Way to bounce back after five straight losses, the JT Jaguars got their first win of the round, defeating the Kampala Rockets with a commanding 80-54 performance in Kira last night. Previously, one of the aspects Coach Cuthbert talked about was the ability for multiple players to contribute to the tally, and that’s exactly what happened.
In the first quarter alone, we had Kasasa rack up 7 points, playing a big part in the team ending quarter one with 29 points. Elijah Adakun recorded his season-high with 16 points, while Christian Odeke boosted the offense with 17 points, including 5/7 from the three-point line, which greatly helped the team.
The team shot 9 for 28 from three-point range, the highest mark of the season so far, and committed only 13 turnovers, the lowest of the season. Chol Abraham and Lubwama stepped up as playmakers and facilitators, recording 7 assists and 8 assists respectively, all of which made the victory unstoppable against a team that had beaten them last round.
The game was exciting right from the beginning — the best way to start.
We exploded out of the gates, establishing control early with a 29-12 first quarter lead. The Rockets managed just 12 points as our perimeter pressure and help defense forced tough shots and turnovers. This quarter set the aggressive tone we have needed all season and will look forward to maintaining.
By halftime (53-26), the team had switched gears and extended the lead to 27 points. Our transition game turned defensive stops into easy buckets, showcasing our conditioning and fast-break efficiency.
In the third quarter (68-46), the Rockets pushed back slightly, but we maintained a double-digit cushion through balanced scoring and rebounding.
We then closed the final stretch in the fourth quarter easily and efficiently, all because of the good start and early dominance in the first quarter.
“It was a good game, but it’s not enough. We need to keep and build on that momentum in order to secure more wins,” — Chol Abraham.
The team now has a long break before their next game against the Namuwongo Blazers on 13th May.