That's what Chamberlain's Kylan Robinson finds, shaking off a sluggish start to score 19 after halftime.
By BRYAN BURNS
Published February 26, 2006
PINELLAS PARK - Chamberlain forward Kylan Robinson more than likely will forget the first half of the Chiefs' dramatic region final victory over Largo.
The senior had just one point in the half and missed several outside jumpers, including two from beyond the 3-point line.
Chamberlain coach Doug Aplin was not at all pleased about Robinson's shot selection in the half.
"We don't want him out there shooting 3-pointers unless it's a desperation last shot," Aplin said. "He might make one. He's a good shooter, but that wasn't the time to do so."
But when Chamberlain's leading scorer, James Devlin, picked up his third foul with 3:22 remaining in the first half, someone had to step up and replace his productivity.
That someone turned out to be Robinson.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder scored 19 of his team's 31 second-half points and dominated the boards. Robinson's inside presence offset Devlin's second-half performance. Devlin was held scoreless after the break and struggled to stay off the bench, eventually fouling out in the final seconds.
"I think Kylan was the player of the game," Devlin said. "He really stepped it up when I picked up the fouls."
Part of the reason for Robinson's dominating second-half performance was his ability to get position down low and convert on those opportunities, which he wasn't doing to start the game.
"I was playing a little soft in the first half," Robinson said. "I was settling for 3-pointers and jump shots. Coach wanted me to go to the hole more."
"We had to go inside a little bit (in the second half) because they were shutting down our perimeter game," Aplin said. "And Kylan started making his shots."
With his team down 55-54 and just under 30 seconds to play, Robinson saved his best play for when it counted most.
He got the ball near the top of the key, went up for what looked to be the potential winning shot, but dished to a streaking Mo Lightburn underneath the basket.
Lightburn easily converted the lay up that sent the Chiefs to their first state final four since the 1989-90 team that lost in the state finals.
"I saw (Lightburn) out of the corner of my eye because usually the defense will come up on me on that play," Robinson said. "He slid down there along the baseline, and I found him."
