photo: Steve “Sharkey” Mancini (Masonite Burn)

The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls B-Team traveled to Boise, Idaho this weekend to participate in Spudtown Knockdown V. The Contenders competed in a 6-team non-sanctioned double-elimination bracket, finishing in first place with a perfect 3-0 mark.

As the bracket’s #1 seed, the Rocky Mountain squad enjoyed a bye into the semi-final round. The Contenders opened their weekend with a 212-111 victory over Avalanche City (from British Columbia) on Saturday afternoon, moving them into the finals of the main bracket on Sunday. The 8:00 AM start on Sunday morning didn’t seem to phase The Contenders as they took down fellow Coloradans Durango Roller Girls by a score of 232-87.

The double-elimination bracket structure meant that Rocky Mountain would play again on Sunday evening, taking on the winners of the “loser’s bracket.” That turned out to be their initial foe, Avalanche City. The Canadians were able to keep it close for a while and even held a 52-48 lead with nine minutes left in the first half. From that point on, however, The Contenders took control and finished off the tournament with a result very similar to their initial win against the same team: 200-119. Prize money is rare in roller derby, but The Contenders took home a $400 reward for their efforts at Spudtown.

Next weekend, Rocky Mountain’s headliners, the 5280 Fight Club, hop the pond to take on Detroit, Toronto and London in the Anarchy in the UK 2014 tournament. Next up for The Contenders is a May 11th showdown against the Gotham Girls Roller Derby Wall Street Traitors.

Participating Teams (with pre-tournament seedings)

#1 Rocky Mountain Rollergirls Contenders (B-Team — Denver, Colorado)
#2 Magic City Rollers (Billings, Montana)
#3 Durango Roller Girls (Durango, Colorado)
#4 Avalanche City Roller Girls (Fernie, British Columbia)
#5 Billings Roller Derby Dames (Billings, Montana)
#6 Treasure Valley Rollergirls Boise River Rollers (B-Team — Boise, Idaho)