David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech guard Pete Calcaterra attempts a layup during a game Saturday against Roosevelt at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

By DAVER KARNOSKY

dkarnosky@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON — A week ago, the Michigan Tech Huskies struggled offensively in a loss to the Davenport Panthers that broke up a six-game winning streak. Fast forward seven days, and the Huskies won their second straight matchup, this time against the Roosevelt Lakers Saturday, 82-59, at the SDC Gym.

Huskies coach Josh Buettner was pleased with how well his team bounced back from that loss to the Panthers to knock off Northern Michigan and Roosevelt in back-to-back games. Of course, shooting 50% from beyond the 3-point line helps.

“Well, it’s a lesson learned there,” he said. “When you have such an emotional victory, kind of, with Grand Valley, with everything that happened in that one, and turn around, we did fight against Davenport and came up short. Then, obviously, Northern is always going to be emotional.

“So, to turn around and refocus in a day and a half is hard. The nice thing is we were at home, we shot the ball better from three. Obviously, 12-of-24 is a very good percentage. We still have to figure out whatever’s going on with free throws, because we have good free throw shooters. I don’t understand it, and I know it’s a mental thing. It’s something they have to get in the gym with on their own and figure out.”

The Huskies’ leading scorer, junior guard Marcus Tomashek, was held to just eight points in the game, but fifth-year guard Pete Calcaterra had a career day, scoring a game-high 24 points.

“Personal records are always good, but it’s good when we can respond as a team and get a win,” he said. “We haven’t been playing the best on Saturdays. We wanted to bounce back from last Saturday, when we didn’t play particularly well, and then this Saturday, to come out and do that, and respond in the second half, is big for the team. Obviously, when I can score and help the team win, it’s always a good day.”

Calcaterra spent as much time on the floor as he did attempting layups in the game, but he was able to turn that into a game where he was 7-of-8 from the floor and 10-of-16 from the free throw line.

“I put on some weight, so I guess I can take it,” he said, when asked about the physical nature of the game. “But, I’ll be sore tomorrow, that’s for sure.

“Obviously, when you can get to the line, see a couple shots go in, it builds confidence. Then when they collapse on me, (I can) find my open teammates, have confidence they’ll knock down shots. Then, if they collapse on my teammates, they’ll find me. Just having that mindset and trusting each other on all aspects of the floor (is what we are working on).”

Along with the attention Calcaterra drew, especially early in the second half, the Huskies (10-4 overall, 5-1 GLIAC) turned to freshman guard Ty Fernholz hit 4-of-6 3-pointers in the game, including one a little over halfway through the first half off a rebound off an attempt by Calcaterra. Then, three minutes later, Fernholz hit another from nearly half court, which put the Huskies up at the time, 30-29.

“Ty is such a weapon,” said Buettner. “I mean, it’s transition, and he crosses half court, and he’s 30 feet away from the basket, looking to shoot it. When you are that worried about somebody and you’re going to continue to see, and I don’t know that his percentage is gonna stay as high as it is right now, because the scouts are gonna shift, absolutely no looks for him. But, when you’re worried about somebody as much as they’re going to start being worried about Ty Fernholz, it’s going to open things up for everybody else, including Marcus.”

Buettner was also excited about the way junior guard Nate Abel, sophomore guard Matt Schmainda, and freshman guard Gabe Smith added to the game, with Abel notching seven points, including a pair of 3-pointers, Schmainda hitting two of his own, and Smith getting a timely dunk in the second half.

Buettner also liked how that trio defended as well.

“I just think Matt and Gabe and Nate, (those) three in particular, were just much better at being smarter,” said Buettner. “They made sure those rim attacks in the first half turned into 12 to 15 foot fadeaways. That’s what we wanted in the scout, and they executed it in the second half, and we were a lot better. I really felt like we got all the loose balls, which was huge on the glass.”

UP NEXT

The Huskies return to action Thursday when they host Saginaw Valley State.