KCCA Leopards end JT Lady Jaguars unbeaten run

The KCCA Leopards ended the JT Lady Jaguars unbeaten run and it was Margaret Bagaala who scored some crucial points in clutch time for the Leopards to seal the deal.

April 19, 2025

3–4 minutes

JT Lady Jaguars, KCCA Leopards, National Basketball League, NBL 25

On Good Friday 29th March 2024, the KCCA Leopards lost to the JKL Lady Dolphins 83-81 in a thrilling encounter.

Fast forward to Good Friday 2025, they ended the JT Lady Jaguars’ unbeaten run after a thrilling 68-67 victory over them.

KCCA came into the game after a victory against another top team, the KIU Rangers, and were confident about their chances in this game.

The Lady Jaguars, who are looked at as contenders, were also confident about their chances and this was going to be such a big test.

In the 2024 season, the Leopards collapsed in the second round and come playoffs, they were swept by the Lady Jaguars.

This was an opportunity for them to regain relevance and they meant business straight from tip-off.

KCCA led the game 16:9 after the first quarter and it was the defense that helped the KCCA Leopards a lot.

Sherinah Mwenyango started the game and she took care of the Shakirah Nanvubya assignment defensively.

It was a scrappy start to the second quarter as neither team scored in the first 3 minutes.

However, the game picked up and both teams went at each other.

The Leopards’ paint was still a very hard place to enter and JT found themselves getting a couple of shots.

Additionally, the Jaguars missed a lot of opportunities in transition early on and this played in favor of the Leopards.

At halftime, KCCA led the game 32-25 but it was still an open game, either team could have won.

Much like the second quarter, the the scores were even, 14 a piece but there was a huge difference in the style of play.

JT relied a lot on transition, and they were able to get a couple of baskets.

With about 3 minutes left in the game, Margaret Bagaala had a chance to make it a 7-point lead for KCCA but she missed 2 free throws.

The Leopards got the offensive rebound and Asinah missed, Bagaala also got the rebound and she also missed.

A few seconds later, Ninette gets the steal, finds Bagaala who missed an open lay up.

Shortly after, Brenda Kayaga punished them to make it a 3-point game and the belief of a comeback in the Lady Jaguars camp was very high.

The KCCA Leopards got another chance to put a good cushion but they still fumbled it.

With less than 2 minutes to go in the game, KCCA led 63-60 and Rhoda Nagitta, who had been their problem was ejected after an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical.

They missed all the 3 free throws but Margaret Bagaala came up with a triple from the corner to make it a 6-point game.

Later in the game, she managed to score on a fast break and that sealed the deal for the KCCA Leopards.

Sarah Ageno made a late 3-pointer to make it a 1-point game but it was a little too late for a comeback.

Talking points

The most important thing in this game was the box out by the KCCA Leopards.

They managed to clean the boards well, limiting JT to just 5 offensive rebounds in the second half and just 12 second-chance points.

They also collected 52 rebounds, 8 more than the Jaguars’ 44.

Coach Rogers Serunyigo made a bold decision to start Sherinah Mwenyango and it paid off heavily.

Despite Shakirah Nanvubya having just come from injury, the Leopards played very good defense on her more so Sherinah in the first quarter.

Special Shoutouts to Margaret Bagaala, who came in clutch but, most importantly, took care of the ball in rebounding.

Without her, KCCA wouldn’t have been able to win this game.