Watertown beats Oconomowoc

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 12:41 PM CST

Watertown junior guard Blaine Mueller (right) attacks the basket while Oconomowoc senior Paul Swan defends during a Wisconsin Little Ten Conference boys basketball game Tuesday in Oconomowoc. Mueller scored a game-high 18 points and nine assists to lead the Goslings to a 55-49 victory. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

OCONOMOWOC - If wins are going to be hard to come by this season, this was definitely on the short list of ones to get.

Watertown's boys basketball team entered a Little Ten Conference game against Oconomowoc winless against Division 1 opponents thus far but left with a satisfying 55-49 victory over the Coons Tuesday.

After an evenly played first half in which Cooney led 27-26 at the break, Watertown (3-6, 1-3 in conference) took control with a 13-5 run through the third quarter.

Junior guards Blaine Mueller and Ian Zgonc combined for nine points in the pivotal quarter. Zgonc scored five of his nine points while Mueller scored four of his game-high 18 points as the Goslings led 39-32 entering the fourth.

“I don't know there was anything done different in the third quarter,” Watertown boys basketball coach Jamie Koepp said. “We came out with confidence in the second half. Early in the game in the first quarter, we were just kind of battling and neither one of us could score.

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“We found ourselves in a more structured offense, instead of just freelancing. That seemed to be successful for us.”

Mueller also dished out nine assists and added seven points in the fourth quarter to keep the Goslings in front, including a 4-for-4 performance at the free-throw line.

“What a complete game,” Koepp said of Mueller's performance. “He iced the game in the fourth quarter at the line and he was the one that guarded (Cooney senior guard Derek) Doudna and shut him down to three field goals.”

Senior forward Des Smith added 16 points and 16 rebounds.

“Des' rebounding numbers are astronomical,” Koepp said.

“I think our three seniors in Corey Minnameier, Mike Christian and Des did everything possible to set the tone for the entire team, to make sure we came out on top in the last game they played in that gym.

“Mike played phenomenal defense on Tanner Wensman. While he still did score 10 points, Tanner was in foul trouble the entire game and Mike's physical play had a lot to do with it.”

Watertown won the turnover battle handily, forcing 25 while committing 11.

Junior guard Paul Williams scored 12 points to lead Oconomowoc (5-3, 2-1), a preseason pick to challenge Wisconsin Lutheran for the league title this season.

Watertown returns to action Thursday at West Bend East.

WATERTOWN 55, OCONOMOWOC 49

Watertown 6 20 15 16 - 55

Oconomowoc 6 21 5 17 - 49

Watertown (fg-ft-tp) -Zgonc 3-1-8, Zehren 2-0-4, Mueller 6-4-18, Minnameier 1-0-2, Patz 2-3-7, Smith 6-4-16. Totals 20 12-21 55.

Oconomowoc (fg-ft-tp) -Williams 5-2-12, Doudna 3-0-6, Holtz 2-1-5, Wensman 3-2-10, Schram 2-0-6, Kellerman 2-0-4, Swan 3-2-8. Totals 20 7-11 49.

Three-point goals - W, Zgonc, Mueller (2); O, Wensman (2), Schram (2).

Total fouls - W 10, W 16.