• HS Baseball 4/19: Escanaba 8, Gladstone 4
  • HS Baseball 4/19: Kingsford 10, Houghton 0
  • HS Baseball 4/19: Negaunee 14, Superior Central 5
  • HS Baseball 4/19: Bark River-Harris 18, North Central 9, Gm 1
  • HS Baseball 4/19: Bark River-Harris 11, North Central 0, Gm 2
  • HS Softball 4/19: North Dickinson 17, Munising 2, Gm 1
  • HS Softball 4/19: North Dickinson 15, Munising 5, Gm 2
  • HS Softball 4/19: Oconto, Wis. 12, Menominee 7
5906 articles
Saturday April 20, 2024
Big Second Half Helps Eskymos Top Copper Kings

ESCANABA---Their big guy was in foul trouble, and the Escanaba Eskymos found themselves trailing by a point at halftime of their non-conference basketball game against the Calumet Copper Kings Saturday night.

And Tracy Hudson had a message for Brandon Robinette: no more fouls.


Jamie Hiltunen's blocked shot leads to Eskymo basket.
And the 6-foot-4 junior complied. After getting three fouls early in the first quarter, Robinette did not get another foul in the second half.

Robinette helped the Eskymos to a big final 16 minutes and Escanaba pulled away for a 60-43 victory to improve to 3-4 on the season.

Escanaba's 6-foot-5 senior Dan LaPalm filled in nicely while Robinette was on the bench in the first half, helping his team weather the storm and trail just 23-22 at the break.

Ben Kleiman spots up for a three-pointer.
And in the second half, Robinette and LaPalm were a lethal 1-2 punch inside that the Copper Kings had no answer for...Robinette set LaPalm up with a few nifty passes underneath.

On the perimeter, junior Ben Kleiman was on fire, nailing four three-pointers as part of his 16 points. Kleiman also blocked an Owen Kariniemi three-point attempt in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Eskymo junior Jamie Hiltunen also came through with a big blocked shot in the second half, as he took a sure lay-up away from Chad Sturos. That led to a LaPalm basket at the other end, fed nicely by Robinette inside the paint.

Besides Kleiman's 16 points, LaPalm had 17 and Robinette chipped in 15.


Ben Kleiman Blocks Kariniemi's three-pointer.
Calumet (3-2) was led by Paul Torolo's 13 points and Kariniemi had ten points.

Escanaba (3-4) is back in action next Thursday night with a tough game at Negaunee.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos and more videos from the game.

The main photo at top is of Storm Fournier on the baseline.


Brandon Robinette has the ball underneath the basket as Calumet's Paul Torolo defends.






Choose team:
Date Time Opponent Score Record
12/4
7:30 PM
Negaunee Miners
32 - 70 (L)
0-1
12/7
7:30 PM
Kingsford Flivvers
53 - 51 (W)
1-1
12/10
7:20 PM
at Houghton Gremlins
44 - 64 (L)
1-2
12/14
7:30 PM
Gladstone Braves
66 - 78 (L)
1-3
12/18
7:20 PM
at Marquette Redmen
45 - 66 (L)
1-4
12/27
7:30 PM
West Iron County Wykons
86 - 56 (W)
2-4
12/29
6:15 PM
Calumet Copper Kings
60 - 43 (W)
3-4
1/3
7:45 PM
at Negaunee Miners
53 - 69 (L)
3-5
1/7
8:00 PM
at Menominee Maroons
46 - 60 (L)
3-6
1/12
2:45 PM
at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
49 - 59 (L)
3-7
1/15
7:30 PM
Westwood Patriots
62 - 57 (W)
4-7
2/1
8:00 PM
at Kingsford Flivvers
69 - 72 (L)
4-8
2/5
6:45 PM
at Iron Mountain Mountaineers
44 - 50 (L)
4-9
2/8
7:30 PM
Marquette Redmen
40 - 64 (L)
4-10
2/12
7:30 PM
at West Iron County Wykons
64 - 67 (L)
4-11
2/15
7:30 PM
Houghton Gremlins
61 - 46 (W)
5-11
2/21
7:30 PM
Gwinn Model Towners
47 - 56 (L)
5-12
2/22
7:15 PM
at Gladstone Braves
57 - 48 (W)
6-12
2/25
7:30 PM
Menominee Maroons
58 - 46 (W)
7-12
2/28
7:20 PM
at Calumet Copper Kings
63 - 48 (W)
8-12
3/4
7:45 PM
Menominee Maroons
46 - 61 (L)
8-13



2012-13 Upper Peninsula Boys Basketball Playoffs
Saturday March 16, 2013
Menominee's Hot Shooting Ends Escanaba's Season
Monday March 4, 2013
Hiltunen Goes Off As Eskymos Turn Back Braves
Friday February 22, 2013
Bitter Cold Forces Numerous Sports Cancellations
Tuesday January 22, 2013
Robinette, Eskymos Run Wild Vs. West Iron County
Thursday December 27, 2012
Braves Outslug Eskymos In All-Delta County Battle
Friday December 14, 2012
Eskymos Rally For Basketball Victory Over Flivvers
Friday December 7, 2012