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.
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.
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.
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.
And Tracy Hudson had a message for Brandon Robinette: no more fouls.
Jamie Hiltunen's blocked shot leads to Eskymo basket.
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.
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.
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.
