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Balanced scoring, team defense and a raucous home crowd lifted Oconomowoc to an 81-67 victory over Mukwonago in a Classic Eight Conference confrontation Friday evening. 

The Raccoons had four players reach double-scoring figures, slowed Mukwonago's high-octane offense with some stingy defense and got a boost from a large gathering on Oconomowoc Youth Basketball Night to register their second triumph in three games. 

Oconomowoc had to overcome a very slow start -- the Raccoons trailed 7-0 and 16-6 in the early going -- but managed to right the ship behind the considerable talents of physically strong senior guard Jake Fisher.

Fisher (6-3), who is being recruited by a large number of schools in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, scored 18 of his 22 points in the first half to spur the Raccoons' rally.

Oconomowoc used a banked three-point basket from Fisher (6-3) just prior to the first-half buzzer to go into halftime with a 35-29 lead, one they would never relinquish. 

"Typically, we haven't gotten off to great starts," Mukwonago coach Steve Pollnow said. "They were able to weather our storm and we almost weathered their storm. They got some big extra momentum go their way when Fisher banked in that three-point shot before halftime."

Fisher got plenty of help from his teammates in the second half.

Hard-playing junior wing Logan Arndt (6-3) scored 14 of his 16 points after intermission. Arndt got to plenty of loose balls, came up with a couple of steals and made some mid-range jump shots as he continually works his way back into playing shape after missing last year with an injury.

"Logan had some big plays and made some things happen out there," Oconomowoc coach Jay Benish said. "And Greg (Galloway) is a four-year varsity player who knows how to finish games."

Finish games, indeed.

Galloway, a muscular 6-foot-3 forward headed to Illinois State on a football scholarship, socred 20 points and drilled three big three-point baskets in the second half for Oconomowoc, which also got a boost from senior Carter Tower (6-6), who finished with eight points, and junior Gus Audley (6-2), who had nine points.

"We shot the ball well from the outside in the second half," Benish said. "After a slow start to the game, we'll take this win. Mukwonago came out and was very aggressive with their shots. We started to close out better on their shooters. I thought at about the seven or eight minute mark of the game, out team defense really kicked into gear."

Mukwonago fell to 3-1 after posting victories over Germantown, Kingdom Prep Lutheran and Waterford. 

The Indians averaged 83.7 ppg in their three victories before being slowed to just 67 Friday evening.

Still, Mukwonago figures to be a tough out all year in the Classic Eight as the club features stellar guard play and figures to get a boost when injured senior Greyton Gannon (6-5) returns to the lineup later in the campaign.

Senior point guard Joey Jendusa (6-0) was particularly impressive against Oconomowoc as he finished with a team-high 23 points while also handling the ball and creating scoring chances for his teammates.  

"Jendusa is quick and when he wants to get to the basket, he can," Benish said. 

Pollnow calls Jendusa the best point guard "he's ever coached" and mentioned Concordia University in Mequon and Washington University in St. Louis as the two schools pursuing the gifted senior. 

Pollnow's son, 6-1 senior wing guard Jordan Pollnow, also played well for Mukwonago as he finished with 16 points while junior Collin Madson (6-3) contributed 11.

"I've coached five of our guys since the fifth grade and they do a great job of moving the ball and making the extra pass," coach Pollnow said. "But we had 11 second-half turnovers and went just 11-of-22 from the line. You can't have that and expect to win at the varsity level."

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