JT Lady Jaguars were pushed to the limit but managed to secure their ninth victory of the season with a narrow 60-58 win over a determined yet understrength KIU Rangers side in a gripping National Basketball League clash on Sunday at Abja Park, Naalya.
The Rangers, hampered by the absence of several key players and with just one substitute available, came out firing and dominated the early exchanges, at one point building a 13-point lead. Despite their limited rotation, KIU showed remarkable resilience and energy throughout the contest.
However, the Lady Jaguars regrouped after halftime, mounting a comeback in the third quarter to trim the deficit to a single point heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter evolved into a tense see-saw battle. Sharon Kirabo buried a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 58-all with two minutes remaining, but Maimuna Nabbosa responded moments later with a vital layup to restore JT’s lead.
The Rangers, clearly feeling the effects of fatigue, couldn’t find another scoring opportunity in the final minute, allowing JT to hang on for the win.
One of the defining stats of the game was the bench production, JT Lady Jaguars got 27 points from their reserves, while KIU’s bench failed to register a single point, underlining their depth issues.
Among Annet led the Lady Jaguars with a strong double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds. Rhoda Naggita poured in 15 points, while Sarah Ageno added 15 points and 11 rebounds in a commanding all-around performance.
For the brave Rangers, Sharon Kirabo finished with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Ines Kanyamunza and Elizabeth Aguti chipped in with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
KIU were without Namulema Fildauce, Nanyonga Florence, Racheal Nanyonga, and Nanfuka Stella all away on national duty at the East Africa Netball Championships.
The result sees JT Lady Jaguars close the first round of the season with a stellar 9-1 record. KIU Rangers, now 5-4, will aim to bounce back in their final first-round fixture against reigning champions JKL Lady Dolphins on Wednesday.
