Taratuta quickly achieved another milestone, leading the Hillman High boy’s basketball team (11-2, 4-0 NSLLD) to a 70-38 win over Fairview on Thursday night.

Just a month after demolishing Mason VanPamel’s previous scoring record, Taratuta is already over 300 points ahead and will continue to add for the remainder of his senior season.

“This is just another surreal moment of my career,” Taratuta said. “Having an opportunity to (score 2,000 points) in front of my home fans is extra special, and I’m just looking forward to adding to the total as the season goes on.”

As soon as Hillman had won the jump ball, an alley-oop was thrown to Taratuta, where he got his highlight night started early.

News Photo by Owen Kinzey Hillman coach Eric Muszynski, left, poses with Trenton Taratuta on Thursday night during the Hillman’s boys’ basketball game. Before halftime, Taratuta broke 2,000 career points, an award that puts him in a pretty elite group for scoring in the state.

Throughout the quarter, Taratuta began finding his way to the free throw line and driving in for layups at ease, finishing the first with 12 points.

Blake Kennard provided some alternative scoring and defensive impact, recording six points and a pair of blocks.

By pressuring Fairview’s guards with a press style of defense, Hillman took a quick and efficient 21-9 lead after the first.

Going into the second quarter, Taratuta was just two baskets away from eclipsing 2,000 points.

A putback chance went up and in, then, with 2:30 left on the clock, Taratuta stepped up to the three-point line and drilled it. This shot officially broke the barrier, as Taratuta had 2,001 career points.

News Photos by Owen Kinzey Trenton Taratuta, far right, takes the shot on Thursday night that put his career points over 2,000. The three-pointer just before halftime added to his 28 points in the night, ending at 2,012 in his career, for now. Taratuta is now one of a limited 46-player club of Michigan basketball players that have surpassed that number of points.

Not only did he hit the big shot, but another double-digit quarter sent the Tigers into the half up 42-16.

Exiting halftime with a significant lead and the milestone, Taratuta’s play-time was limited, but Hillman continued to dominate.

Seven players got involved for the Tigers as they maintained another 20-point solid quarter.

Brenden Rouleau and Kennard led Hillman during the third with just four points.

By the end of the third quarter, Hillman held a 62-27 lead and needed to coast to the finish line to take home the win.

The Tigers did just that, only scoring a game-low eight points in the fourth, primarily due to the running clock that expired with a 70-38 final.

Now that Taratuta has passed 2,000 points, he joins a limited 46-player club of Michigan basketball players that have surpassed that number of points.

“No other kid deserves this accomplishment more than Trenton (Taratuta). I’ve seen the work ethic firsthand, and I’ve seen everything this kid has put into the game of basketball, and to see him achieve greatness is just incredible,” Hillman coach Eric Muszynski said. “As a coach, Trenton is the exact type of player you want to coach. He’s always been a 4.0 student in school, a hard worker who always pushes the team, and an amazing person off the court.”

Taratuta finished the game scoring 28 points, which is 2,012 in his career.

Meanwhile, Hillman’s second-highest scorer Kennard came in at 10 points.

Hillman plays Rogers City on Tuesday.