On Sunday, 19th November 2023, the JT Jaguars defeated Victoria University 61-58, in game 3 of the Semi-Finals, and that result condemned them to another year in Division One.

Consequently, Victoria University had most of its players leave the club as well as the Head Coach.

2024 was a new chapter and an opportunity for them to earn promotion to the NBL, which they did after an impressive run from the second round onwards.

On Wednesday 9th April, they were up against the JT Jaguars, a side that ended their NBL hopes in 2023 and wanted to get revenge.

Victoria University came into the game on the back of consecutive defeats, against the Nam Blazers and the Rezlife Saints.

For the Jaguars, they had won their previous game, 62-58 against the JKL Dolphins despite it being a scrappy game.

The first quarter ended 11-10 with the University side in the lead.

The Jaguars had 0 points in the first 5 minutes but Peter Sifuma scored 5 of 7 field goals to put the Jaguars in a competitive position.

The energy and intensity from both teams were high in the second quarter, and the scores also improved.

Both teams scored 20 points in the second quarter and the game was tied on 6 different occasions.

Victoria University came out with a lot of energy in the third quarter and worked tirelessly on defense.

However, they never made any significant run.

Their offense wasn’t firing and in the final 4 minutes of the quarter, they scored only 2 points.

Their story was, good defense but they couldn’t turn it into offense.

The game was still there for the taking for either team, 44-42, the Crocs led with the fourth quarter ahead.

The final 2 minutes of the game was the period that we have seen the JT  Jaguars most disorganized.

They led the game 56-52 with under 4 minutes but Ronald Ayume scored 2 triples off the bench to give Victoria the lead with under 2 minutes left.

Despite it being only a 3-point game, the Jaguars made 4 consecutive turnovers and attempted just once in the final 2 minutes.

They kept losing the ball at crucial times and seemed not to have a leader on the court to calm the situation down.

That recklessness in a crucial time is a wake-up call for them because if they are to challenge, they need to be switched on all through.

Match Stats

Victoria Crocs

Cedric Alema 9 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast

Ronald Ayume 10 pts, 5 reb

Chuol Nyuot 8 pts, 9 reb

JT Jaguars

Peter Sifuma 18 pts, 16 reb

Were Mark 11 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast

Aaron Eboyu 9 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast

The JT Jaguars have now suffered their second defeat of the season and have a 3-2 record.

They will be taking on the KIU Titans next on Sunday 13th at Lugogo.

Victoria Crocs now have an even 2-2 record on the season.

They take on the JKL Dolphins next on Saturday 12th at YMCA.