in the last five minutes.

Ohio displayed excellent defensive flexibility, controlling pack pace, putting up three and four player walls, and adjusting individually again and again. Kitty Liquorbottom, saddled with five penalty minutes shortly after halftime, sat out much of the second half, but unofficially led Ohio scoring with 67 points and provided the coup de grace down the final stretch.

The Ohio defense limited the effectiveness of Madison’s veteran jammer Mouse, who, despite leading her team in scoring with 47 points, was shut out in nine of fifteen turns with the jammer star.  Magic Missile was close behind in scoring for Madison with 45 points.

With the win, Ohio solidifies its number seven ranking in the WFTDA North Central Region. They continue their road trip with two more appearances this weekend at the Midwest Brewhaha in Milwaukee, squaring off against Grand Raggidy on Saturday and Brewcity on Sunday.  In the meantime, Madison slumps to 0-11 since last May, and is on the tournament bubble with just one more regional opponent on tap when 13NC North Star comes to Madison on June 22.