The Denver Harlequins, host team of the 2008 USQRA Mountain Sectionals, stunned Texas for the second time in as many years by defeating the Stampede 54 to 49 in the final game of the sectional tournament.

The 2007 USQRA defending national champions Denver Harlequins played host to the 2008 Mountain Sectionals which was contested in the gymnasium of Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo. The event attracted a total of six teams from the western United States, all vying for a chance to qualify for the national tournament to be held in Louisville, Ky., this April.

The event kicked off pitting the third-seeded San Antonio Ruff Ryders against the sixth-seeded Utah Scorpions. Cruising on to an easy 57-35 victory, San Antonio sent an early message that they were a viable force to be reckoned with. However, by the end of the day only two teams remained undefeated – the Texas Stampede and the Denver Harlequins. Both teams would remain undefeated until the final game of the tournament.

Along with the expected wins of the top-seeded Stampede and second-seeded Harlequins, the opening day of the tournament also brought one of the unexpected results during the final game of the day between the fourth-seeded Pasadena Texans and the fifth-seeded Arizona Outcasts. In a back-and-forth battle, an exuberant Outcasts team went goal for goal against the heavily-favored Texans until the final period of the game when the Texans moved ahead. Down by three points with less than four minutes to go, the Outcasts refused to go down quietly and responded by evening up the score at 46-all. With just 20 seconds left on the clock, the Texas were poised to score the final game-winning point when an unfortunate turn of events caused the ball to wonder out of bounce off a Texans’ player turning the ball over to the Outcasts. With less then ten seconds left, the Outcasts pulled off a final play incorporating three solid passes resulting in a game-winning goal with less than five seconds on the game clock. That win ultimately propelled the Outcasts to qualify for the Division II Championship.

Day two was filled with expected victories as the higher-seeded teams dominated their lower-seeded counterparts. The Texans rebounded from their loss against the Outcasts and an earlier-that-day loss to the Stampede by doubling up the score against the Scorpions 64-29. The Stampede sent a message to the Harlequins by defeating the third-seeded Ruff Ryders 63-36 and by the end of the second day, the Stampede went on to out score their opponents an impressive 218-121.

Undaunted by the lopsided victories of their rival Texas Stampede, the hometown Harlequins took to the court in the final game of the tournament in front of a capacity crowd at Craig Hospital. It would be the first time in the tournament that these two powerhouses would meet – both undefeated to this point. Featuring five Paralympic athletes between the two teams, the game started out in typical fashion with both teams answering each others point for point. The Stampede capitalized on the speed of Shinichi Shimakawa who was the main outlet for in-bounder Scott Hogsett while Jesse Honl and Norm Lyduch would attempt to open a lane for Shimakawa to score. The Harlequins used a different game strategy using a one-two punch of Chance Sumner and Adam Scaturro while subbing in several players to keep the Stampede off balance. By the time the Stampede would figure out how to block Joy Rondeau or Jason Regier, the Harlequins would sub Josh Stapen and Dave Hosick into the mix keeping players fresh and the Stampede guessing. The strategy worked as the Harlequins enjoyed a five-point margin by halftime.

The hits got much harder in the second half of the game as both teams continued to go goal for goal. One such highlight was Rondeau’s hit on big Jesse Honl to prevent Honl from scoring. Nearly half Holn’s size, Rondeau proved the tenacity she brings to the game to the exuberant hometown crowd. Unfortunately Rondeau was charged with a reach on the hit which brought her to the penalty box but it was a great hit to see none-the-less and prevented a goal.

Although double-teamed most of the game, Sumner showed his athletic ability on the court by setting up plays which would ultimately work to eat up the clock. Nursing a five-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, the Harlequins knew full-well that the Stampede, who is coached by Team USA coach James “Gumby” Gumbert, would have something up their sleeves to make a comeback. They did. The Stampede surged causing two key turnovers bringing the game within just three points but it just was not enough as the Harlequins continued to work down the play clock and score goals. In the end the Harlequins went on to win 54-49. Both teams will advance to the USQRA Division I National Championship while San Antonio and Arizona will head to the Division II National Championship. Both championships will be contested in Louisville, Ky., in April.

Aside from the competition, the 2008 USQRA Mountain Sectionals proved to be successful event in the area of publicity. The tournament was showcased in local and national newsprint and via television broadcasts each night of the event. In addition, live game updates were broadcast on the Harlequins’ website and the final game featured live commentators. For more information, visit the Denver Harlequins’ website at http://quadrugby.harlequins.org